Document Scanning Software is at the core of document management systems in contemporary workplaces. Most of the Document Scanning Software today offers some parallel functionality that can be interpreted as the common features of Document Scanning Software. Firstly, each of these software applications is aimed at making document management an easier process. This software is aimed at doing most aspects of document scanning, such as creation of scanned copies, systematic saving of scanned documents in respective files/folders and retrieval of the same undemanding process.
Vendors of Document Scanning Software ensure that their products are in compliance with legal, regulatory and quality parameters that the business of their client is subject to. For instance, if a vendor is offering scanning software solutions to a healthcare facility, then it is vital that the scanning software follows scanning guidelines that have been established as a part of global imaging benchmarks like DICOM or PACS. This ensures that the scanning system in their client’s workplace would meet the statutory, medico-legal requirements.
Document Scanning Software should be easily adoptable within the software solution already being used in the workplace. For example, most of the healthcare facilities that are seeking to get the healthcare stimulus benefits have adopted some form of Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This is essentially a systematic process of converting patient records into the digitalized format and thus, scanning patient records is an integral part of the entire process. Now, when a healthcare facility adopts Document Scanning Software, the vendor of the software solution should ensure that their product is compatible with the existing EHR system that is already operating in the clinical facility.
This is because Document Scanning Software would function here as a part of a much larger process, i.e. the Electronic Health Record system, already being used. Thus, the scanned copies of patient data, including image or scan studies, should be presented in such a format that they can be readily uploaded on to the existing, digitalized patient record. The value of this seamless integration cannot be stressed upon enough since this integration defines the facility’s compliance with federal regulations, fastens the diagnostic process, makes patient data record handling more transparent and helps to save costs.
Common Features of Document Scanning Software solutions include the provision of:
- Zoom-in and Zoom-out options
- Option of scanning to TIFF or PDF files
- Window Panning & Zooming
- Size-to-Fit or Fit-to-Width options
- Choosing scale-to-grey for better Image Rendition
- Easy page browsing via using options like Next/Prior/First/Last
- Multi-Page Scanning
- De-skew tool
- Optional display including Miniature or Thumbnail images of scanned pages
- Functions like Page Insert / Page Replace / Page Append
Image Customization options in the form of tools like Rotation, Scrolling Inversion, Scaling and Fit-To-Window
Image cropping
In terms of cost-savings, Document Scanning Software functions by neutralizing the costs that are incurred by employing a dedicated computer operator or scanning personnel. Further, there is lesser dependence upon paper-based records and related expenditure, such as shipping costs or storage fees, is also saved. Most of the Document Scanning Software is offered as freeware and can be freely downloaded from the web. However, many of the free solutions might not offer the degree of customization that a business might require—a wider range of features is offered by some of the retailed Document Scanning Software brands that seek to provide exclusive solutions for different types of businesses.