Data entry is as old as the business idea itself, and despite the number of employees, an organization must keep the data entry accurate. However, it can be a strenuous and burdensome task for the company to maintain. From the olden times of paper entries to Excel-based entries, data entry has evolved. Yet, it remains a manual process by nature. The industry has already seen the benefits robots bring to data automation, and ICR is the next iteration. ICR software aims to deliver automation to this necessary part of an organization. This blog discusses how ICR software is a game-changer for any industry that deals in any form of data entry.
What is Data Entry Automation?
Data entry automation, otherwise known as automated data capture, is the process of automatically capturing data. Normally, human resources are used for data entry. This takes up a huge amount of monetary resources and work hours. Additionally, it is a repetitive task that can decrease the productivity and efficiency of the employees. On the other hand, there is a rising demand for faster and more accurate processes in all industries. Keeping these points in view, it becomes important to implement a robust data entry automation system. This is where ICR technology can help companies.
Understanding OCR and ICR Software
Optical character recognition is a tool that identifies the characters from text and print media and converts them into digital documents. This process allows the companies to convert paper information into data that can be digitally stored and edited. Subsequently, intelligent character recognition (ICR reader) is a subset of OCR technology. However, the ICR algorithm uses a neural network to identify handwriting as well as different writing styles and fonts. Thereby, making ICR software a more versatile choice for businesses.
Benefits of Data Entry Automation with ICR
Even in the accounting industry, where accountants like to get their hands dirty, nearly two-thirds of professionals prefer automation. The reason behind this dramatic shift is simple, it saves time and is much more accurate. Since ICR software minimizes the need for human intervention, the error rates become almost negligible. Similarly, ICR allows the company to allocate staff for high-priority tasks rather than a time taking manual data entry process.
Unlike manual data entry, ICR services allow businesses to perform large amounts of data entry processes quickly. Therefore, it results in increased efficiency of the system and reduced operational costs. Moreover, organizations can use ICR software in a cloud-based environment. This allows them to store and manage data in an enclosed secure space. The migration to the cloud ensures that the customer and business data is secure and that only authorized personnel can access it.
ICR in Data Entry
The important thing to note about ICR software is data entry is that it is not just an end-point type system. Instead, its versatility makes it important for any data entry task. Here are some ways organizations can use scanner ICR to streamline their daily operations:
Identity Documents
ID documents including national identity cards, passports, and driver’s licenses represent a critical part of data entry. Even a small human error can result in grave consequences for the organization. However, ICR software offers an easy and quick method to extract information quickly for accurate verification. The operator can then instantaneously authenticate the information against their database.
Invoices
E-commerce and physical retail stores spend a lot of man-hours on invoice generation and verification. On the other hand, ICR software can automate this process by accurately extracting the information from such invoices. Whether these are past refund claims or even promo codes, ICR technology covers all the bases.
Forms
Surveys and forms can take up a huge chunk of resources of non-profit organizations and even traditional companies. ICR software provides a way to automate the data collection and extraction from these forms. Thereby, reducing the overall monetary and time cost of the process. Moreover, the organization can then process the extracted data in any way they like.
ICR Integration with APIs and Browsers
Although there are a lot of benefits to using ICR software, some companies can fear the versatility of this technology. However, if the company wishes, the providers can integrate ICR into their existing systems as an API. Furthermore, the providers can also offer it as a browser plugin so that the company can use it parallel to their current system. Therefore, achieving seamless uniformity and cohesion among the different components of data entry.
ICR Software Revamping Data Entry
Data is not just the new currency of this digital world, it lies at the heart of all operational functions. Whether it’s an employee survey to figure out behavioural trends or invoice verification, data entry is used everywhere. Understandably, as important as it is, data entry can consume a lot of company resources. Whereas, ICR software provides an easy, yet even more accurate way to automate these takes.