Eliminate manual data entry of written data with Capture and ICR from PlanetPress

Our friends and good folks at Objectif Lune have developed a nice addition to the great product PlanetPress Capture. Users can not only write on documents and electronically kick off the next steps in workflow, but also now the system will process the hand written numbers, dates and codes and prepare and perform the data entry for the next step of proofing.


With a data entry process, it's a good practice to have two steps - Entry and Verification - First the raw bulk entry procedure is accomplished, and then second the verification of the data entry. Best practices should have the verification performed by someone different from the entry person for the highest degree of accuracy.

From the new documentation: "The newest addition to optimize processes is Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR). Special ICR fields can be added to transactional forms to capture handwritten text. For example, this features allows handwritten quantities, dates, time, part-numbers, postal codes, meter readings, and addresses, to be input in systems while skipping manual data entry tasks. Best practices for implementation of this feature will ensure the best results possible. Documentation will be available."

ICR makes it possible to improve the process around corrections on delivery notes, bills of lading and order forms resulting in accurate invoices and up to date systems. ICR does not replace human verification, but it does replace the basic need for human data entry.

With human data entry, a person will rely a lot on detection of hitting a wrong key while typing. Data entry and verification cannot be done reliably by the same person. By nature, this results in lower quality data entry than if entry and verification are done by separate persons. But, an additional resource for verification adds cost to the process, making it a choice between cost of resource and cost of error.

Exactly this is where a major benefit of ICR arises. ICR is an interpretation of handwriting, allowing for subjectivity, thus some errors – just like with manual data entry. However, to alleviate the errors, now only the verification and correction step has to be performed. This reduces cost of resources and cost of errors.
  For more information, check with Warren Neeley with PCI Solutions at Printer Connection: 866-430-6202,  WNeeley@PCIprinters.com, http://www.chooseglmgroup.com/Pages/PlanetPressCapture.aspx

Symblogogy: Ricoh's eWriter Combo Solution Automates Knowledge...

Symblogogy: Ricoh's eWriter Combo Solution Automates Knowledge...: The "eQuill" secure, WiFi enabled, digital clipboard interface [ ctrl-click image to launch demo video ]. Image Credit: Ricoh eWriter Solut...

Ricoh and a friend of ours

We enjoy seeing the success of our friends, and this update is no exception. 

"What we really want to do for commercial printers is to give them the ability and knowledge to drive value to their end customers in different ways," said Theresa Lang, Vice President Solutions & Services at Ricoh.

http://www.mpsconnect.com/articles/share/419837/

Theresa was a vital member of the IBM Printer channel staff 'back in the day.'  Back when IBM Printers did more than $100M annually in revenue with resellers, the channel had not yet been adjusted and strangled by the Directors and VPs that ultimately killed the channel.  InfoPrint later tried to breathe life back into a channel, but the 'grooved swing' and product support alas was long gone.

Back to Ricoh, this article mentions a new technology, and it appears that Ricoh is investing in a company that developed it. "Clickable Paper, a cross-media service that lets consumers access related online content by pointing a smartphone at any printed surface. At Drupa, Ricoh teamed with PTI to demonstrate this technology integrated within PTI's MarcomCentral W2P platform. The Clickable Paper technology—developed by Ricoh Visual Search—is expected to be released next year."

We are very interested in anything that merges mobile computing, 'pocket computers,' traditional and non-traditional output, and the use of today's cloud of available information for the mutual benefit of the user and the generator of that output.

More on that topic in another upcoming blog.

For more details, contact Warren Neeley at www.ChooseGLMgroup.com.

The customer loyalty/customer experience conundrum | RetailCustomerExperience.com

The customer loyalty/customer experience conundrum | RetailCustomerExperience.com

"Every experience, every customer touch and interaction is an opportunity to deliver on the company's value proposition and reinforce the relationship, and a risk of failing to deliver on customer expectations and weakening the glue of the relationship. Experiences matter because they affect and are part of the gestalt of the customer relationship. But the experience is not the same as the relationship, and loyalty is more than the sum of the customer's experiences."

Nice article, and a very important area to consider.  In today's market no relationship is safe forever.  We have been witnessing companies, relationships and future opportunities whirl around more than a Friday night margarita machine.

It's good practice that if you care, tell someone that you love 'em!  Well, the same goes for the workplace and companies.  Tell 'em and show 'em that your relationship is very special and appreciated.  Tell 'em a LOT.  Try for nearly every time.  Each transaction is special and is worth a full measure of effort.

As a company, we have been taken for granted or ignored or forgotten at times, and it bothers how we feel and react because our company is made up of humans.  That's what you have when you deal with humans!  Companies that get it and act upon that knowledge are at an advantage.

One vendor of ours sends us a package every few months or so.  It's a Box of Love - my term, not theirs.  They call it a Fun Box, and it has little chotskies and toys, maybe a 'gimme-cap' and usually some product info.  The latest one came with color photos of us at their vendor meeting, pasted on the outside with balloon captions from our staff.  Now, this company also 'busts their hump' for us without question or reservation each time we call upon them.  Does the Box of Love really make a difference?  Yep, it's a part of their entire package of being a vendor with personality and caring about their relationships.

Why Choose #2 Printronix over a #1 Zebra Thermal?

PCI sells the Printronix line of thermals.  During the IBM Printing Systems days, I heard a point in an IBM presentation that stated that this printer - the combination of the identical twins PRX.T5000 and IBM.4400/6700 units - was number two in sales volume for top-end tough and high volume industrial thermal printers. 

Zebra has held the #1 position in sales for some time.  Customers with installed Zebra printers require compatibility to even consider a switch.  Printronix has been fully compatible for years with the Zebra and ZPL language.

So why change?  Number Two needs to show why its product would be an improvement over the current leader.  What are the Printronix operational efficiencies as compared to the Zebra line?  Printronix has done a very nice job in a video demonstration of just over eight minutes. 

View the Video.

Are you thinking about a refresh of your installed Zebra thermal printers?  Have questions?  If you would like to evaluate a new Printronix T5000 printer for yourself, let us know.  Contact Warren Neeley at WNeeley@pciprinters.com or call 866-430-6202.

Printer Connection is like IBM's DB2?

On a trip across the Internet one day, as an internet 'surfer' can be swept along, I happened upon a video about Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated's implementation of IBM DB2.

It turns out that DB2 helps them run their business much faster than Oracle.  Some big batch jobs that took 30 to 36 hours are now completed in 2 hours.  Nightly runs were cut from 90 minutes to 30 minutes.  They figure that they have saved $1 million.

Then appeared these little nuggets that caught my eye and had me relaying them to the blog - the basic needs and benefits that Coke Bottling achieved are what we deliver to our customers.

SAVE MONEY
PERFORM WELL
RELIABLE
EASY TO USE
and I added to the list
GOOD COMPANY

IBM was talking about product performance.  I believe that our customers have basic needs and that PCI consistently delivers, not just with our products but with our business approach.

SAVE MONEY - Financial justification is always essential in purchasing new systems, but what if there is not enough budget for all the IT projects?  A big part of our business starts with selling a refurbished impact printer to first-time internet customers.  The reason we have repeat business is the other critical nuggets in that list.  Customers experience our attention to EASY TO USE customer service to test, set up, assure fit, and provide post-sale customer support. Our RELIABLE delivery of products or consulting PERFORM WELL and avoids any buyers' remorse on their selection.

Thankfully the same approach works with new printers, software, and maintenance.  We earn our repeat business by being a GOOD COMPANY for printers because printer output is our focus.  It is easy to slip into dealing with platitudes on this type of subject, but after customers have experienced pain with printers and we take away those pains and deliver the rest of that list, we become "Their Printer Guys."

It's a great list - not just for a product but also for a business approach.  I'm glad we fit the list.

Now Available - Xerox Production Printers!

We're headed to the home of Xerox - Rochester NY - for sales training on the first of what we hope is many "Xerox machines" available for sale from Printer Connection. 

Xerox/Compu-Call Announcement

This is the first arrangement like this one for Xerox.

With Ricoh leaving the field with their bat and ball, we move on to the undisputed giant of the business. Ask us about Xerox. Just let us get through a little training first.