Multi-channel capture is certainly a hot topic. A couple weeks ago, we visited ibml and ReadSoft, who each discussed their expanded focus to include multi-channel capture. This week, we briefed with Kodak Document Imaging on its new Info Insight application, which was announced last week.
Info Insight is a Web-based IDR solution that is able to automate classification and capture of document from multiple inputs. Kodak is advertising it for use with scanned images, faxes, e-mail, and input from social media sources. So, from the capture side, which Kodak is calling its "integration platform edition," InfoInsight certainly has multiple channels covered.
From the output, or process standpoint, Info Insight also addresses many, what we'll call "avenues." Kodak calls this side of Info Insight its "solutions edition module." It includes assisting with both automated and manual responses to e-mails, social media input, and traditional paper correspondence. It also includes being able to track the "moods" on social media sites via a graphical screen.
No, I wouldn't say that Info Inight is deeply into what Forrester has defined as the Smart Process Application space, but it's clearly a step in that direction. Info Insight is designed to take input form multiple sources, apply technology like self-learning and artificial intelligence, as well as data aggregation, and produce some sort of response to the input. The main SPA element that I see it as missing is a true BPM engine for dynamically automating complex processes. (Yes, Kofax has trained me well in the use of the word "dynamic," but I think it makes sense here.)
All and all, it is interesting to see where the capture market is heading. I completely agree with Kodak and Kofax's and others' position that it is very important for capture companies to expand their front ends to embrace multiple channels, because clearly the generation currently going through higher education and those behind it have less use for paper than any generation in the past 100 years.
That said, the processes that paper has traditionally been a part of are not going away. So, it's very important for anyone in the capture market to realize that the future is about owning the process, not the paper, and Info Insight, and Kofax's SPA strategy, and quite a lot of what I'm starting to see show up on the market, seems to be taking this approach. Good work guys!
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6 comments:
I agree with this strategy as well where these vendors are building upon a core strength to branch-out into other closely related areas of business process and workflow.
I also feel that these solutions are bringing unique value to the market and, therefore is enough of a differentiation as to not compete with their existing channels. And while these solutions and terminology/acronyms are new to the document imaging/capture market; the idea of an intelligent capture platform is not new. I call it Ubiquitous Information Capture, and have for many years.
I commend Kodak, Kofax and Ephesoft for doing something tangible to help our industry realize this vision.
"One Company Gateway" is the topic of the eFLOW Launch of TIS in New York and is exactly describing what companies should look out for: TIS' Digital Mailroom solution lets you collect all inbound information on one platform and combine it into a single digital, electronic data workflow.
Follow the link if you want to know more: http://tiny.cc/pcmsxw
This is cool!
Scanning your documents to make backup copies is a well-advised contingency should you lose your files. However in this case, you have to make sure that your online administrator secures your data religiously. We know that we can't depart from the traditional paper documents, what with the capture market making it easier to store and hide, and even access, confidential data.
Tony Shannon
In my opinion the best way to go paperless is to combine OCR with BPMS capabilities. It ensures digital form of documents and at the same their fast delivery to appropriate employees. That being said - it allows for optimization of whole, complex processes.
However custom integration of OCR with BPMS can be expensive and quite hard to execute. I've talked to CIO who integrated Kofax with company's current ERP. It worked good but cost them a lot and I not only in terms of integrations but also in terms of maintenance, staff etc.
Anyway, there are some solutions that already have OCR integrated. See e.g. WEBCON BPS.
It has ABBYY Flexi Capture which works well enough to handle the vast majority of incoming and outgoing documents that companies process.
Great article as usual. A big thank you for all you us share.
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