With an increased focus on security and the arrival of the GDPR in May 2018, scanner manufacturers – like every manufacturer – are investing heavily in the security and archival element of their products. The days of scanning to simply capture an image from a document are long gone and businesses now require more than just a physical scanner; they want the whole solution and the assurance that their documents are going to be secure.
The good news is scanners are now designed with the most innovative software built-in, which offers features such as secure data processing, archiving, editing and efficient storage options. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the ways scanning has changed and how scanning devices meet the modern needs of businesses…
Adapting to digital needs
More and more businesses are transitioning to a digital working environment and so their needs are changing. The benefits of a complete scanning solution are endless: productivity is improved, time – and as a result, money – is saved, and there’s also the reassurance of knowing document processing is legally compliant.
Intelligent solutions
Modern scanning solutions are smart and now feature intelligent software that reads the information being scanned, rather than just simply capturing the image. This information is what the scanner uses to store the data correctly, rather than the user having to manually input information once the document is scanned. Our solutions can find the information from any document, which means accurate archiving and easy searchability.
A need for smaller devices
Many businesses in the UK are moving away from the big, centralised scanners, which were once an office staple, and replacing them with multiple, smaller devices. The benefits of smaller scanners are improved speed, sleek design and that fact that they deliver the same quality as a large device at a fraction of the cost and size. They also remove the need for additional equipment as they are network-ready!
Portable scanners are also part of a growing trend, particularly for remote workers or employees who require more flexibility in processing and collecting documents.
A3 scanning on the rise
Traditionally, scanning was A4 focused, but there has been a recent rise in organisations needing A3 capabilities too. We offer a whole range of A3 scanners, which you’ll find right here.
Increased focus on security
The introduction of the GDPR in May last year has had a huge impact on how businesses collect and store data, and scanning plays a key role in this. Stricter compliancy rules mean more organisations are now digitising their documents, which is where features such as pin-code authorisation and automatic archiving are essential. Some scanners also include a secure function lock, which allows certain functions to be enabled or disabled depending on the permissions of the user.
Wireless and networked scanning
Wireless and network scanners are becoming increasingly popular too, as they completely streamline the whole scanning process. The ability to scan directly into a secure cloud service or mobile device is hugely beneficial to businesses because it removes computers from the chain entirely. Automating the process of scanning and archiving also creates consistency and takes away the need for inputting data manually, which naturally eliminates errors.
In summary, scanning continues to be an ever-evolving market! At BTS, we spend time understanding a customer’s specific needs before offering a bespoke scanning solution, so talk to us! You can also browse through our range of scanners here, which includes desktop, cheque, document, flatbed, large format and portable devices.