"This survey found that while compliance is an important business driver for scanning and capture technologies, it is not the primary business driver. Users are looking for these technologies to drive both productivity and efficiency," states John Mancini, President of AIIM. "We also found that the primary obstacles to deploying scanning and capture center both on hard dollar issues (how do I justify the investment?), and soft dollar issues (how will I deal with the change management issues associated with implementing these technologies?). Successful solution providers will help users overcome these obstacles."
Scanning and capture are increasingly becoming decentralized, with scanning moving closer to the point of document creation. Network-attached copier/printers and low-end scanners are becoming an important part of the capture equation. Even though the channels for delivering copiers/printers and scanners have traditionally been distinct, end users do not see copiers/printers and scanners (especially low-end scanners) as mutually exclusive. Particularly in large organizations, users have made significant progress in document-enabling financial and governance processes. In other core processes, linkage to scanning solutions is still in its early stages and represents a significant opportunity for solution providers.
"Moving from document capture to data capture from those documents is still a challenge for many end users, particularly in relation to core processes. Unlike many IT implementations, organizational familiarity with scanning and capture does not breed contempt," says Mancini. "In fact, the more end users transition from static archiving and storage of scanned images to directly linking these capabilities to process, the more satisfied they are with the technology. User satisfaction with capture directly tied to how hard they push the technology."
Key Findings:
73% of survey respondents say that "improving efficiency and productivity" are the two most important reasons for implementing scanning and capture technologies in their organization. 30% say that "improving customer service" is, and 28% say "compliance".
31% of survey respondents from mid-sized organizations and 35% from large organizations, say that their IT professionals have the responsibility for making purchase decisions on scanning and capture technologies. Yet in mid-sized organizations, 17% of companies and only 5% in large companies say that their President or CEO has the responsibility for making purchase decisions on scanning and capture technologies.
64% of survey respondents use networked MFPs (copier/printer), 60% use workgroup scanners, and 52% use departmental scanners. In mid-sized organizations 38% of scanning is done by workgroups, 33% by single departments responsible for scanning, and 14% ad hoc by individuals.
53% mid-sized organizations and 60% large organizations use scanning and capture technologies for corporate (correspondence, litigation, contracts) processes. 52% mid-sized organizations and 62% large organizations use scanning and capture technologies for finance (invoice processing, order processing, cash receipts, expense accounts) processes.
About the Survey
This Capture Survey was distributed during January 2006 to end users using an online survey instrument (www.zoomerang.com). A total of 1,091 executives participated in the survey.
