IBM i & Power Systems - Reduce Paper Use, Increase Productivity

In spite of many technological advances such as the internet, scanners, e-books and digital cameras, paper documents still play an indispensable role in the modern office.  It has been predicted that by 2020 the global paper consumption will reach 500 million tons per year.  A half of this volume is consumed in Europe and North America alone.  Some paper statistics that provide a deeper insight into this problem:

·       The average office worker continues to use a staggering 10,000 sheets of copy paper every year.

·       In the U.S., companies spend more than $120 billion a year on printed forms, most of which outdate themselves within three months’ time.

·       A typical employee spends 30-40% of his time looking for information locked in email and filing cabinets – filing costs average about $20 per month.

·       Each misfiled document costs $125. Each lost document cost $350 to $700 – large organizations lose a document every 12 seconds.

While the technology for going paperless is readily available, the rate of adoption for these tools and this system is quite low. Software plays an important role in a paperless office.  Software programs manage the huge quantity of digital files that an office can produce during the transition to paperless.  Some of the different types of document management tools available from inFORM Decisions that can be utilized to eliminate paper processes are as follows:

Spool files to Digital forms

System i and Power Systems NATIVE PCL to PDF converter for Spool Files.  iPDF converts standard HP Laserjet output (Printer Control Language) into the popular Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format). IBM native conversion eliminates the need to download to a PC (or secondary server) to process PDF files, thus improving security and speed of PDF document conversion. Much more than a simple conversion tool, iPDF enables report distribution, PDF document archival and retrieval, bursting, sorting and outputting PDF reports and custom business forms in the open PDF standard where they can be easily viewed using the free Acrobat Reader.

E-mail

Email has had the biggest impact, allowing communications to become electronic with the ability to attach digital documents. Our iMail product is an example. This is very suitable for lmost business correspondence with the ability to  format spool file reports into popular formats like Excel, color PDF, HTML, ZIP, RTF and more.  iMail provides much more than simple email delivery. From your AS/400, iSeries, IBM i, and Power Server, you can send messages, business documents and spool file reports in easily readable formats. iMail enables organizations to upgrade to a paperless environment, saving time and money due to more efficient document management and distribution.

Workflow

Sharing business documents such as sales or supplier contracts that require controlled access on an ad-hoc basis can be accomplished by use of versatile tools like iWorkflow  which provides the ability to take any business process, and create a digital copy.  A digital workflow allows you to streamline business processes and route documents throughout the organization.  Managers now have a looking glass into any process, and readily accessible reporting and metrics. Workflow business apps help you streamline your business processes — expense claims, customer onboarding, travel requests or any other organizational business workflow. Using workflow, data, forms and report  are connected to the authorized parties providing efficiency and productivity.

Document Capture and Scanning

Scanners are one of the most essential tools for a paperless office. They can convert paper documents into digital files, which are then ready for mass distribution over an email system rather than through paper memos. Large-format scanners can convert blueprints, contracts and other large documents into digital files. In addition, high-speed scanners can quickly scan multipage documents, or even books, eliminating the need to store the paper copies.

 With an array of scanning devices, capture needs and backend content management systems, it is ineffective to settle for multiple applications to accomplish one goal. iCapture  provides a single capture platform that can meet all the needs of an organization: document scanning and import, forms processing, data capture, OCR/ICR, data extraction and the ability to migrate the information into a backend. The iCapture  advanced capture system enhances the capabilities of any scanning device, providing a powerful onramp to any Enterprise Content Management (ECM) or Document Management Systems (DMS).

Mobile Signature Capture

With iSign  documents are efficiently captured, stored, secured and backed up with peace of mind that they can’t be damaged or accessed by flood, fire or bad guys with bad intentions.  Documents can be easily retrieved or routed through a web browser, from any location at any time.

Document Storage & Retrieval

iView  is the Web-based Content Management Solution for the iSeries, System i and Power Systems  native document archive – retrieval solution performing content management functions to enable the capture, storage, indexing and retrieval of spool files, merged documents and scanned forms so they are accessible via a web browser by anyone, anywhere, anytime.  iCapture extends iView’s capture, indexing and storage capabilities to hard copy documents for a complete browser-accessible repository.

Since 1994, inFORM Decisions has been a Document Automation provider specializing in state of the art Document Automation solutions for the IBM i - iSeries - AS/400 arena. We are committed to the IBM i iSeries AS/400 platform forever!

Call (800) 858-5544 / (949) 709-5838 or visit us at www.informdecisions.com for more information about our acclaimed suite of products and see how we can help you reduce paper, increase productivity and lower your costs.

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Goodbye to manual accounting processes with Sage and iCapture

Manual accounting processes can take more hours to manage, raise the chance of errors, hardly monitor paper invoices, make audits worse, and have inaccurate budgets and forecasts.  Thus, right now it is time to goodbye to these processes.

You can do this by choosing Sage and its add-on called iCapture. With iCapture, you can improve productivity and efficiency.

Here are reasons why iCapture is a powerful add-on to your Sage:

This add-on offers a powerful document scanning engine that enables to capture you invoice information and give the data to Sage Accounting. What is more, the an advanced document capture product allows you to scan purchases orders and enter order information in Sage.  With iCapture, you also can  automatically identify employee documents and route them efficiently to Sage.

To know other benefits of iCapture, visit link http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture/ or contact us 800.858.5544 today.

Tags: spool file in as400, as400 scan, discovery document solutions 

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Improve Business Processes By Using 3 Technologies

When the document automation has become a trend, try 3 following technologies to immediately improve your business processes. 

Document Capture - The Filing Clerk

A document capture product like a  filing assistant. It enables you to take  a scanned document and identify how it needs to be named, where it needs to go and what folder it needs to go to. With document capture , you can immediately reduce 25-75% time to file paper documents. Try iCapture - a document capture solution, by inFORM Decisions to benefit from this technology. 

Document Management – “The Electronic Filing Cabinet”

Document management provides steps to help you access files from your desk, distribute them in an instant, easily email or fax them from within your digital filing interface. It looks like a “electronic filing cabinet”. With document management, you can immediately have  huge time savings, improvement in customer service and many other benefits. Try inFORM Decisions's award winning document management solutions to benefit from this technology. 

Document Workflow – “The Electronic Inbox & Outbox”

With  electronic workflow, sending documents to individuals to review or approve or route all expenses over $1000 to a manager is a snap.  You also can build business rules into the system.  Document workflow looks like “the electronic inbox & outbox” that can provide immediate efficiency and productivity improvements.

Tags: as400 print to pdf, what is ap automation, as400 excel 

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Why do we should use iCapture?

What is iCapture?

iSign is a feature-rich, affordable document capture and scanning solution of inFORM Decisions. It has the ability to convert invoices, contracts, mail and other paper-based documents into searchable PDFs and route them effortlessly into the organization.

Why do we should use iCapture?

To be honest, iCapture offers a lot of benefits.

Normally, officers manually identify, extract, name, archive and eliminate keystrokes. However, using iCapture allows you to digitally do such tasks. Obviously, iCapture  brings efficiency thanks to having time and labor savings.  

Because of having the ability to create a repeatable process, iCapture makes sure that scanning, naming, extracting, and archiving your documents are similar when you give the same documents to different officers

Last but not least, iCapture has an ability to integrate other software including any Sage products and Sharepoint.

You can get more information about iCapture in this link: http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture/

Tags: as400 barcode, iseries barcode, as400 spool 

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inFORM Decisions’ IBM i document automation solutions and how they improve your business processes

iCapture, iSign, iDocs, iDocs Designer and iView are inFORM Decisions’ IBM i document automation solutions. They are ideal for  those who want to business processes. Let’s discover how these solutions can help. 

They allow you to digitally archive and retrieve documents, which helps you to reduce paper-based storage and the costs associated with misplaced documents. 

With these solutions, invoices, contacts, mail and other paper-based documents  are captured and then easily converted into into searchable PDFs. Then, these PDFs can be routed effortlessly into the organization. 

inFORM Decisions’ IBM i document automation solutions enable documents  to be routed electronically, reducing  the amount of time associated with manually shuffling documents around your office for approvals. 

With these solutions, signing digital documents electronically  helps you  to eliminate the need for physical paper and improve the time to invoice. 

For more information, contact inFORM Decisions at 800-858-5544, email info@informdecisions.com or visit us online at www.informdecisions.com.

Tags: iseries excel, AS400 excel, AS/400 excel,

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Things that SharePoint and Sage users can do thanks to iCapture

SharePoint users

iCapture is a powerful but affordable scanning solution from inFORM Decisions to your SharePoint document capture strategy. By implementing this solution, users can scan documents to SharePoint with copiers, fax machines, dedicated scanners, and network scanners, and receive image import from network folders, SharePoint WebDAV folders and OpenText RightFax fax servers.

Sage users

iCapture lets users to extract automatically data just by choosing invoices, purchase orders, contracts or any other documents to scan.

Thanks to its powerful document scanning engine, it allows you to capture invoice information and give the data to Sage Accounting.

In case users want to scan purchase orders and enter order information in Sage, iCapture is an advanced document capture product that enables to do these.

There is no doubt iCapture is really good for both SharePoint and Sage users.

To know other benefits of iCapture, visit link http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture/ or contact us 800.858.5544 today.

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Tips on how to optimize your PDFs with metadata

To archive files as records, most companies choose PDFs. Here are some tips on how to optimize your PDFs with metadata: 

You ensure that your document capture software (iCapture) supports  a long-term archive standard for image files called PDF /A. It makes sure the the long-term viability of file. 

You ensure that you populate standard PDF headers  including author, subject, keywords and title with metadata. This can  speed up searching and indexing. Also, it ensures that critical information is securely recorded. 

You always use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert the image in the PDF into searchable text. 

iCapture 

iCapture is a document capture solution allows to convert invoices, contracts, mail and other paper-based documents into searchable PDFs and route them effortlessly into your organization. You can read more about iCapture in the article: 

http://iseriesibm.blogspot.com/2015/02/overview-of-features-and-functionality.html

Other keywords: invoice automation benefits, as400 to excel

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Use iCapture to optimize your Sharepoint investment

SharePoint is a document management system that allows users to digitally store and manage information. But how do you move your information to SharePoint?

The answer is document capture

This fast and easy method allows users to capture documents and extract metadata. Document capture also enables users to make documents searchable and classified, based on form types.

iCapture - a document capture solution, by inFORM Decisions - offers features to make this process easy and efficient:

+ Documents can be routed to SharePoint sites, libraries, folders and content types

+ Document sets and terms store information based on document characteristics that can be configured to populate automatically

+ You can create standardized folders and file naming schemes along with searchable PDFs with optical character recognition (OCR) for Sharepoint

+ You can utilize features, like barcoding, data capture, OCR, data extraction and others

+ You can implement iCapture’s "list to library" linking technology to map SharePoint data to documents

Want more information on using iCapture for your SharePoint solution? Visit http://www.informdecisions.com or contact inFORM Decisions at 800.858.5544.

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Popular keywords: iseries document management - iseries fax - paper survey processing

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Tips for choosing the right document capture solution

When searching for the appropriate document capture solution, how do you know which is one is best?

If you run a Google search for the term "document capture," more than 11 million results pop up. That's a lot of solutions to sift through.

Here are five tips to help you narrow your search.

1: Research the company’s history.

How long has the company been around? What sore of rating do they have, specifically in terms of document capture solutions?

2: Ensure that the solution enables you to meet specific needs.

Do you need an application for a small 15-person office or are you operationg on an enterprise-scale that would need to run at multiple locations? Ensure the solution can be adjusted to your organization's size and scope.

3: Check the product’s integrability.

The best solution should be easily integrated with existing systems. inFORM Decisions' iCapture, for instance, can  integrate with more than 60 document management systems.

4: Is the solution secure and compliant?

Nowadays, securing your business data is of the utmost importantance. A document capture solution, therefore, should comply with security rules.

5: Make sure that the solution improves workflow.

Choosing the right solution should save your company time and money.

To learn more about how document capture solutions can improve productivity, visit http://www.informdecisions.com or contact inFORM Decisions at 800.858.5544.

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Popular keywords: ocr solutions , as400 to excel

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Video: inFORM Decisions’ iCapture Demonstration overview

inFORM Decisions’ iCapture is the next generation of advanced document processing technology. Export or migrate data to more than 60 industry ECM and DMS systems.

To learn more about this powerful technology, watch this video about automated invoice processing, using iCapture.

Synopsis

Part I: 

Learn how to automatically extract four fields (known as “metadata”) from a variety of different invoices.

Part II: 

Learn how to capture information not automatically assimilated by using the point-and-click technology.

Part III: 

Learn about an optional quality assurance step, which you can add to validate the accuracy of information.

Part IV: 

Validated data is now ready for "migration" to any one of 60 different document management systems or databases.

Watch the video

Contact inFORM Decisions at 800-858-5544 for a discovery call and competitive pricing, or visit us online at http://www.informdecisions.com.

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Tags: As400 scan, discovery document solutions

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Scanning Documents to Windows SharePoint

You are looking for a powerful but affordable scanning solution to your SharePoint document capture strategy, you reach the right place.  iCapture from inForm Decisions is designed for this need.

With iCapture, you  can scan documents to SharePoint with copiers, fax machines, dedicated scanners, and network scanners, and receive  image import from network folders, SharePoint WebDAV folders and OpenText RightFax fax servers. 

Here are some iCapture’s features useful for scanning documents to Microsoft SharePoint.

• Route documents to SharePoint folders, libraries and sites
• Automatically set content types, document sets, and term store information based on document characteristics
• Form file naming schemes and standardized folders
• Form searchable PDFs with OCR for Sharepoint
• Take advantages of all features such as barcoding, data capture, OCR,  data extraction and others
• Use iCapture’s new “list to library” linking technology to map SharePoint data to document

Source: http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture-and-microsoft-sharepoint/

Tags: ap automation, as400 print to pdf, SharePoint Scanning

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Scanning software vs document capture software and document capture software’s benefits

It is common that you hear someone say that he or she scanned something. Now, let’s walk through scanning software vs document scanning software and document capture software’s benefits.

Scanning software vs document capture software

Scanning software is software installed on a device. Because it allows you to create an image, it should be used for very basic needs. While document capture software is designed to scan and archive documents and extract information but the time for these processes is minimized. It can be seen that scanning is taken to a whole new level thanks to its. So now, let’s see document capture software’s pros. 

Document capture software’s pros

Document capture software allows to automatically identify, extract information. It enables to name and achieve. As a result, you or your organization can have time and labor savings. Image without document capture software, a traditional office staff has to walk a copier or a scanner, scan a document and manually name and save it to a folder. But with document capture software, you only press the button and it has the ability to do the rest.

What is more, document capture software provides the ability to create a repeatable process, eliminating to scan, name and put the same document differently. 

Last but not least, document capture software offers the level of integration. It means that with only a tap, sending and routing any document to any backend system. For example, a document capture solution named iCapture can be used an add-on to any Sage products. You can get more information about iCapture in this link: http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture/

Related Keywords: iSeries document management, convert spool to pdf, iSeries barcode, iSeries scan

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A powerful document scanning add-on to any Sage system

Your organization is using a Sage ERP, Accounting or CRM System and considering which document scanning add-on is the best. If so, there is a suggestion. It is iCapture which any Sage system can use. Only choose invoices, purchase orders, contracts or any other documents to scan, and iCapture can extract automatically data. 

Now let’s see what iCapture can do to your Sage ERP, Accounting or CRM System. 

Scan Invoices to Sage Accounting

iCapture is really a good choice to scan invoices to Sage, extract data or automate your AP process when a powerful document scanning engine offered by this solution to capture you invoice information and give the data to Sage Accounting.

Scan Inbound Purchase Orders

If scanning purchase orders and entering order information in Sage are your need right now, iCapture is an advanced document capture product that has the ability to scan purchases orders and enter order information in Sage.

HR Document Scanning

iCapture is designed to make HR Document Scanning easier. It lets you automatically identify employee documents and route them efficiently to Sage. 

Construction Document Scanning

Whether you need to scan and process large format plans or want to maintain and organize insurance info on your sub-contractors, you can do those by using iCapture. It enables to scan and process documents directly from the site. 

To know other benefits of iCapture, visit link http://www.informdecisions.com/icapture/ or contact us 800.858.5544 today.

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Overview of Features and Functionality of iCapture

What is iCapture?

Do you know that iCapture can make automating your document scanning process easier than ever? In fact, iCapture is an IBM iSeries product from inFORM Decision. 

Now let’s see overview of features and functionality of iCapture

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) 

With iCapture’s OCR feature, document metadata can be extracted while searchable PDF documents or meaningful text can be created. What is more, you can connect OCR feature to other modules in order to classify and extract data. 

ICR (Intelligent Character Recognition) Module 

This feature allows metadata from documents with hand-printed information to be extracted and the information to be translated into data fields. In addition, ICR module enables to “rubberband” hand printed text during the indexing process and auto-populate fields. 

The Advanced Data Extraction (ADE) Module 

As an advanced data extraction and parsing engine, ADE module can intelligently script or pattern match logic to metadata to provides recognition accuracy. With the module, you do not need hand-key information. This adds accuracy and the time required for the metadata capture process can be saved much. 

Extended File Format (EFF) 

With the EFF module, iCapture allows you to import and process any digital file. You can also use the module for manual or auto-import while bulk digital files can be migrated to any of the close to 60 ECM systems.

Classification And Forms Processing

The feature allows intelligent classification of forms and documents through the use of the OCR and ADE modules. 

Enterprise scalability

Whether your business is big or small, iCapture is really affordable and can scale to large complex corporate document workflow organizational needs.

Other products: iSeries barcode, spool file in as400 

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What IBM iSeries products should you use to create a paperless office?

With the following IBM iSeries products, a paperless office will be created. They not only improve productivity but also help you to move towards a more efficient office. 

iCapture 

With this iSeries document capture software, invoices, contracts, mail and other paper-based documents can be easily converted into searchable PDFs and routed effortlessly into the organization. You can read more about iCapture in the article: 

http://iseriesibm.blogspot.com/2014/12/3-benefits-of-document-capture-software.html

iView 

iView reduces paper-based storage by allowing you to access to all your files. 

iWorkflow 

With iWorkflow, your business processes can be tracked, analyzed and improved these processes. 

iSign 

iSign enables digital documents to be delivered for signature on a device with a browser. 

If your dream is a paperless office and you want to get rid of paper, choose these powerful IBM iSeries products.

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3 benefits of document capture software on iSeries?

Before discovering 3 benefits of document capture software on IBM iSeries, I have a question: “Do you know the term “capture”?”

I am sure that you may know the term “scan” and think that two terms are same. However, they are two differently defined. Scanning software installed on a device allows users to create images while document capture software allows scanning to be automated and more efficient. If your needs are basic, scanning software is a good choice. But if you want to do more, you should consider document capture software. As you can see I have just given the difference between scanning software and document capture software.

Now if you are using iSeries, document capture software is better than scanning software. And now you will have a question for this. 

Let’s discover benefits of document capture software. 

The first benefit of document capture software is that it is efficient. It can automatically identify, extract, name, archive and eliminate keystrokes. Normally, officers manually do such task. However with document capture software like iCapture of inFORM Decisions, you only press the scan button and do other things while waiting document capture software does its mission. 

Another benefit of document capture software is that it offers a standardized process. With document capture software, all tasks are repeated the same every time. As the result, you are not afraid that scanning, naming, extracting, and archiving your documents are different when you give the same documents to different officers. 

The third benefit of document capture software is that document capture software has an ability to integrate other software. 

They are 3 major benefits of iSeries document capture software. As you can see, automation is good for your business whether your company is small or large. 

Source: http://www.informdecisions.com/open-platform-products/
Keyword: iSeries scanning

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10 powerful iSeries products of inFORM Decisions

It is no doubt that iSeries, an IBM's midrange server line designed for small businesses and departments in large enterprises, brings a lot of benefits. However, there is a problem that there are a lot of options when many IBM iSeries products are offered out there. 

If you are looking to these products, you will realize that many companies providing iSeries products boast their powerful integration capabilities. However, you do not know whether these benefits are real and make sure that these iSeries products are really good for your business. And in fact, you cannot compare iSeries products to find best ones because they have their own advantages. 

However, you may love using a suite of iSeries products. If so, I would like recommend a powerful suite of iSeries products of inFORM Decisions including 10 powerful iSeries products. 

1. iDocs: The Nerve Center for inFORM’s Powerful Document Automation

2. iDocs Designer: A powerful user-friendly forms designer for multi-platform environments

3. iForms: iSeries laser form generation for the IBM i

4. Smart Router: Rules-Based Processing and Distribution for iSeries – System i Spool Files

5. iMail: iMail Spool File Report and Form Management

6. iFax: iFax Spool File Report and Form Management

7. iPDF : The Native PCL to PDF Converter

8. iCapture: Feature-rich, affordable document capture and scanning solution

9. iView: Web-based Content Management Solution for the iSeries, System i and Power Systems

10. iSign: IBM i native Mobile Signature Capture

These powerful iSeries products have their own features and advantages. In fact, to list all things, it takes much time because you cannot image that they have a ton of benefits. However, all iSeries products of inFORM Decisions are designed to help improve your business process and make your iSeries environment more efficient. They have an easy-to-use interface and powerful integration capabilities. 

To get further details about all benefits of these products, you can visit this site: http://www.informdecisions.com/ibm-iseries-products/

After reading information on the site, you can find that those products are better than others in the same sector. Share your comments about them to help people understand more.

Author: Sharah - inFORM Decisions

Keywords: AP Automation, as400 scan

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