Optical Character Recognition is a modern technology that converts images of typewritten, handwritten or printed text into machine-encoded text that is editable. For instance, you could scan and upload a photograph of a newspaper article using an OCR tool, and the text from the image would be converted into text that can be edited.
With mobile applications that are connected to OCR technology, you can now convert text images into editable text instantly. Optical Character Recognition tech is being used more and more in various industries. Here are some of the best business benefits of OCR.
Data Entry Becomes Much Easier and Precise with OCR
Industries of all kinds can benefit from OCR, especially when they use the technology for data entry. For instance, it can be used for the data entry of business documents like invoices, passports, receipts, and bank statements.
OCR is also used by traffic control for Automatic Number Plate Recognition, at airports for information extraction, and in many other ways. Let us take a look at the online casino industry. In recent years, online live casinos have become very popular. At a live casino, you play games like roulette or poker in real-time with human dealers located in a studio. The actions taken by the dealer during the live streams are converted into data thanks to OCR software, and specialized OCR cameras allow all card symbols, dice rolls, roulette wheel numbers, and so on, to be recorded and turned into data that is then placed onto the screen, helping to make live casinos a truly interactive experience for players.
Digitizing Paper Documents Improves Efficiency
Digitizing paper documents has many benefits, and it is now easy to do that with OCR technology. Besides helping to save paper usage, OCR allows all types of records and files to be archived, sorted, shared and searched. File management systems then become much more efficient. A real-life example is getting a business card at a tradeshow.
Instead of having to manually enter the information into a file management system, OCR software can instantly convert the card’s information into a digital and editable format. Another example is using OCR to read and convert PDF documents that may otherwise require lengthy cut-and-paste processes to make them editable. Basically, using OCR to digitize paper documents saves a lot of time and improves efficiency.
OCR Provides Assistive Solutions to Your Customers, Clients, and Employees
You will obviously want your business to cater to all types of people. With OCR technology, it is easier than ever before to make text documents available to visually impaired customers, clients, or employees. OCR takes a written text and converts it into a text-to-speech application, making your content accessible to all. The more you make your content accessible and available in different formats, the more you can build a positive brand image and attract more customers and more sales.
OCR Enables Mailroom Automation
OCR technology can easily extract data and create index listings, which is why it is used in mailroom automation. With fast data access and highly organised data, OCR software creates automation in the mailroom for seamless and efficient operations. It also reduces costs in shipping management processes.
OCR Provides Fewer Errors and More Security
Because OCR can read and convert important documents like passports, driver’s licenses, and license plates, it is ideal for handling various forms of personal identification with the most minimal of errors. All kinds of businesses can benefit from using OCR technology to verify user identities in real-time. It helps to prevent fraud attempts that use fake documents by comparing the documents with database-stored documents.
Thus, OCR creates fewer errors and provides more security when it comes to checking the personal information of employees, customers, clients, and others.
