Wirth Consulting

For in-depth print and business-process workflow research and insight

Kodak Alaris Launches New Network-Connected Document Scanners

by · Published · Updated

Alaris AX INfuse Scanner product photography, BPO, Service Bureau

Kodak Alaris today launched a new wave of network-connected document-scanning solutions that it says are aimed at tackling the most difficult pain points organizations face when onboarding information into business applications.

It says the new Alaris INfuse Smart Connected Scanning Solution and the Kodak Scan Station 730EX Plus Scanner automate business processes by  connecting document capture to existing business systems and the cloud. According to the firm, benefits include fewer touch points and less human error.

The Alaris INfuse Solution integrates directly with enterprise applications and enables customers to carry out tasks in hours which, in the past, may have taken days to complete.

Kodak Alaris says the inspiration for INfuse comes directly from channel partner and end-user feedback. Three key components include:

  • Partner Software Application – An Alaris channel partner or solution provider (typically an ISV or Integrator) provides a cloud-based enterprise solution such as invoice processing, medical records management, or customer account management. The partner’s software or line-of-business application integrates with Alaris APIs.
  • INfuse Management Software is said to provide an easy end-user set-
    up, remote configuration and fleet management through a bi-directional API provided by Alaris. End users simply scan a smart set-up sheet provided by the partner and they are up and running, reducing upfront and ongoing management costs.
  • INfuse AX Scanner is said to be a “smart” network scanning device that requires no PC or software/drivers, and which securely transfers data, metadata, and finished image files directly into a business process. INfuse offers enterprise-level security, including a separate data path and control path to isolate confidential content for secure transmission. The INfuse AX Scanner can be configured to carry the partner’s branding on its display.

The INfuse Solution connects to the Alaris partner’s business process and enables end users to onboard content directly into that workflow. When a scan is successfully transmitted and form fields are validated, the end user receives real-time acknowledgement and immediate exception notifications. This means missing forms, signatures, and other critical
information can be detected and corrected instantly.

“Exception handling and the opportunity for immediate corrective action is critical,” commented Don Lofstrom, president and general manager for Kodak Alaris. “Reconstructing and re-scanning documents is difficult and costly. Bi-directional communication enabled by Alaris APIs is a game changer. It places INfuse in a category by itself – a smart, connected scanning solution with IoT capabilities for today’s information capture market.”

Kodak Scan Station 730EX Plus Scanner

Also new from Alaris is the Kodak Scan Station 730EX Plus Scanner. Kodak Alaris says the Scan Station 730EX Plus is an integrated network scanner that securely automates document capture and allows for fully finished files to be scanned directly into business processes.

As with INfuse, the Scan Station is a network-connected solution that sits at the edge of workflows and operates in a wide range of customer environments. It offers embedded Microsoft Windows 10 IOT Enterprise Operating System and network domain authentication for secure log-in.

Kodak Alaris says the new Scan Station is ideal for capture and advanced processing such as OCR, all done by the scanner. It’s specifically designed for integrators to create custom solutions. Partner applications can be loaded on the scanner, extending the capture solution to address the needs of the partner and end user.

 Benefits of “Edge” Capture

Kodak Alaris explains that onboarding content is most efficiently done “at the edge” of an organization, in distributed locations, and at the first possible touch point.

Until now, it says, the added cost of host PCs, provisioning and ongoing support has made edge capture cost prohibitive for many organizations and partners. As a solution provider, it’s difficult, complex, and costly to install and remotely manage hundreds or thousands of scanners at customer sites. However, the firm says, the latest  network-connected solutions from Alaris offer simplified remote installation, device management and updating.

More Resources