Image by: LuckyStep48, ©2019 Getty Images

Targeting the edge of the organization, Kodak Alaris unveiled two network-connected scanning solutions this week with the introduction of the Alaris INfuse Smart Connected Scanning Solution and the Kodak Scan Station 730EX Plus Scanner. The latest devices from the upstate New York-based company aim to bring edge capture—capture that occurs at the point of origin—closer than ever before to enterprise business processes and systems.

Not requiring a host PC, these solutions automate information workflows, allowing users to scan content directly into their business processes from distributed locations into the organization’s central network or cloud-based storage leveraging customized connectors from Alaris.

©2019 Kodak Alaris

Using a bi-directional API, the INfuse Solution allows two-way communication to existing customized software (e.g., from an independent software vendor or integrator) or to the organization’s line of business applications. These smart devices come packaged with a scannable set-up sheet to deploy pre-configured workflows automatically.

The INfuse Management Software supports integration, device provisioning, monitoring, and fleet management with a centralized web interface and supports Microsoft Azure Cloud and Amazon Cloud environments, reducing the cost-prohibitive nature of edge capture. The bi-directional API executes rules-based exception handling that is defined by the business process with real-time exception notifications for end users, such as missing forms, signatures, and other critical information.

“Exception handling and the opportunity for immediate corrective action is critical,” said Don Lofstrom, President and General Manager of Alaris, a Kodak Alaris business. “Bi-directional communication enabled by Alaris APIs is a game changer.”

©2019 Kodak Alaris

The Scan Station 730EX Plus is powered by the ABBYY optical character recognition (OCR) engine, which converts documents to text-searchable PDFs, delivering them to configurable destinations, such as email, network share, FTP sites, or SharePoint On-Premises, all within the scanner.

The Scan Station is aimed primarily at the Alaris partner ecosystem, as the device has been designed with the integrator in mind to create custom solutions or to load partner applications directly to the scanner to extend the capabilities of the capture solution.

The Scan Station supports network domain authentication for secure log-in and integrates directly with existing business processes by allowing organizations to port their Windows 10 application or deliver data to applications automatically with built-in barcode reading.

Offerings from Alaris, including scanners, software, and services, are available through their partner network worldwide.

Allison Lloyd serves as the Editor of DOCUMENT Strategy Media. She delivers thought leadership on strategic and plan-based solutions for managing the entire document, communication, and information process. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonYLloyd.