Maryland Rolls Out The Red Carpet For TAWPI 2005

Written by Brian Sherman

(Baltimore)--- During the mass immigration period of the 1800s to early 1900s, Baltimore was the second largest point of entry to the United States (second only to the New York area) for those coming to the new world. While not of the same scope and historic magnitude, purveyors and end users of remittance and forms processing technology set course for the city July 24-27 for TAWPI's (The Association for Work Process Improvement's) 35th annual Forum and Expo.

The event offered educational sessions in data capture, imaging, and the processing of payments, remittance, mail, documents, and forms. TAWPI's schedule was packed with lectures, presentations, case studies, an expo hall with more than 90 exhibitors, and several site tours. Attendees were treated to an assortment of excursions, with tours offered to the Comptroller of Maryland's Office, Verizon, and JP Morgan Chase, with a virtual site tour of Wachovia being held in the convention center.

TAWPI's conference was successful by doing what most other large IT shows have failed to do— paying attention to its constituents and roots in its core market (remittance and processing). While the traffic on the expo floor was slow during the majority of show hours, many of the exhibitors felt it had more to do with the extended time it was open (10 AM to 5 PM Monday and Tuesday), than the attendance of the show. I have seen shows of similar size create additional excitement, and appear to be busier, by reducing the vendor exhibition hours. The case studies and presentations I sat in on were well attended, with two of them standing room only (with seating capacity more than 120).

The presentations and case studies available to attendees extended beyond the usual technology specific offerings you see at many shows. Writing an RFP (request for proposals), exception automation, outsourcing of document management functions, and Check 21 updates were just some of the unique topics covered. Attendees that wanted training to be a certified industry expert were offered a one-day ICP (information capture professional) workshop, held Sunday prior to the conference commencement. Hosted by associates of the consulting group IMERGE, successful completion of the course lead to a certification in remittance processing, data capture, imaging operations, and forms processing.

Case studies covered markets such as the federal government, utilities, ARC (accounts receivable conversion), lockbox technologies, check images, CRM (customer relationship manager), performance in remittance processing, and invoice processing. Resellers and end users were able to choose from more than 35 sessions at this year's event and could network with other companies and vendors in several receptions, breakfasts, and lunches. The attendees were even treated to a little creative entertainment with a musical spoof of the information capture industry during TAWPI's awards presentations and membership celebration.

While at the show, I had the opportunity to meet with several vendors' executives to discuss the products and services they were marketing to the TAWPI audience. Below are some highlights from my conversations and investigation of the show floor.

Adobe Systems demonstrated its LifeCycle suite of forms software, including Forms, Bar Coded Forms, Form Manager, and Reader Extensions. As part of the company's Intelligent Document Platform, this software allows users to capture relevant information and automate the exchange process of the appropriate data. Features include the application of dynamic bar codes (information can be altered as required), document management and monitoring, and secure online information exchange. "Our goal is to demonstrate that our products are more than just stagnant documents (PDFs), but provide a platform for information delivery to the end users," said M.J. Johnson, product marketing manager with Adobe. Insurance companies, banks, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and transportation companies are a few of the businesses adopting the LifeCycle platform.

AFS (Advanced Financial Solutions) provides image-based and conventional check processing solutions to the financial services industry. The company received TAWPI's "Hall of Fame" honor at the Baltimore event, awarded annually to one company that has made significant contributions to the advancement of information capture and management technology. It was a busy show for AFS, with its introduction of AFS Direct Point of Sale (POS), a cashiering solution with check image capture that permits remote check deposit directly from the point of sale system. Retail merchants can benefit from fewer trips to the bank, improved cash flow, and a shortened collection cycle.

AnyDoc Software offered a variety of forms processing solutions for attendees to choose from at TAWPI. Each of the company's software solutions includes CAPTUREit (for scanning), OCR for AnyDoc (for data extraction and collection), and BROKERit (for the storage and retrieval of invoice data and images). AnyDoc's forms processing solutions (AnyDocINVOICE, AnyDocEOB, and AnyDocCLAIMS) are available for end users with specific invoice needs. AnyDocINVOICE allows companies to scan, capture, and store all the images and data from incoming invoices locally, or remotely with IP transport. AnyDocEOB (explanation of benefits) automates the time consuming process of entering and processing the difficult-to-read forms while AnyDocCLAIMS performs the same functions specific to medical forms.
For additional information on AnyDoc's products and services, click here.

BancTec's focus at TAWPI was to showcase several products and solutions that bridge the gaps that exist between remittance processing and ECM. In addition to emphasizing its DocuScan 9000, a high-speed, mixed-document scanner, the company highlighted its eFIRST suite of products (eFIRST Capture, eFIRST Process, and eFIRST Archive). DocuScan 9000's advanced document feeder has the ability to feed co-mingled checks, envelopes, tri-fold letters and legal size papers in a single batch. Users benefit from its flexibility to handle all incoming documents, including payments and inquiries. eFIRST adds a dimension beyond scanning, with the capability of capturing, indexing, routing, searching, and retrieving information required for your company's operations.

BancTec also introduced PayCourier 5.0, an updated remittance solution with distributed processing, advanced exception, and enhanced security capabilities. The new version of PayCourier 5.0 has can distribute work across multiple sites based on volume fluctuations and scheduling while its PayCourier Check 21 provides specific check processing in a stand alone system, or use with legacy infrastructure.
For additional information on BancTec's products and services, click here.

Carreker demonstrated its NeXGen Remittance solution that uses advanced image workflow and character recognition on a single integrated platform for retail, wholesale, and exception payments. This solution provides small to midsize organizations with capabilities that have been available to the large banks, such as customizable retail and wholesale remittance processing. NeXGen Remittance also offers updated payment clearing options, including ACH (automated clearing house), ARC, image exchange, and conventional paper currency letters.

Eastman Kodak came to TAWPI with a new dedicated check processing scanner and software solution, with the inference that additional remittance products and services will follow in the near future. The Kodak i6030 Check Scanner was developed for companies needing a small footprint, such as bank teller windows and retail counters. It features a 25-item document feeder and handles up to 40 pages per minute. "The i6030 is a point of presentment device, designed specifically for the spaces where transactions occur and check scanning can be most beneficial to a companies operations," said Andy Lawrence, solutions business manager with Kodak. At the booth, the company's representatives actively promoted the t6000 Client Software for Transaction Application, which ensures scan accuracy and automates data entry with its recognition technologies. When integrated with Kodak's check scanners and its t6000 Server Software (a simple procedure), it can create a complete check clearing solution.
For additional information on Eastman Kodak's products and services, click here.

Fairfax Imaging presented some interesting solutions for forms processing, including Fax-To-EDI (electronic data interchange) to receive purchase orders from customers by fax, Fax-to-XML for purchase orders delivered to Web-based systems, and E-Mail-To-EDI to receive electronic purchase orders from customers. Fairfax's other solutions include forms processing, data capture, and checks and remittance processing.

Hyland Software promoted several of its OnBase vertical solutions to the TAWPI attendees, including those for financial services, lending, government, education, life sciences, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and transportation. OnBase offers a collection of modules for meeting a wide array of content distribution needs including enterprise storage solutions, Web publishing, fax, e-mail, printing, and CD/DVD.
For additional information on Hyland Software's products and services, click here.

IBM IFP (Intelligent Forms Processing) is a small, but growing, component of the consulting services division of "Big Blue." IFP 6.4 is a high-volume image and data capture forms processing system using ICR (intelligent character recognition) and OCR (optical character recognition) technology. This allows the processing and extraction of information from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured documents. The Comptroller's Office for the State of Maryland hosted a tour during the conference and demonstrated its use of the IFP platform. The comptroller's office lowered its data entry labor costs; reduced paper handling, management and storage costs; improved taxpayer service by permitting timely access to tax information; and increased tax revenues with improved auditing and collection operations.

IBML (Imaging Business Machines, LLC) provides image capturing solutions with its high-speed, high-resolution scanning for markets such as banking and financial services, government, service bureaus, transportation, healthcare, and mailroom processing. The ImageTrac III scanner provides low- to medium-volume customers with the flexibility to combine units into a unified ImageTrac scanning infrastructure as business needs grow.

The ImageTrac IV is focused on high-volume processors with its high-speed, high-resolution color capture, integrated ICR for document identification, indexing, and sort pocket options. The company's ImageTrac Scanning Platform consists of the scanners, SoftTrac user interface, and professional services. ImageTrac scanners offer front and rear color image capture, multiple image outputs, bar code, 2-D bar code, ICR, MICR, and multiple sort pockets.
For additional information on IBML's products and services, click here.

Opex stole the show at TAWPI with the public unveiling of its new Eagle mail sorting, opening, and imaging machine. Eagle features the ability to take an incoming remittance from envelope to an electronic file ready for deposit preparation in under six seconds. The process categorizes the envelope, opens it on three sides, extracts and images the contents, and sorts the output appropriately. Eagle eliminates manual steps and secondary automation processes, such as performing multiple passes for difficult items. With one touch, a worker can complete the entire remittance process. Its open architecture allows a variety of software to be integrated for a complete solution targeted to different markets and business requirements.
For additional information on Opex' products and services, click here.

Orbograph, an international supplier of advanced image character recognition technology, was busy at TAWPI demonstrating the breadth of its solutions. The company actively promoted its Key-Pay Convene, a business process outsourcing option for businesses looking to add remote keying to their operations. While the repercussions of outsourcing have been heavily debated as detrimental to national employment, offshoring is only one component of it. Key-Pay Convene system provides the customer with a choice to use Orbograph's services or an outsource site of its own, including local agencies with hard-to-employ workers (rehabilitation or achievement centers are two examples). The software identifies the type of document, uses OCR/ICR to extract relevant data, and sends unreadable information fields via a secure Internet connection to the outsource destination. Keyers enter information based on the image they are sent and then Key-Pay validates that information, reassembles the document and sends it back to the server. Organizations that process a large amount of forms (checks, medical records, and income tax returns, for example) can benefit from this solution.

Scan-Optics emphasized its various service offerings for those needing help with document processing and demonstrated its SO Series and SO Series/OCR high-speed scanners. Document preparation, imaging, and data capture correction are all part of Scan-Optics' outsourcing services for companies needing to reduce in-house scanning costs or add to their processing capabilities. Document conversion for back office files and business continuation services for image processing needs following a disaster are also available. Many companies have their data and relevant information covered in case of a fire or other business catastrophe, but how will they operate without scanning abilities? Scan-Optics can offer a quick solution to get them back in business.
For additional information on Scan-Optics' products and services, click here.

Wausau Financial Systems managed two booths at TAWPI to maximize the attendees' exposure to its offerings, including the Optima 3 ImageRPS image-based remittance processing solution. Wausau announced that it is the first company to integrate its software with the new OPEX Eagle with Wide Open Image Export Module (IEM). Combined with the ImageRPS integrated ARC module, image quality engine, and Check 21-ready image exchange file exports, it eliminates many of the paper handling steps outside the mailroom.

The Optima 3 DigitalLockbox is a distributed capture solution with the ability to integrate several types of documents, including checks, checks with stubs, and correspondence. This software offering provides a single point of check input, captures the images, and forwards them using IP to their destinations.
For additional information on Wausau Financial Systems' products and services, click here.

Other Images From TAWPI 2005

---

Brian Sherman is chief editor of ECM Connection and Data Storage Connection