Overview of TAWPI Exposition and Trade Show Held at the Navy Pier on 12-14 July 1998
by Herbert F. Schantz
The 28th EXPO at the TAWPI annual meeting, AChicago/98@, was an outstanding success for both the 2,000 attendees and the 78 exhibitors. This year there were 22 satisfied first-time exhibitors at the show. The attendance at the TAWPI Forum and Conferences were above expectations and a new record for overall paid attendance was established. With excellent clear cool July weather and an exciting location, the Expo and Forum, provided an excellent vehicle to educate the industry=s management and professionals on the latest work process technologies, services, and systems available. Chicago/98 was a huge success in meeting these objectives for the over 2,000 attendees, who profited from the information provided, the facilities, and the outstanding keynote speakers. At this meeting, the new president of TAWPI, Linda O=Hara was introduced to the membership. Her presentation and that of Chair- Elect Carol Curran were visionary and motivational. Both were well received by the over 1,000 attendees at the annual meeting and breakfast on Monday 13 July.
Chicago/98 was a big success, educational, and FUN. On a scale of 0 to 100, it was at least a 99. AGO TAWPI.@
The following systems and services reflect a sampling of the products that were elegantly exhibited at TAWPI=s Expo 98 on the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois.
A2iA
This French company exhibited Intecheck. This is a CAR and LAR recognition Software, which can be installed on a PC Pentium under Windows NT 4.0. For check processing the OCR product is expected to have at least a 65% first pass check recognition with a 99% character read rate. A2iA believes they can attain at least 70% first pass capture rate on new upgrades. On remittance applications they expect an 85% item capture rate with a 99% character read rate. In Europe; Unisys, NCR, and BancTec have the product installed and in production. A major reference site is Societe= Generale which is a large bank in Paris.
Amos, Inc
Amos was founded in 1981. It is Europe=s leading imaging remittance processing software developer. It is also NCR=s choice as its Worldwide Partner for remittance, giro, and other item processing applications with its 1COMPARE product. Amos has designed its solutions for NCR=s hardware, where it is installed in over 300 sites worldwide in various applications. These include; financial, service bureaus, insurance, mail order, utility companies and governments.
Discover I Compare Suite, is AMOS= leading imaging document processing solution and NCR Corporation=s choice in 1996. Windows NT-, UNIX, or OS/2 based, with one 300 Wholetail/Wholesale/Retail installations worldwide processing from 300 items/day to over half-million, I Compare is a well received imaging workflow application in the industry. It can process multiple customer=s documents intermixed without pre-sorting. Workload prioritization, and instant-copy-and Bpaste new accounts/document creation are some of its features.
Associated Solutions, Inc
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Associated Solutions, Inc. (ASI), is a proven leader in the United States document management and forms processing markets. Since 1992, ASI has provided high-quality, high-speed forms processing and data capture software components to Systems Integrators and other partners worldwide who are involved in the automation of work processes using Electronic Document Management Systems. As a result of their products= accuracy, scalability, and reliability in Microsoft-NT-based environments, ASI has attracted prominent partners in the OCR/forms processing industry such as Eastman Software (formerly Wang), Mitek, CGK, and BancTec. The majority of ASI=s business comes from US Government Agencies such as the Census Bureau, Social Security Administration, and US Navy as well as from Fortune 500 companies such as EDS, Prudential and Banc One. Bob Drew, CEO, was seen at the exhibit meeting with attendees and new clients. Pete Flora and Tom Polivka were also active at the ASI exhibit.
At EXPO/98 Associate Solutions, Inc., (ASI) announced the first release of ICR3 B Enterprise Edition at the EXPO. This new product, incorporates a new high-performance pipeline architecture, is targeted for large-scale enterprise-wide forms operations that process in excess of 100,000 forms per day. The enhanced 32-bit architecture is optimized for distributed Microsoft NT environments and is scalable across clusters of multiple NT servers.
BancTec, Inc
BancTec provides single-source solutions to banking, insurance, healthcare, government, utility, telecommunications, and retail customers worldwide. These include: Electronic payment processing solutions-including automated transactions, check authorization; image-based processing solutions-including, scanning, reading, repairing, sorting, archiving/retrieving; Professional services-including data center outsourcing, network support; Integrated information management and workflow solutions; Support products and supplies. Dave Conklin was at the exhibit interfacing with attendees and visitors. Dave is Vice President of Document Imaging Technology Development and very knowledgeable of the BancTec scanner capabilities. Robin Bunting from Plexus was also interview at the BancTec exhibit.
Caere Corporation
Caere exhibited a large variety of EDMS automation tools at their exhibit. Caere showed not only hand-held OCR and desktop batch remittance processors (Automated Data Entry products), but also developer tools for OCR integration (DevKit) and production OCR systems for full text conversion needs (M/Series). These products were demonstrated and explained at the booth by Charlie Montague. ACharlie@ is Forum/99 Chair, and a recognized industry expert in full text OCR technology and systems.
Caere is the industry leader in text recognition, (OCR) and a leading provider of intelligent document management, forms processing, and image recognition technologies. Caere>s mission is to simplify the way people gather, access, and use information, especially from the desktop.
Cardiff Software
Cardiff Software is a leader in automated data collection solutions. Cardiff=s TELEform family of products are optimized to create, distribute, and read information from paper, electronic, and Internet/Intranet forms accurately. Cardiff Software=s family of products shown at EXPO/98 included: TELEform Standard, TELEform Elite, TELEform Internet Solution, and TELEform Filler. Dennis Clerke, President of Cardiff Software, was present at the show and at the exhibit to greet visitors and attendees.
CereSoft, Inc.
CereSoft, Inc. from Silver Spring, Maryland exhibited its new and robust FormAgent (OCR) Suite. This is a complete form processing system featuring Freestyle Handwriting Recognition (OCR). FormAgent employs an advanced recognition technology capable of recognizing cursive Handwriting, OCR, OMR and Barcode into computer processable ASCII codes. FormAgent is a 32 bit WIN 95-98 and NT. It is completely scalable from a single user office version, to full enterprise multi-department-user system. Bob Foley and Hsing-Hen Chen, President of CereSoft were at the show.
CGK
CGK Computer Gesellschaft Konstanz GmbH was founded in 1974 from Siemens Inc. CGK is a world leading German high-tech company. CGK focuses primarily on the data processing markets. CGK offers reliable accurate systems and solutions for automatic data entry. These include the ScanStar color scanner, ReadStar and AEG recognition software. All were are exhibited and demonstrated by industry expert James Tauber and Michael Brecthaupt, who was also a presenter at the Forum.
Curran Data Technologies
Curran Data Technologies, Inc. (CDT), is a subsidiary of Star Technologies, Inc. It is a leading data entry and document imaging services company, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. CDT provides a wide range of cost-effective imaging outsourcing services for processing HCFA claims, tax returns, orders, personnel records, and other applications. Bob Compton, CEO of Star Technologies and Carol Curran President of CDT were in the Star Technologies booth to meet with attendees.
Dakota Imagining
Dakota Imaging is a software developer providing proven business solutions for automated document processing applications. They demonstrated Transform (solutions enable organizations which increases system productivity while dramatically reducing the costs associated with manual data entry. The product has a unique end-to-end capability, open architecture, swift installation and comprehensive support, which differentiates Dakota Imaging as a solution provider.
Datacap, Inc.
Datacap is an industry leader with off-the-shelf, highly scalable and robust software for data and document capture applications. Its client/server software, Datacap Task Master and Paper Keyboard, are used by government agencies and Fortune 1000 companies worldwide to transform paper into digital information, streamline mailroom operations and efficiently feed document, ERP and other knowledge management systems.
DataCap introduced Task Master 2000 a powerful, scalable total capture platform, which is available on the market today. It offers organizations a migration path from manual data entry systems to simultaneous, automated data and document capture applications. Its batch workflow and management capabilities allow for the efficient distribution of work to client stations, and provide administrators with work-in-process viewing, active re-routing and comprehensive reporting. Its 32-bit client/server architecture supports all popular networking protocols and operations systems B making Task Master the ideal choice for high-performance total capture environments. As in traditional, Scott Blau, President of DataCap was present at the EXPO and the booth greeting attendees.
Data Management Assistance Corporation (DMAC)
DMAC showed Year 2000 compliant data entry, image entry and OCR repair software. This software can be used to upgrade from Nixdorf DCPA or DPEX, REI=s Tartan, TextWare=s De-2 & others including Unisys & McDonnel Douglas. Unibase by DMAC Imaging lets users build on the existing skills of the people to move smoothly into image entry.
DMAC announced its latest release of Unibase at the EXPO. This product supports entry from multi-page tiff files, with document or image forward and back commands. Unibase by DMAC, a complete image entry, OCR reject, and data entry software environment is compatible with most Microsoft, Novell and UNIX software platforms.
DataMark, Inc.
DataMark one of the nations largest and highest quality data entry service bureaus specializes in Remote Remittance Processing, Document Scanning Solutions and Data Entry Services. DataMark uses proven sophisticated telecommunications networks to remotely process remittances for several major U.S. clients in their El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico data centers. They currently key over 1,000,000 items a day, and image or microfilm over 200,000. Processed forms include remittance, airbills, credit card applications, medical claims, and specialty forms.
It was announced at the EXPO 98 that DataMark, Inc., and Eastman Kodak Company have joined forces to provide Document Scanning Solutions for customers who have a need for fast, economical document scanners. DataMark can provide a complete system for document scanning to include a quality Kodak Scanner specifically designed for the client=s application, as well as offer the interface board and software designed for efficient, cost-effective document scanning.
DataMark is pleased to announce the capability to provide Remote Remittance Transaction Processing. DataMark has successfully installed remote remittance systems for three different customers and by late summer 1998 will be processing more than 35 million check transactions per month at six locations. President, Bill Holmes and his wife Becky were present in the booth with Bill Randag and Ken Jourdon during the entire EXPO.
Document Technologies, Inc.
The EasyRead 240 is the Abest of breed@ gray-scale display subsystem in the imaging market. The 20 inch flat profile monitor reduces eyestrain (up to 66%) while increasing reading productivity (up to 30%) for production applications. The EasyRead 240 provides the sharpest images for key data entry applications, data entry, and scan station users. These gray scale displays are sold by Resellers and System Integrators. Both Mike Cohn and President Bob Wallace were active at the DTI exhibit.
FormWare Corporation
FormWare the leader in Forms Processing Software demonstrated its award winning high performance software for forms processing systems, image capture and indexing, post recognition processing sub-systems, image data entry and key data entry on client-server, standalone PC and many document imaging platforms. FormWare products are used to automate data capture from forms in order to populate database and document management systems in a more efficiently. President Reynolds Bish and Mark Golden were interviewed at the exhibit at EXPO/98.
ImageScan, Inc.
Image Scan showed image-based software for wholesale and retail lockbox payment processing. ImageScan=s new Windows NT-based Image Lockbox System processes both types of payments in a single integrated two-pass image system. Customers include twenty-five banks using the NCR 7780 or Unisys DP500 check transports. The company=s solution encompasses integrated software from FormWare, Macrosoft and Mitek. President Tom Scott was at the exhibit meeting with visitors. Mark Brousseau was also at the booth.
Imaging Business Machines LLC
Imaging Business Machines (IBML) ImageTrac color scanner was shown scanning a wide variety of paper sizes and weights. The open track design allowed for faster jam recovery and exceptional throughput rates. ImageTrac color images are ideally suited for Akey from image@, OCR and web applications. AIBML=s ActiveX and InputAccel modules provide and efficient way to interface the scanner and develop applications,@ explained Derek Murphy who was at the EXPO.
Infoscore
Infoscore exhibited its PayData payment processing system. It included many features, functions, and options, It is the only remittance system capable of handling any and all types of remittance at any volumes. It is the ideal solution for all commercial as well as financial retail and wholesale lockbox processing.
J&B Software
Founded in 1984, J&B Software showed solutions for the payment processing industry. Their flagship, TMS IMAGE, provides leading edge image-based remittance and check processing on BancTec/IBM, Kliendienst, NCR, ScanOptics, and Unisys equipment. At the booth, a full demonstration on image options including export, host attach OCR, archive, mark sense, MICR database, and distributed data entry were demonstrated.
At EXPO/98, J&B Software announced the availability of the new Mill98-2 version of its flagship Remittance application TMS-ImageJ. This release demonstrates the strategy and commitment of J&B Software to the NT environment. It also deploys extensive improvements and new features to the whole system with special emphasis.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems is responsible for the design, integration, installation, and support of a system to digitally capture information for the year 2000 Census. The Commerce Department Census Bureau awarded the contract to the Lockheed Martin led team of Optimum Solution Corporation, FormWare Corporation, Associated Solutions Inc., EDS, CACI, and CGK. The new system demonstrated in the booth will reduce the cost of data collection and provide for increased accuracy as the United States counts its population at the beginning of the century. Present at the exhibit were Jim Shay and Ira Sadowsky from Optimum Solutions, a teaming partner with Lockheed-Martin. George Walden, Vice President of Lockheed-Martin was also interviewed in the booth.
Lucent Technologies
The Lucent Courtesy Amount Reader (LCAR) shown at the EXPO/98 was a software-only solution for high-performance, high-accuracy check recognition. Proof of Deposit and Remittance Processing applications can generate rapid labor savings with LCAR. LCAR uses patented Bell Labs technologies in the amount finding, neural network and amount analysis processes to quickly locate and recognize courtesy amounts on both personal and business checks.
ManTech International
ManTech is a provider of enterprise-wide financial processing, vital records and document management solutions. They focused on developing core business applications that improve customer service and reduce operating costs were exhibited at EXPO/98. Through the acquisition of Advanced Recognition Limited, UK, ManTech has fulfilled its mission to become a turnkey provider of highly scalable item processing, records management, and forms/claims processing business solutions.
At EXPO/98 ManTech announced Captor 2.0 a highly versatile, yet cost effective, NT-based forms and remittance processing application for all types of mid-volume applications. Captor 2.0 provides automated data extraction, correction, validation, and verification. It also provides for automated encoding, endorsing, deposit document generation, and dynamic end point sorting. It also contains, automated statistics collection and report generation; user-defined job flow and a rich collection of administration support and system security.
Microsystems Technologies, Inc.
Microsystems Technology, Inc. (MTI), is a supplier of leading-edge software solutions for automating data management exhibited its flagship forms processing product, OCR for Forms at EXPO/98. MTI showed six additional products: IDR for Reports, Information Xchange, Workload Manager, FAXManager, Information Broker, and Uni-Form, completing MTI=s suite of data management products.
Mitek
Mitek Systems, Inc is a world leader in the development of automatic data capture recognition products, including state-of-the-art, neural net Intelligent Character Recognition technologies exhibited at the EXPO/98. Mitek=s products enable the automation of costly, labor intensive business functions such as check and remittance processing, forms processing, and data entry. The products shown include QuickStrokes API, Checkscript, Premier Forms Processor Pro (PFP Pro), Quick modules, and QuickFX. Seen at the Mitek booth were Elliot Wassarman, CEO, John Connor, and David Pintsov Senior Vice President.
At EXPO/98, Mitek introduced QuickFX, its new, highly accurate, form identification and Form/Template Removal software toolkit. QuickFX will significantly improve automatic data capture (ICR/OCR), forms processing, document imaging and storage performance. QuickFX provides automatic form identification, form registration, and form/template removal. It handles skewed or distorted documents, upside down, or landscape orientations, low-resolution faxed or scanned forms, dot-matrix print, machine-generated or hand-printed data. QuickFX reduces the image size by removing extraneous information such as pre-printed text, lines, and boxes; leaving only the filled-in data. It repairs the characters that are left, ensuring better recognition, enhanced throughput, and higher data capture accuracy rates.
NetVantage Inc.
A leading NCR Value Added Reseller, NetVantage exhibited ItemAge, its powerful, full-featured, flexible, and scaleable software solution that runs on multiple platforms and operates in both remittance and check processing modes with complete imaging capability. ItemAge (supports a fully integrated operation where cashiers (walk-in traffic) and back office transports must share common resources and data. NetVantage specializes in software customization to accommodate unique customer needs. Ken Bour, President of NetVantage was at EXPO/98 to meet with new and current clients.
OPEX Corporation
OPEX meets mail processing needs with its popular Model 51 Rapid Extraction Desk; System 150 fully-integrated extractor/orienter; Image Export Module; MPS-30 mail sorter; MPE 5.0 multi-purpose extractor; I.Q. Sort document sorter; and Compass, an automated check/Document orienter. The Quiet Jog joins an already-existing roster of fine OMATION products, including the Envelopener and the EV-2 sorter/verifier. These products were installed and operating at the EXPO. Al Stevens, President of Opex and TAWPI Hall-of-Frame member was seen at the exhibits as were Mark Stevens, Senior Vice President of OPEX and long time TAWPI member.
Orbograph
Orbograph, a supplier of check amount recognition technology to the financial industry exhibited at the EXPO/98. At EXPO/98 they introduced OrboCAR Gemini, a unique approach to ICR/CAR that yields remittance read rates between 75-80% from standard bitonal images. OrboCAR Gemini accomplishes this performance through advanced character-level voting mechanisms, combining the power of Orbograph=s recognition algorithms with the specialized performance of another leading courtesy amount recognition engine.
PowerScan
PowerScan, Inc., a subsidiary of Star Technologies, Inc., demonstrated PowerScan and StageWorks, a family of commercial off-the-shelf image capture and post-scan processing software. Star=s PowerScan subsidiary also demonstrated its PowerScan Image Capture software and its Stage Works Imaging Processing software. Bob Compton, CEO, and Curtis Abel President of PowerScan were in the Star Technologies booth to meet with attendees.
ReadSoft, Inc
ReadSoft demonstrated solutions for efficient data capture and forms recognition. AEyes and Hands for Forms@ can recognize and interpret hand printed and machine printed characters as well as check boxes and barcodes. ReadSoft offers a scaleable solution to suit every data capture application.
Scan-Optics, Inc.
For nearly 30 years, Scan-Optics has been in the business of designing and manufacturing information-processing systems used for imaging, data capture, document processing, storage and retrieval and information management. Scan-Optics, Inc., demonstrated its AExpress@ solution suite for the Tax, Proof of Delivery, and Order Entry markets and ImageEMC++ for the health care claims processing market. Scan-Optics= Series 9000 and award winning Model 7800 and 7400 Series scanners were also displayed and run. CEO Jim Mavel, Dick Goyette Senior Vice President, and Catherine Stephenson EXPO/98 Chair were active at the Scan-Optics booth.
Scan-Optics also displayed line of service offerings, including network services.
Southern Computer
Scan-Optics recently acquired Southern Computer Systems (SCS). At EXPO98 SCS demonstrated their Vista-Capture software development tools. Utilizing Microsoft ActiveX (OCX) controls, VistaCapture is an open-system development suite designed for rapid development of mission-critical data capture applications.
Tangent Systems, Inc.
Tangent Systems, Inc., exhibited at EXPO/98. They specialize in the Year 2000 Software solutions designed to process transactions like remittance, sales drafts, and proxies. Founded in 1984, by Steve Mach, Tangent is well known for its proven and flexible NT 4.0 based DocuTran software, Tangent has earned a reputation for timely and reliable implementations. The company also provides software application support services, on-site training, and software customization tools. President Steve Mack and Vice President Bruce Rennecker were at the booth meeting with attendees during the show.
TMS Sequoia
TMS Sequoia showed it new Scan Fax 4.0 product and enhancements. Scanfix 4.0 is now 80% faster and contains a built-in TWAIN driver. Also shown at EXPO/98 was the new Java Prizm, a proven solution for Intranet document imaging.
Ultra Systems
Ultra Systems= exhibit at EXPO/98 focused on White Mail Solutions using the TriCut 2000L mail opener with mill cutting technology for protecting multi-page triple folded documents. The TriFold 2000 single station mail opening extractor utilized mill cutting, eliminating damaged contents associated with remittance-exception mail processing. The Single Cut 100-mail opener also exhibited is a mill cutting solution designed for high-speed mail opening.
Unisys Corporation
Unisys is an information technology solutions provider exhibited at EXPO/98. Unisys has a portfolio of information services, technologies and third-party alliances to help clients capitalize on their information asset to enhance their competitiveness and responsiveness to customers. Unisys expertise is founded on the strengths of three global businesses: Information Services, providing consulting, application solutions, systems integration and outsourcing; Computer Systems, providing industry-leading technologies; and Global Customer Services, delivering comprehensive services and products supporting distributed computing environments.
At EXPO/98 Unisys announced significant productivity improvements to their scalable, NT-based remittance platforms. These include software-selectable, multi-line OCR reading and faster high-speed encode technology on the NDP 1150.
At EXPO/98 Unisys also demonstrated their new NDP 500-remittance solution with courtesy amount recognition. This new system reads and processes more than 60% of the matched payments automatically in a single pass at 500 dpm. This results in equipment and labor savings, and earlier deposits.
Wausau Financial Systems
Wausau Financial Systems (WFS), the leading supplier of item, image, and remittance processing solutions for financial and commercial businesses in the United States, exhibited at EXPO/98. With more than 250 employees supporting 700 sites worldwide, WFS are proud to be the recognized leader in the development of image processing solutions. WFS maintains a staff of system and support specialists to guarantee suitable interfaces, smooth installations and 24-hour assistance. WFS also offer a unique 100% money-back guarantee. Seen at the WFS booth were Bob Weiruch, CEO and Sara Stolzman meeting and greeting attendees.
Wheb Systems, Inc.
Wheb Systems, Inc., a provider of intelligent information capture software exhibited at EXPO/98. Wheb specializes in automating the unique mission critical business processes for the direct marketing, financial, government and tax, and auto and consumer lending industries. Randy Hawks, CEO and Jim Woodruff, Senior Vice President were present, as usual, in the booth meeting visitors and answering questions.
At EXPO/98 Wheb Systems introduced Captiva, which is an enterprise-class software solution designed specifically for processing high volumes of incoming applications and forms. Captiva utilizes the power of Microsoft NT to process 100,000 or more paper, fax, and Internet-based forms. Captiva will be available Fall, 1998.