Mr. Terry Balven, (Colonel USAF, Ret) was the keynote speaker at TAWPI Work Process/99 on Monday, August 2, at the Colorado Convention Center. Information Program Planning Director Balven is heading the USAF team that is implementing the integrated digital environment (IDE), which is mandated to change the way the Air Force “does work”, manages, and shares information.

The thrust of the IDE project is making sure everyone has access to current, accurate information. “Information starts to perish the minute a person writes a report,” says Balven. “Ten minutes after a report is written, you don’t know if the information is still current. If you can go to the source, you know that you always have the most current information.”

The integrated digital environment will ensure that all information is accurate and up to date and link all information resources so they are immediately accessible to authorized users worldwide. Making this happen requires a great cultural change because individuals work and thought processes must be transformed to make them compatible with a digital, instead of paper environment.

Mr. Balven explained how the United States Air Force is managing the change, and the tools; connectivity, information sharing, and corporate memory needed to create an integrated digital environment.

The following are my observations and analysis of the systems and software exhibited at TAWPI WORK PROCESS/99:

Microsystems Technology’s Information Xchange supports FileNet’s Panagon Capture as a destination, allowing end users to move images and data from an “OCR for Forms” source to a Panagon application quickly and easily. Mapping data form “OCR for Forms” to FileNet’s Panagon is virtually seamless through Information Xchange. The use of Information Xchange as the interface between “OCR for Forms” and Panagon Capture software is ideal for companies that handle large amounts of document information because it eliminates both custom coding and the manual importing of data. Microsystems’ Information Xchange transfers data from “OCR for Forms” and other sources to Panagon Capture, Access, DAO, or ODBC. It is the only data transport program that will move data to an imaging destination. Information Xchange is a powerful tool because it not only transfers data from a source to a destination but also cross-references the source data against a database. Any customizing that is needed can be done with VBScript. It also provides AccuZip to verify addresses from VBScript. A built-in scheduler runs jobs as well as anything else that can be run from a command line.

Orbograph, a provider of Courtesy Amount Recognition (CAR) solutions for the US Check Processing Industry, announced a breakthrough in recognition technology for Proof of Deposit (POD) applications with the ability of its new OrboCAR Trinity to accurately read 70% of the items during the initial pass. OrboCAR Trinity software, reads both the courtesy and legal amounts on checks, it was recently installed at ABC Bancorp of Moultrie, GA by Bisys Documents Solutions of Birmingham, AL.

The attainment of 70% document recognition in a POD operation where the bank required accuracy level is 99% is an important milestone in the partnership between Bisys Document Solutions and Orbograph. Bisys always believed that recognition technology should be a standard component of every image check processing system. The performance of OrboCAR Trinity with the Legal Amount Recognition (LAR) technology embedded in it will make a very good match with our new software release.

Orbograph’s newly released OrboCAR Trinity software reads both the courtesy and legal amounts on checks. It was recently installed at BancFirst of Oklahoma City, OK, by Advanced Financial Solutions Inc. (AFS). Commenting on the results, Gary Nelson, President of AFS, said: “The attainment of 70% recognition rates in a POD operation where the bank-required accuracy level is 99%, is going to alter people’s fundamental perceptions of image-based POD systems. Recognition technology and Power-Encode used to be an option that was only suitable for some of our customers. With 70% “kill rate”, we are going to see it becoming a standard feature demanded by end-users.”

The A2iA Check Read software recognizes both handprint and cursive handwriting from checks. The Check Reader system uses both courtesy amount recognition and legal amount recognition to assure the accurate recognition of the amount of the check. The A2iA software combines these two recognologies to effect an optimum reading performance. A2iA does not integrate outside software. The Check Reader suite contains an API interface, multi-threading capability and handles multi-documents. Started in 1991 in France, A21A has installed systems in more than 25 French banks.

Aguracy.com demonstrated its new software AQUIRT for wholesale and low volume remittance processing applications. AQUIRT is designed for end-user processing 200 or more checks and payment transactions daily. The AQUIRT PassONCE workflow software works with NCR’s check image scanner and Mitek’s Quick-strokes.

CereSoft software displayed the FormAgent forms processing system. They also demonstrated their Health Agent suite of software designed to process HCFA and UB-2 forms. Their new DocAgent is a dynamic forms processing system that automatically sorts and extracts data from standard and non-standard forms. CereSoft also demonstrated their fully integrated CAR/LAR recognition technology.

DMAC demonstrated the latest release of their Y2K compliant software, UNIBASE. Unibase supports data entry from multiphase TIFF files. The Unibase image entry, OCR, reject repair, and data entry software is compatible with Novell, Unix, and Microsoft clients.

Imaging Business Machines Limited (IBML) exhibited their popular color scanner. ImageTrac. ImageTrac processes “real world” paper of intermixed sizes and weights. This color scanner can output both bitonal TIFF and 32-bit color images on a single pass. The new user-friendly software driver, SoftTrac, makes it easy for an end-user to install and operate.

Image Scan demonstrated their new whole-tail processing system for remittance or lock-box processing. The robust Image Scan solution employs integrated software and hardware from Mitek and Captiva Software.

ManTech Advance Systems International exhibited their new Captor 2.0. This is a recognition assisted, image-based data capture system that automates check processing, remittance processing, and credit forms. Captor is designed for medium-to-large banks, credit unions, wholesale lock box, and retail lock box applications.

Optimum Solutions Corporation (OSC) a world leader in recognology exhibited its patented world-class FAQSS, mark recognition software system. The FAQSS system is uniquely qualified to read, “real world” marks from “real world forms” such as those found in Census and Survey applications. The FAQSS system captures “real world” marks accurately at least 99% of the time. Recognition with FAQSS is at the speed of the transport.

Recognition Research demonstrated its industry leading FormWorks and Claim Works software suites. These products have automated the work processes for processing “real world” forms at large healthcare, financial, government, and fulfillment customers. These customers include; Anthem, Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Putnam, Fidelity, Allstate, Federal Express, Airborne and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tangent Systems exhibited and demonstrated the latest version of its proven NT 4.0 based DocuTran software suite. This popular software is used to process remittance payments, sales drafts, coupons, and fulfillment forms. DocuTran supports BancTec, Unisys, Panini, and Opex-150 image enabled transports.

Siemens CGK is a world leader in “real world” character recognition. Siemens claims its RecoStar and AEG Recognition software products have a 60% market share of the United States Data-Capture OCR markets. CGK also demonstrated its reliable PageStar color scanner processing “real world” paper documents. Dr. Gerhard Wustmann the division director was present at the TAWPI Expo.

Scan-Optics demonstrated a wide range of industry specific information solutions using advanced technology for imaging, automated data capture, pre document processing, and information management. Scan-Optics announced at the Expo that it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire 100% of the stock in Agissar Corporation for an undisclosed amount. James C. Mavel, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Scan-Optics, stated, “The parties are working diligently to complete the acquisition documents and expect to complete the transaction in the next few weeks. The acquisition will support Scan-Optics’ strategy to provide Information Capture and Customer Service Solutions to select vertical industries. In business environments that are currently dominated by paper-based transactions, the requirement is for an efficient and cost effective way to prepare the paper transaction for the digital image storage, which is required for information processing systems. Agissar has a 24-year history of successfully addressing this requirement with annual revenues greater than $5M on a worldwide basis.”

Wausau Financial Systems, Inc. and Scan-Optics, Inc., announced that the two companies have entered into a Joint Marketing Agreement. This bilateral agreement allows both Wausau Financial Systems and Scan-Optics to cooperate in significant business opportunities and to address new markets worldwide. In addition, each company brings specific expertise to the agreement, providing customers with a Total Solution that enables customers to meet their business objectives more effectively.

James C. Mavel, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Scan-Optics, stated, “This partnership will allow global marketing of the products, services, and solutions available from both companies through direct sales and distribution channels worldwide.”

According to Robert Weirauch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wausau Financial Systems, Inc., “This strategic alliance adds more to our individual offerings and creates a true value proposition for our customers. I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Netvantage introduced its new integrated ItemAge Remittance Processing, Cashiering, and Image Archive solution. This product is especially well suited to organizations who receive bill payments from walk-in-traffic as well as through the mail. Municipal governments (e.g. property tax payments) and utilities (e.g. electric bill payments) are examples of industries that typically need to accommodate customers who prefer to pay their bills in person. Now, instead of having two vendors with two different software packages, two technical support staffs, training programs, etc., organizations can purchase a single integrated software solution, which presents common graphical screens for both front and back office processing, one logical image archive for all transactions, and a common interface for updating mainframe accounting systems.

Mitek Systems, Inc., introduced CheckQuest, an affordable, high-performance, image-enabled check processing system targeted for use by community banks, credit unions, utilities, and other businesses. Created by industry experts, CheckQuest is specifically designed to support low-to-medium-volume applications such as Retail/Wholesale Lock Box, Remittance Processing, and Proof of Deposit.

With the introduction of CheckQuest, low-to-medium-volume organizations can easily justify the cost of bringing check image processing in-house. The system seamlessly combines data and image capture, transaction processing, and customer contact services into one fully-integrated solution that effectively provides all of the leading-edge item processing technology used by larger institutions, yet sells for less than one-third the cost.

Captiva Software demonstrated Genesis, which is a reliable desktop software package that incorporates forms processing and document capture capabilities into one application. Designed for companies and departments processing fewer than 2,500 documents per day, Genesis offers a fast, cost-effective, flexible, and highly accurate solution for extracting valuable information and capturing images for indexed archival. Genesis provides image processing, image quality control and rescan capabilities, form identification, character recognition, data validation, key correction, image data entry, and on-the-fly testing.

Captiva’s ClaimPack is designed to automatically process HCFA 1500 and UB92s claim forms. Despite the advantages brought by a common design, processing these forms is still a difficult task. Over seventy variations of the HCFA 1500 form alone have evolved over the years, none of which is technology-friendly. Using the latest developments in scanning, image processing, and recognition technologies, ClaimPack automatically reads the information on these forms; analyzes, corrects, and validates the data; and enters it into your workflow or database management system.

BancTec unveiled its new and innovative 9500 Ink Jet Printer. This fully programmable printer, now an option on BancTec’s 9500 document workstation, can perform all the functions of a stamp endorser and a dot matrix audit printer, with a variety of additional capabilities. BancTec’s 9500IJP can be easily programmed using the optional template utility. This feature supports multiple fonts within the same template, and is ideal for customers requiring a number of design changes for their templates, or the use of different logos.

BancTec, Inc announced it would launch and demo its new PayCourier remittance solution on a special, live Internet broadcast on September 15^th. This webcast is a first for BancTec, and is designed to enable customers, corporations, financial institutions, analysts, and the media to receive a first-hand view of BancTec’s newest solution, and participate in an on-line question-and-answer session.

“This webcast enables thousands of people to experience what we believe to be one of BancTec’s most exciting solutions,” said Kevin Roper, general manager of BancTec North American Systems. “Because PayCourier itself is Internet-enabled and designed to support web communities, it seemed natural to launch the product via the worldwide web.”

Advanced Financial Solutions (AFS) unveiled a new enhance version of its AFS ImageRemittance application to hundreds of document management professionals. AFS ImageRemittance represents a breakthrough in the seamless integration of front and back office operations. Results from a thorough operational assessment in a live production environment at a major bank operation multiple branches shows the remote office feature can indeed deliver verifiable cost savings and increase the productivity of the work processes.

Wausau Financial Systems, Inc. (WFS) and Data Management Products, Inc. (DMP) announced the formation of a strategic alliance. The two companies will combine their individual strengths in retail remittance and wholesale remittance to provide a comprehensive “best of breed” remittance processing solution. The alliance will allow WFS and DMP to focus on specific market opportunities and key accounts where a single retail/wholesale solution can be effectively targeted.

The alliance formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two companies. The two companies have common customers utilizing their respective products in 15 locations. In addition they share similar platform and transport architectures running on NCR Corporation technology and Microsoft Windows NT.

PowerScan, Inc., an imaging processing software supplier announced the newest member of its growing IDEA family of capture products, IDEA for Keying. This new product provides users the best of two worlds by tightly integrating the robust, full-featured keying capabilities of Unibase by DMAC into the state-of-the-art IDEA family of capture software. Now users who require production keying have a broad, new set of capabilities that until now have been unavailable in an integrated environment. With “IDEA for Keying”, users can benefit from the availablitity of such features as job management, configurability, PowerScan’s unique “Snap-In” technology, and a host of other features.

IDEA is a new generation of software products designed specifically for the capture and processing of digital objects in a fully integrated digital environment. IDEA’s open framework has built-in interfaces for a wide range of capture applications. This capability allows users to simply “snap-in” the technology needed for specific applications and run these processes from any workstation in a fully integrated environment.

OPEX Corporation, the leading manufacturer of automated mail handling equipment, announced the introduction of versatile outgoing mail sorting capabilities for the MPS 40 high-speed mail sorter. The MPS 40 was created to meet and exceed the needs of today’s high volume retail and lock box mail processing operations. Now, the MPS 40’s modular design provides flexibility for fast and efficient sorting of high volume outgoing mail. The sorter can be configured as an incoming sorter, and outgoing mail sorter, or both.

The MPS 40 offers ultimate performance that allows high volume outgoing mail to be sorted with ease. The MPS 40’s sorting capabilities therefore maximize high volume mail postage discounts. OPEX’s technology provides processing functions that will enable fast, reliable preparation of virtually all letter-size mail. At speeds up to 40,000 per hour, the MPS 40 outgoing sorter offers the latest in MLOCR technology along with proven PostNet barcode reading and spraying which can be set according to customer needs. The flexible modular design allows for just the right equipment configuration. Modules for ink-jet spraying, LVE/RVE (including fluorescent ink spraying and reading), and Fastforward, may be added to meet the needs of all typical outgoing mail functions.

Herbert F. Schantz is the founder and president of HLS Associates International headquartered in Sterling, Virginia. He may be reached at 703 444-7037.