eCopy News Release: eCopy Expands Document Scanning to Millions of Office Workers
Nashua, N.H., February 7, 2005, eCopy, Inc., a leading provider of solutions that integrate paper documents into electronic enterprise applications, today announced a multifaceted program designed to make it easy for any office worker to integrate paper-based information into enterprise applications, such as enterprise content management (ECM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and e-mail. The new program, called The Paper Connection, complements organizations’ growing emphasis on information lifecycle management (ILM) and addresses the challenge of distributing, managing, accessing, and protecting paper-based information.
The Paper Connection enables applications to access paper documents using eCopy software either embedded on a digital copier or running on an external system connected to a digital copier or scanner. As a result, the new architecture empowers all end-users to incorporate paper-based information into electronic workflows using a common interface across scanner and digital copier platforms.
“While the best practice technique is to capture paper-based information as it enters the organization, few organizations are doing this,” said Meta Group Senior Vice President Andrew Warzecha. “Most are using a centralized capture or outsourced approach because of the training and scanner technology required. However, as digital copiers have proliferated, we have reached a tipping point where dedicated scanners and specially-trained staff are no longer required. With digital copiers, any office worker can bring the document into the appropriate workflow by simply ‘copying’ it to the enterprise application verses being forced into a centralized approach as most organizations currently are. Over the next 24 months, this will trigger a fundamental shift in the viable options for capturing paper-based information and deploying best practice techniques.”
Open Platform
In Calendar Q2, 2005, eCopy will ship the next generation of its ShareScan OP software. This software enables organizations to establish a corporate standard for document scanning across heterogeneous IT environments of diverse applications and peripheral devices to maximize enterprise investments. It provides the market’s most complete set of document imaging features available for MFPs and scanners, including optical character recognition (OCR), image processing, file format creation, full-text embedding, Bates Stamping, and 128-bit file encryption.
Other components of The Paper Connection:
eCopy Connections Alliance Program
A key component of The Paper Connection is the eCopy Connections Alliance Program (eCAP). This new program enables ISVs to easily integrate enterprise applications with eCopy’s Open Platform products. It eliminates the daunting requirement for developers to integrate directly with multiple and different digital copier and scanner manufacturers’ products. Integration is facilitated through the eCopy Software Developers Kit (SDK). This provides access to eCopy APIs and a GUI-interface generator that enables developers to easily create screens that match the look and feel of those used by major digital copier brands.
“The Open Platform architecture is a major step forward for integrating paper documents into automated business workflows,” said Mike Ball, General Manager of Imaging and Document Management Products, EMC Software. “It enables us to concentrate on our application value add and not on integrating with specific MFP products. We are leveraging eCopy’s SDK to easily integrate both the EMC Documentum Enterprise Content Management platform, as well as the mid-market-focused EMC Documentum ApplicationXtender, to enable the full spectrum of business organizations to provide users with full-function document imaging capabilities. This will enable quick and efficient storage of paper documents in our repositories directly from a broad range of industry popular MFP brands.”
eCopy Ready Manufacturers Program
Digital copier manufacturers with products that meet the Open Platform architecture guidelines can display the “eCopy Ready” logo. This announces to customers that a product is eCopy-compatible and can serve as a paper capture device for any business.
eCopy Solution Provider Network
eCopy makes its Open Platform products available through office equipment dealers, VARs, and SIs. This distribution partner network, called the eCopy Solution Provider Network (eSPN), will benefit from the Open Platform architecture because it will integrate with more enterprise applications, thereby addressing the largest possible market. It also enables office equipment dealers to transition from traditional commodity-based selling to a software solution selling approach that adds more value for customers. VARs and SIs will benefit from the architecture because it will help them better access the rapidly-growing scan-enabled digital copier professional services market.
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