INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Digitizing paper documents has a lot of benefits for individuals and businesses alike, clearing up huge swathes of space where filing
cabinets once stood, and meaning documents are protected against theft, fire and flood.For this paperless process to make sense though, you
really need to add OCR (Optical Character Recognition) into the mix
OCR software scans digital documents to make the text inside them readable by a computer, so you can search them just as you would anything
you'd created in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.Here are our picks for the best five OCR apps we've come across, all combining an intuitive
interface with a stack of useful features.1
Google DriveA quick and easy solution from GoogleLeverage the power of GoogleStraightforward and automatedNot the most advanced file
managerWhether you use Google Drive as an individual or as a business (as part of G Suite), you can tap into its OCR capabilities
In fact, everything is switched on automatically: any PDF or indeed any image you upload to Google Drive is scanned for text.That text can
then be easily searched from inside Google Drive or inside the specific document itself
It all works as if by magic.Of course Google has plenty of training data and cloud processing power to work on this, so you would expect the
results to be impressive, as indeed they are
Having a few more advanced search functions and features would be welcome, but it's hard to fault this as an integrated feature.If you're
using the Google Drive app for Android, you can scan documents straight in from the app, using the camera on your smartphone
Otherwise, get your documents uploaded via a scanner attached to a computer, or any other method you like, to start the OCR processing in
Nuance OmniPage UltimateCustom, comprehensive workflowsTop-ranking speed and accuracyToo expensive for someIf you take your OCR scanning
It's packed with features above and beyond what you might expect, and while the price is relatively high, it still falls in the affordable
bracket for most small businesses.Put down your cash and you can convert paper documents from virtually any scanner source into just about
If you've got stacks of paper to get through, the time saved by OmniPage Ultimate can really start to add up.Known for its accuracy in
custom workflows so your documents get automatically delivered to the right place in the right format, depending on your needs.If the
Ultimate edition is a bit too rich for your blood, try the cheaper OmniPage Standard, which doesn't include as many input, output and
workflow options, but is going to offer more than enough in the way of features for most users needing an OCR solution.3
Abbyy FineReaderOne of the veterans of the fieldComprehensive suite of featuresMultiple output optionsExpensive for personal useAbbyy has
just about as comprehensive a solution as you would want for a small businesses, though casual users might prefer something a little more
lightweight.You get all the tools you need for taking paper documents from a scanner and making them fully readable, neatly organized,
As well as recognizing text and converting it to PDF, Microsoft Office or other formats, the program can also compare documents, add
annotations and comments, and more.If you need to convert bundles of documents in batches then FineReader can do that too
It can handle a host of output formats and 192 different languages without breaking a sweat, and there are companion mobile apps as well if
you need to do some quick scanning from a phone.The software isn't the most modern we've ever seen but it's clean, functional and does the
Abbyy FineReader has built up a strong reputation for being one of the best options in the OCR field, and you can take advantage of a free
trial to see if all the hype is on the money.4
Adobe Acrobat Pro DCA trusted solution from the Adobe stablePlenty of advanced featuresEasy to useYou'll have to pay month after monthWant
to go with a well-known brand name you can trust Adobe Acrobat DC fits the bill, and brings along with it an impressive list of features and
options, even if the price is a little steeper than some of its rivals
For all the OCR features, you need to opt for the Pro version of the Adobe Acrobat software.That DC stands for 'Document Cloud' by the way,
and everything integrates rather neatly with Adobe's cloud solution, should you need to get at your files from any computer
Of course there's also slick and seamless integration with everything else Adobe makes, so you might consider this if you already use a
lot of Adobe apps like Photoshop.If you do decide to pay up for the Pro version of Adobe Acrobat DC, you get all the OCR basics plus the
ability to add comments and feedback on documents, a specialized tool for scanning tables, the option to quickly compare two documents
Documents can be edited right on the screen just seconds after scanning them in.The Adobe badge guarantees a certain level of quality, and
we're impressed by the intuitiveness and the scope of Adobe Acrobat DC
If you don't mind adding yet another subscription to your life, then this is well worth considering.5
ReadirisA product that's packed with featuresComprehensive all-in-one solutionEasy to learn and operateMore advanced features cost
extraReadiris blends a polished interface with a host of useful features and functions to really earn its place on our list
program one of the most comprehensive out there.From a host of supported file formats (including Microsoft Office formats and the option to
have text read aloud), to signatures and security protection on your finished digital documents, it's difficult to think of anything that
the developers of Readiris have missed out
Watermarks, comments and annotations are all supported.It's also one of the fastest and slickest OCR programs out there, putting some
older applications we've seen to shame
Documents are processed and filed rapidly, and you'll soon be jumping quickly between the various Readiris screens, with no need to consult
a manual or embedded help file
Like all the best apps, it combines a lot of powerful features with a simple and accessible interface.Some features, such as support for a
maximum of 138 languages and PDF password protection, require a Corporate level package
be able to get by with the lowest priced package.iMVw4Q3uVkP7uxgEWzQzqJ.jpg#
