Coverage to Extend to Single-Sheet Mobile Scanners
Since 2008, BLI’s scanner database has expanded to include 27 vendors and over 500 products. This past October, high-end production scanners from companies such as BancTec, Scan-Optics and ibml were added to bliQ, and in Q1 of 2016 the database will accommodate the other end of the scanner spectrum: single-sheet mobile scanners. This supplementary database expansion will add around 50 single-sheet scanner records to bliQ in the initial push, and several new vendors.
Mobile scanners provide an affordable scan option for remote workers and those that regularly travel for business. According to InfoTrends data, mobile scanners are primarily used for scanning receipts and tax documents. However, single-sheet mobile scanners also benefit a variety of vertical markets. The transportation industry relies on them to scan proof-of-delivery receipts that are required to receive payment. Insurance adjusters and real estate agents can scan photos and forms on-location. And medical professionals can use mobile scanners for patient intake forms. According to an InfoTrends scanner forecast report, “mobile scanners have gained tremendous traction within the capture market, owing much of their success to factors such as ease of use and essential access to users wherever they are located. Combine this with an economical acquisition cost, which is often taken on by the user and not the business, the mobile single function scanner is a valuable tool. While smartphones provide some of the same features, most are not at the same capacity. Mobile scanners provide better management for standard letter-sized documents, hard cards, and scenarios where image quality is key. These mobile scanners often include advanced software, which is frequently bundled to manage electronic files to distribute or store.”
Single-sheet mobile scanners will be defined as any scanner that can scan a single A4/Letter-sized page through a feeder. This excludes hand-held “wand” scanners and standalone flatbed-only scanners. BLI will also evaluate single-sheet mobile scanners in our Fairfield, NJ, laboratory. While some of the tests used for our ADF-equipped scanners will carry over, BLI has also designed tests specific to the single-sheet scanner product segment, such as product mobility, battery life and travel durability.
Aside from the lower suggested retail price, single-sheet mobile scanners differ in a variety of ways from their more robust ADF-equipped counterparts. While some provide control panel access, the majority do not, instead relying on scan initiation from a lone Scan button or from PC-based software. Single-sheet mobile scanners can be powered by an AC connection, a USB connection or an internal battery. Some scan directly to a memory card or USB flash drive, while others can scan wirelessly to a nearby computer or mobile device, or require a direct connection to the PC via a USB cable. Such nuances will be taken into account during BLI’s evaluations.
Depending on the number of devices BLI receives during the Summer 2016 Pick award test season, a category for “Outstanding Single-Sheet Mobile Scanner” may be included in BLI’s Pick lineup. This gives you one more reason to keep an eye on bliQ in the coming year!
