November 30, 2009 – Hackensack (NJ) – Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging products and solutions, today announced its Fall 2009 “Pick” winners honoring outstanding document capture, imaging and OCR solutions from Ricoh, Kodak, Nuance and eCopy. BLI’s semi-annual “Pick” awards are given to the hardware and software offerings that measure up as the best in BLI’s comprehensive evaluations, which assess a wide range of the most important features and performance factors for buyers. The Fall 2009 document imaging solutions “Pick” winners are:

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Ricoh Americas Corporation Ricoh GlobalScan NX Server and GlobalScan NX Serverless (also sold under the Lanier and Savin brand names) Outstanding Network Document Capture/Routing Solution Eastman Kodak Company KODAK Capture Pro 2.0 Outstanding Desktop Document Capture/Routing Solution Nuance Inc. OmniPage Professional 17 Outstanding OCR Solution eCopy (a division of Nuance Inc.) eCopy PaperWorks Outstanding Desktop Document Imaging Solution

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Organizations have traditionally used paper-based workflows to process information, but document imaging solutions use scanners or MFPs to convert paper documents into electronic files that can be very easily shared and annotated. The addition of OCR (optical character recognition) functionality converts the printed text in scanned documents into editable, searchable text, greatly simplifying ease of access. “Organizations that are not using their hardware in conjunction with document imaging software are missing out on a significant ROI opportunity,” said BLI Managing Editor Daria Hoffman. “Such solutions transform MFPs and scanners from convenient appliances into the hub of a company’s workflow and collaboration activities. So whether you need a robust OCR package, a desktop solution for capturing documents, or an embedded scan/routing solution for hundreds of MFPs, these ‘Pick’ winners can help make the most of your imaging-equipment investment.”

Ricoh GlobalScan NX Turns MFPs Into Customized Capture Platforms
Ricoh GlobalScan NX Server and GlobalScan NX Serverless are the company’s latest embedded scan capture and routing solutions. Compatible with MFPs equipped with Ricoh’s ESA (Embedded Software Architecture) platform, GlobalScan NX allows end users to easily scan documents and automatically route them to various destinations—e-mail and fax applications, network folders and archives—via customizable icons on the touch-screen control panel of the MFP. GlobalScan NX Server edition supports hundreds of MFP and users; for companies that don’t wish to implement a server-based solution, GlobalScan NX Serverless edition is a pared-down implementation that is completely device-resident. “Ricoh GlobalScan NX is a very strong document capture and routing solution that makes excellent use of the embedded-application capabilities of the company’s ESA platform,” said BLI Associate Editor Jamie Bsales. “Programmable document workflows can be associated with customizable one-touch buttons on the MFP’s control panel. This not only increases productivity and efficiency, but also minimizes the training needed for employees to accomplish even complex workflow tasks.” With GlobalScan NX, administrators can create specialized scanning workflows to automate the distribution of invoices, purchase orders, bills and other critical documents to streamline internal communication and reduce the risk of manual errors. With GlobalScan NX, users can route documents to network folders, e-mail addresses, FTP sites, Microsoft SharePoint repositories (with the optional SharePoint connector) and fax numbers (via the optional RightFax connector). With GlobalScan NX Serverless, users can route documents to network folders, e-mail addresses, FTP destinations, network folders, WebDAV, and fax numbers. Both Ricoh GlobalScan NX solutions share a centralized browser-based utility that features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for creating custom control-panel icons, constructing the desired workflow and remotely deploying the created applets to supported Ricoh-family MFPs. Ricoh GlobalScan NX Server and GlobalScan NX Serverless, which are also sold under the Savin and Lanier brand names, each garnered a perfect 5 stars in several categories including value, ease of use, ease of administration and security. The solutions are available from the direct and dealer channels of authorized Ricoh equipment partners.

KODAK Capture Pro Delivers Robust Scan Capture To Document-Intensive Environments
KODAK Capture Pro 2.0 is a desktop data capture and indexing solution that helps dedicated scan operators transform large volumes of paper documents into electronic information for easy management, storage and retrieval. The solution works with any Kodak scanner as well as most third-party scanners, allowing a company to leverage their existing investment in scanner and MFP hardware no matter what the brand. In addition, Capture Pro can integrate with a variety of third-party back-end systems such as Microsoft SharePoint and EMC Documentum. “Unlike some other capture solutions BLI has tested that assume some degree of software expertise, Capture Pro’s easy-to-navigate interface lets users start scanning immediately upon installation,” said BLI Research Editor Lisa Reider. “And for those not used to capture software, Kodak offers step-by-step tutorials to guide them through the scan, capture and routing process.” Capture Pro offers most of the features a user would expect to find in an advanced capture solution, such as indexing, zonal OCR and batch processing. Documents can be sent to multiple destinations, archived or sent to a connected output device. Frequently used job settings can be configured for one-click access, eliminating the need for scan operators to manually recreate the settings for common jobs. The program’s ability to connect to more than two dozen back-end systems enables users to efficiently route image files without much manual intervention—and the fact that Kodak offers those connectors as free downloads enhances Capture Pro’s overall value. “Kodak is honored that Buyers Lab has selected KODAK Capture Pro Software 2.0 as ‘Outstanding Desktop Document Capture/Routing Solution,’” said Tony Barbeau, general manager, Document Imaging, Business Solutions and Services Group, Eastman Kodak Company. “This award is a testament to Kodak’s innovation and its commitment to helping customers realize increased efficiency and return on investment.” In BLI’s lab-based hands-on evaluation, KODAK Capture Pro showed particular strengths in the areas of software integration, ease of setup and value. Capture Pro is available from Kodak authorized resellers.

eCopy PaperWorks Converts Documents For Easy Integration
eCopy PaperWorks is an easy-to-use desktop document imaging solution for converting both electronic and paper documents into searchable, secure files and incorporating them directly into business applications and workflows. With PaperWorks, knowledge workers can scan paper documents, merge them with other files, modify and annotate the documents and connect them to back-end repositories and line-of-business applications. In addition, the software includes an OCR engine to create text-searchable documents that can then be stored as PDFs or directly to Microsoft Word format. “PaperWorks is an excellent desktop document imaging application that falls on the software continuum between simple scan-capture solutions and full-blown document management applications,” said BLI’s Bsales. “With PaperWorks, companies can close the workflow divide in the workplace, where digital documents follow one path and paper documents follow another—often much slower—route.” Rather than just scanning a file and dumping it to a folder, where it then has to be opened with another application, PaperWorks allows users to work extensively with digital documents. They can use the PaperWorks interface to capture paper documents from almost any scanner or MFP; combine already-existing electronic files (such as Microsoft Office files and e-mail) with scanned documents, faxes and more; view, edit, mark up and manipulate files; and create secure, searchable PDFs (or TIF and JPG image files) of the new documents. Thanks to eCopy’s expertise in connecting to back-end applications such as Microsoft SharePoint, users can deliver and retrieve files via PaperWorks to workflow, document management, communication and other business applications. eCopy PaperWorks also enables users to easily select particular pages of a document to send via e-mail without needing to send the whole file. BLI technicians were particularly impressed with the solution’s ease of setup, ease of use, compatibility and software integration abilities. PaperWorks is available from authorized eCopy Office Equipment Channel partners, VARs and systems integrators. Robert Weideman, general manager and senior vice president of the Nuance Document Imaging Division, said, “Being selected for a BLI ‘Pick’ award demonstrates the value Nuance’s eCopy PaperWorks delivers by providing office workers with advanced desktop tools to scan, merge, modify and connect documents with the business software they use every day. PaperWorks software helps organizations work faster and simplify common business tasks while also leveraging existing investments in scanning hardware.”

Nuance OmniPage Professional Brings OCR To The Next Level
Nuance OmniPage Professional 17 is an OCR and document-conversion solution that takes scanned documents and static image files and converts them into text-searchable documents. OmniPage Professional helps to streamline workflow processes in an organization, allowing end users to capture, recognize and send searchable documents all from within one solution. The program is designed for offices of any size, making it a good fit for smaller companies as well as departments and branch offices within larger organizations. “OmniPage Professional 17 was the top performer in BLI’s OCR and speed tests,” noted BLI’s Reider. “For example, our four-page document was OCRed with 100% accuracy when imported as a PDF, which is significantly higher than the competitive solutions tested. In addition, the program is very easy to use, even for users unfamiliar with OCR software.” “BLI selecting Nuance OmniPage Professional 17 for a ‘Pick’ award reinforces why it is the world’s best-selling document conversion and scanning application for Microsoft Windows,” said Nuance’s Weideman. He added, “OmniPage 17 makes it easier than ever to turn paper and PDFs into fully formatted documents complete with text, columns, tables and graphics, from within today’s popular desktop applications. The software enables an easy transition from paper to paperless—at home, in the office and on-the-go.” OmniPage Professional includes a wealth of features including barcode recognition, batch separation and zonal OCR. Its Easy Loader tool allows users to have quick access to any folders on the PC or network, and users can import and OCR images from a connected scanner or digital camera. Unlike some competing OCR solutions, OmniPage Professional offers redact (black out) and highlight functionality, which is especially valuable for legal or educational markets as it eliminates the need to make such changes by hand. Users can easily format scanned documents to be read on a smart phone or Amazon Kindle device, and the program offers a handy text-to-speech tool to turn any document into an audio file for burning to a CD or downloading to a portable music player. OmniPage also allows users to save frequently used workflows, batch jobs, OCR zone templates and image enhancement templates. OmniPage Professional 17 earned top ratings in the majority of categories BLI evaluated such as feature set, ease of setup, ease of use, accuracy, speed and security. In addition to the Professional edition, Nuance offers OmniPage 17 Standard for customers with basic OCR needs and OmniPage Professional 17 Enterprise for organizations that need to deploy a solution across an enterprise. The solutions are available through Nuance authorized resellers and retail outlets.

Stay tuned for upcoming Buyers Lab “Pick” award announcements in the following categories:

About Buyers Laboratory
Since 1961, Buyers Lab has been the leading independent office-equipment testing lab and business consumer advocate. In addition to publishing the industry's most comprehensive and accurate test reports on office document imaging devices, each representing months of exhaustive hands-on testing in BLI's US and UK laboratories, the company has been the leading source for extensive databases of specifications and pricing on copiers, printers, fax machines and multifunctional products. The company's databases cover over 10,000 products and have a long-standing reputation for being the industry's most trustworthy and complete source for global competitive intelligence. They are available to BLI subscribers online via the company's bliQ competitive information service. This encyclopedic resource also provides quick and easy access to BLI's First Look Reports, Field Test Reports, Lab Test Reports, Solutions Reports, and BLI-produced articles. In addition to the testing of office equipment for its subscribers, Buyers Lab provides consulting services to buyers and a vast array of confidential for-hire private testing services that include document imaging device beta and pre-launch testing, performance certification testing, consumables testing (such as toner, ink and photoconductors), software and solutions and print media testing (including virgin and recycled papers). Twice a year with its “Pick” awards, BLI gives special recognition to the hardware and software products that provided the most outstanding performances in BLI’s exhaustive lab tests. For MFPs, printers, scanners, wide-format devices and digital duplicators, BLI’s awards stand alone in that they are based on a rigorous battery of lab tests that includes an extensive durability test, which uniquely qualifies BLI to assess reliability, which is a critical factor for buyers and IT directors. Software solutions undergo an in-depth hands-on review that focuses on key attributes for a solution’s target market and compares how well the product stacks up against leading competitors. Pick winners rise above the competition in key areas such as value, feature set, ease of use, ease of administration, hardware compatibility, software integration, security and support. Software solutions earn an overall rating based on a five-star scale, and “Pick” contenders are culled from those that earn the highest ratings. Consequently, a BLI “Pick” is a hard-earned award that buyers and IT directors can trust to better guide them in their acquisition decisions. For more information on Buyers Lab, please call (201) 488-0404, visit www.buyerslab.com, or e-mail info@buyerslab.com.