Data that requires scanning is not always printed on loose sheets of paper. This means that scanning material from books or bound paper can be problematic as it will not fit into the loading trays of regular scanners. To combat this, many businesses are using a type of desktop scanner called a flatbed scanner.

Flatbed scanners have a flat surface (hence the name) upon which data is placed, face down, and recorded. The flat screen is usually a pane of glass, underneath which a bright light moves to illuminate the characters. A lid is closed over the top of the scanned material to block external light that could affect the quality of the scan.

The scanner converts the information into an image, digitising the data. To achieve this, the scanner divides the image into a grid of squares and creates a bitmap. This is saved as an image, and the text contained in the image cannot be edited.

However, when a flatbed scanner is used in conjunction with electronic character recognition software, the software is able to decipher individual characters through optical character recognition (OCR) technology, and makes it possible to edit and store the characters in a database. OCR software also allows for advanced searches using keywords.

First Coast Technologies has a range of flatbed scanners to assist in enterprise content managemen t (ECM). First Coast Technologies' scanning hardware can speed up business processes and save money through digitising paperwork, which can then be easily managed and retrieved via ECM systems. Flatbed scanners are especially useful for bound paper and documents. A flatbed uses a flat, external screen with a lid, instead of internal hardware and can copy any surface.

Ensure that your business operations run smoothly and efficiently. Explore First Coast Technologies flatbed scanner range and our scanning software solution, or view our other scanning equipment.