Electronic data capture for handwritten data, digital pen and paper

Ink and paper: still widely used to “capture” data

The explosion of information and communication technologies was believed to augur the end of handwritten writing on paper. However, it appears that ink and paper, those age-old tools, are still commonly used to enter information before integrating it in a company’s information system.

Paper: a data entry system that is still a preferred method

The growth of information technologies and advances made in ergonomics and HMI have heavily favored the use of IT for inputting information in both the private and business spheres. In many cases, a computer keyboard or the stylus of a tablet PC or PDA won out over paper and pencil. However, the use of digital writing over handwriting has not been systematic. Globally, as soon as one of the conditions below is satisfied, paper emerges as the simplest and most efficient way to handle the information capture process:


• Restrictive work environments (factories, construction sites) that hinder the use of IT devices and/or unqualified or inadequately qualified personnel in charge of entering data.
• Processes governed by stringent legal or regulatory constraints, requiring data archiving in the form of paper proofs, identification of persons and traceability of various acts or actions.
• Processes where the quality of the data entered is deemed crucial. 

 

Despite an extremely high processing cost…

A study conducted by CAP Ventures (www.capv.com) in 2003 shows that in North America and Europe, every year more than 150 billion forms are printed, completed and processed for professional purposes. The annual processing of this information incurs annual expenditures of 130 billion dollars and the median cost for processing one paper form (legal format) is $1.23.

…very long processing times…

On average, it takes from one to four weeks for the information contained on a sheet of paper to become available in a company’s information system.

…and many errors…

Data re-entry, scanning, etc. systematically result in a break in the information processing chain that generates costs, for sure, but especially errors, thereby creating a doubt as to data validity.

Without alternative electronic/IT solutions for entering information digitally that are technical and legally valid, companies preferred to invest in improving their post-entry IT processing processes (workflow tools and reporting).

Against this backdrop, Kayentis develops and sells an innovative solution that revolutionizes the entire digital processing chain for handwritten data.