Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can be described as an invaluable digital procedure that transforms tangible, scanned papers and images into readable, searchable, and editable files. But how does OCR execute this transformation? Interestingly, the OCR software inspects the digitized pictures and establishes a textual layer underneath the image, thus enabling the system to read, recognize, and potentially search the hidden text.
Table of Contents
The Value of OCR Process Explained
Representation from the industry asserts that nearly 90% of substantial businesses will engage in robotic process automation (RPA) in some shape. The escalating reliance on RPA underscores the relevance of the OCR process, as it possesses the ability to transform written or printed words into a format readily recognized by machines. Furthermore, the translation from image to text can take place whilst retaining the preexisting formatting by means of an online OCR tool like OnlineOCR.net.
Commercial enterprises frequently manage and receive data in paper format. Documents such as consents, invoices, contracts, and legal agreements are dealt with in business operations daily. Nonetheless, handling and storing these paper records can be taxing, not to mention that it devours time, utilizes excess space, and requires effort. Evidently, the application of OCR tools simplifies the document management system, eliminating paper where possible. OCR software can readily identify printed text, thus allowing an easy search of its contents. The scanned document can also be altered just like any editable document.
How OCR Operates?
The OCR process commences with scans using Digital Character Recognition. The OCR program recognizes the light sections of the scanned images as background while the darker areas are processed as text. During the preprocessing phase, the OCR tool cleans the images by deskewing or titling the scans to correct the alignment errors caused during scanning. This stage of the process also encompasses the removal of digital image spots and the smoothing of the text images’ borders, among other tasks.
Upon completion of the scan, the images are sent for processing by the OCR software, which swiftly identifies the alphabet characters and numeric digits in the printed text. The final stage, post-processing, transfigures the unstructured data into searchable and editable information for subsequent processing.
Partnering with OnlineOCR.net
OnlineOCR.net is a well-established leader in text extraction technology based on OCR. It constantly seeks valid approaches to aid businesses in transitioning to paperless operations. An increasing number of sectors and companies have started incorporating OCR automation processes to alleviate inconvenience. OnlineOCR.net’s web-based OCR software readily identifies text in images or scanned PDF files, converting them into searchable, editable text formats. Access its OCR image-to-text converter to facilitate swift text extraction without disturbing the image’s formatting.
Different Types of OCR
OCR application and usage can be categorized as follows:
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR) captures typed text, one character, or glyph at a time.
- Optical Word Recognition is another procedure for capturing typed text, one full word at a time. This technology is usually associated with OCR methods.
- Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) identifies handwriting or cursive writing by recognizing one character or glyph at a time; it is highly dependent on machine learning.
- Intelligent Word Recognition (IWR) identifies and recognizes cursive or handwritten text, one word at a time.
OCR Advantages
The most perceived benefit of OCR is that it simplifies text editing, searches, and storage. It creates machine-readable text that can be effortlessly accessed and read using PDF readers or screen reader programs. Notably, it enables those with visual impairments to comprehend what’s on the screen promptly. Other prominent advantages of OCR systems include:
- Digitization can swiftly save paper documents.
- It eliminates human intervention time.
- Increases accessibility to user information.
- Accelerates the document workflow process.
Who Can Benefit from OCR?
OCR is a revolutionary AI-based technology that aids any organization aiming to discard paper documents. Industries from healthcare, legal, and accounting to banking demonstrate extensive applications of OCR. The following examples testify to the wide use of OCR:
- In the medical sector, OCR helps accumulate patient records, including treatment details, lab tests, and doctor’s notes.
- Local government sectors utilize OCR to create searchable digital documents from years of public records.
- Legal firms adopt the OCR process to digitalize years of documentation and cases.
- Educational institutions handle HR documents more efficiently using OCR.
- Businesses use OCR to manage finances effectively by gathering data from bills, invoices, and receipts.
