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Smart data capture
Technology used to extract and process unstructured information

Smart data capture (SDC), also known as intelligent or automated data capture, uses technologies like optical character recognition (OCR), barcode scanning, and object recognition to extract information from semi-structured and unstructured data. As described by IDC, SDC integrates hardware, software, and connectivity to capture data efficiently and at scale. Data is converted for digital use often through AI-powered software, providing real-time actionable insights to aid decision-making. Designed to reduce human error and automate repetitive tasks, SDC runs on commodity devices like smartphones or specialized hardware such as wearables and robots, enabling scalable, repeatable, and efficient data processes across industries.

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Differences from OCR

Optical character recognition applications are typically concerned with the actual data capture process; they are intended to faithfully reproduce text, words, letters and symbols from a printed document. Smart data capture is multimodal,6 capable of extracting data from a wider range of semi-structured and unstructured sources, going beyond basic text recognition to offer a wider scope of applications. By extending functionality to provide actionable insights at the point of capture, SDC is also a two-way process (capture-display), while OCR is more commonly one-way (capture only), primarily used for data input.7

Smart data capture solutions typically have two parts:

  • Data capture (which includes OCR, barcode scanning, object recognition)
  • Functionality that then uses this data to provide actionable insights at the point of capture.

Applications

Smart data capture can be applied to almost any industry and application that requires visual information capture and interpretation. This may include:

  • Retail8
  • Warehouse inventory control
  • Logistics, handling and shipping9
  • Manufacturing
  • Field service
  • Healthcare10
  • Transport and travel11
  • Fraud detection
  • Immersive, augmented reality-driven experiences12

Notes

Historically, PriceWaterhouseCoopers described smart data capture as a combination of robotic process automation and intelligent character recognition.13 This description is no longer sufficient because it is focused purely on text-based capture systems (automated OCR).

See also

References

  1. Arcaro, Matt (January 2023). Smart Data Capture: A Technology Strategy to Scale Data Intelligence (PDF). IDC (Report). https://www.scandit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IDC_InfoBrief_Smart_Data-Capture_2023-1.pdf ↩

  2. Mueller, Samuel (17 November 2022). "What Companies Should Know About Smart Data Capture And Last-Mile Delivery". Forbes Technology Council. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/11/17/what-companies-should-know-about-smart-data-capture-and-last-mile-delivery/ ↩

  3. "How smart data capture solutions on Samsung Galaxy rugged devices are helping transform business operations". Samsung. 27 October 2022. https://news.samsung.com/ca/how-smart-data-capture-solutions-on-samsung-galaxy-rugged-devices-are-helping-transform-business-operations ↩

  4. Bauer, Dennis; Wutzke, Rolf; Bauernhansl, Thomas (2016). "Wear@Work – A New Approach for Data Acquisition Using Wearables". Procedia Cirp. 50: 529–534. doi:10.1016/j.procir.2016.04.121. S2CID 114410108. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.procir.2016.04.121 ↩

  5. Anstee, James (14 January 2022). "Scandit launches smart shelf management for retailers". Electronic Specifier. https://www.electronicspecifier.com/products/artificial-intelligence/scandit-launches-smart-shelf-management-for-retailers ↩

  6. "9 Principles of a Smart Data Capture Strategy". iCrunchData. 8 June 2023. https://icrunchdata.com/blog/9-principles-of-a-smart-data-capture-strategy/ ↩

  7. BasuMallick, Chiradeep (30 January 2023). "What Is OCR (Optical Character Recognition)? Meaning, Working, and Software". Spiceworks. https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/tech-general/articles/optical-character-recognition-ocr/ ↩

  8. Pressley, Alix (19 January 2023). "Smart data capture unlocks uplifted employee and customer experience". Intelligent CIO. https://www.intelligentcio.com/eu/2023/01/19/smart-data-capture-unlocks-uplifted-employee-and-customer-experience/ ↩

  9. "Why is Mobile Data Capture Important for Transport Logistic Firms ". Dynamsoft. 28 December 2022. https://www.dynamsoft.com/blog/shipping/mobile-data-capture-in-logistics-firm/ ↩

  10. Flannery, Ellen (13 March 2023). "The nurse's journey: how smart data capture will revolutionise hospital processes ". Intelligent Health.tech. https://www.intelligenthealth.tech/2023/03/13/the-nurses-journey-how-smart-data-capture-will-revolutionise-hospital-processes/ ↩

  11. "SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) Improves Customer Service and Cuts Costs with Scandit's Barcode Scanning on Smartphones". Business Wire. 9 December 2019. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191208005011/en/SAS-Scandinavian-Airlines-Improves-Customer-Service-and-Cuts-Costs-with-Scandit’s-Barcode-Scanning-on-Smartphones ↩

  12. Vala, Melanie (24 January 2023). "Why the Mobile Experience Is Important for E-Commerce ". AIthority. https://aithority.com/saas/why-the-mobile-experience-is-important-for-e-commerce/ ↩

  13. Kamra, Nitin (2018). Robotic process automation and intelligent character recognition: Smart data capture (PDF). PriceWaterhouseCooper (Report). https://www.pwc.in/assets/pdfs/technology/financial-services-technology/intelligent-process-automation-ocr-whitepaper.pdf ↩