View source for Smart data capture

{{Short description|Technology used to extract and process unstructured information}}
'''Smart data capture''' (SDC), also known as 'intelligent data capture' or 'automated data capture', describes the branch of technology concerned with using computer vision techniques like [[Optical character recognition|optical character recognition]] (OCR), [[Barcode|barcode]] scanning, [[Outline of object recognition|object recognition]] and other similar technologies to extract and process information from semi-structured and [[Unstructured data|unstructured data]] sources. [[Company:International Data Corporation|IDC]] characterize smart data capture as ''an integrated hardware, software, and connectivity strategy to help organizations enable the capture of data in an efficient, repeatable, scalable, and future-proof way''.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.scandit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IDC_InfoBrief_Smart_Data-Capture_2023-1.pdf | title=Smart Data Capture: A Technology Strategy to Scale Data Intelligence |work=IDC |date=January 2023 |first=Matt | last=Arcaro}}</ref> Data is captured visually from [[Barcode|barcode]]s, text, IDs and other objects - often from many sources simultaneously - before being converted and prepared for digital use, typically by [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]]-powered software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/11/17/what-companies-should-know-about-smart-data-capture-and-last-mile-delivery/ | title=What Companies Should Know About Smart Data Capture And Last-Mile Delivery |work=Forbes Technology Council |date=17 November 2022 |first=Samuel | last=Mueller}}</ref> An important feature of SDC is that it focuses not just on capturing data more efficiently but serving up easy-to-access, actionable insights at the instant of data collection to both frontline and desk-based workers, aiding decision-making and making it a two-way process.

Smart data capture automates and accelerates capture, applying insights in real time and automating processes based on extracted input. Smart data capture is designed to be repeatable and scalable to reduce low-level manual tasks and eliminate [[Human error|human error]]. To achieve this goal, smart data capture solutions are often made available using specialist software installed on commodity hardware such as smartphones.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.samsung.com/ca/how-smart-data-capture-solutions-on-samsung-galaxy-rugged-devices-are-helping-transform-business-operations | title=How smart data capture solutions on Samsung Galaxy rugged devices are helping transform business operations |work=Samsung |date=27 October 2022}}</ref> However, some solutions may rely on specialized hardware such as dedicated scanning devices, [[Wearable computer|wearables]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.procir.2016.04.121 |title=Wear@Work – A New Approach for Data Acquisition Using Wearables |year=2016 |last1=Bauer |first1=Dennis |last2=Wutzke |first2=Rolf |last3=Bauernhansl |first3=Thomas |journal=Procedia Cirp |volume=50 |pages=529–534 |s2cid=114410108 |doi-access=free }}</ref> or shop floor robots.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.electronicspecifier.com/products/artificial-intelligence/scandit-launches-smart-shelf-management-for-retailers | title=Scandit launches smart shelf management for retailers |work=Electronic Specifier | date=14 January 2022 | first=James | last=Anstee}}</ref>

==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 learning|multimodal]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://icrunchdata.com/blog/9-principles-of-a-smart-data-capture-strategy/ | title=9 Principles of a Smart Data Capture Strategy
 | work=iCrunchData |date=8 June 2023}}</ref> capable of extracting data from a wider range of [[Semi-structured data|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/tech-general/articles/optical-character-recognition-ocr/ | title=What Is OCR (Optical Character Recognition)? Meaning, Working, and Software
 | work=Spiceworks | first=Chiradeep | last=BasuMallick |date=30 January 2023}}</ref> 

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:
* Retail<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.intelligentcio.com/eu/2023/01/19/smart-data-capture-unlocks-uplifted-employee-and-customer-experience/ | title=Smart data capture unlocks uplifted employee and customer experience | work=Intelligent CIO |date=19 January 2023 | first=Alix | last=Pressley}}</ref> 
* Warehouse inventory control 
* Logistics, handling and shipping<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dynamsoft.com/blog/shipping/mobile-data-capture-in-logistics-firm/ | title=Why is Mobile Data Capture Important for Transport Logistic Firms |date=28 December 2022| work=Dynamsoft}}</ref> 
* Manufacturing 
* Field service 
* Healthcare<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligenthealth.tech/2023/03/13/the-nurses-journey-how-smart-data-capture-will-revolutionise-hospital-processes/ | title=The nurse's journey: how smart data capture will revolutionise hospital processes |work=Intelligent Health.tech |date=13 March 2023|first=Ellen | last=Flannery}}</ref> 
* Transport and travel<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191208005011/en/SAS-Scandinavian-Airlines-Improves-Customer-Service-and-Cuts-Costs-with-Scandit’s-Barcode-Scanning-on-Smartphones | title=SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) Improves Customer Service and Cuts Costs with Scandit's Barcode Scanning on Smartphones |work=Business Wire |date=9 December 2019}}</ref>
* Fraud detection
* Immersive, [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]]-driven experiences<ref>{{cite news |url=https://aithority.com/saas/why-the-mobile-experience-is-important-for-e-commerce/ | title=Why the Mobile Experience Is Important for E-Commerce |work=AIthority |date=24 January 2023|first=Melanie | last=Vala}}</ref>

==Notable Smart Data Capture Vendors==
* Anyline
* Code Corporation
* Docutain SDK
* Dynamsoft
* [[Company:Honeywell|Honeywell]]
* Scanbot SDK
* [[Company:Scandit|Scandit]]
* Scanflow
* Smartflow
* Zebra Technologies

==Notes==
Historically, PriceWaterhouseCoopers described smart data capture as a combination of ''robotic process automation and intelligent character recognition''.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.pwc.in/assets/pdfs/technology/financial-services-technology/intelligent-process-automation-ocr-whitepaper.pdf |title=Robotic process automation and intelligent character recognition: Smart data capture |last=Kamra |first=Nitin |date=2018 |work=PriceWaterhouseCooper}}</ref> This description is no longer sufficient because it is focused purely on text-based capture systems (automated OCR).

==See also==
* [[Automatic identification and data capture]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Automatic identification and data capture]]
[[Category:Computer vision]]
[[Category:Image processing]]

{{Sourceattribution|Smart data capture}}