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 PDS® (PDF-Based Data-Entry System)
PDS® is a powerful client-server application
that serves to manually capture data from hand filled forms of all kinds. From single forms to multi-page applications. PDS® can simultaneously handle different form
types.
To put it simply, PDS® starts with a scanned image file and ends with its
data exported to a database. In between, a number of processes take place.
Let's look at a brief description of the main PDS® processes.
CONVERT
PDS®
starts by converting the scanned images fed into the system into PDF files. Each
PDF file created is referred to as a JOB, and contains all the images belonging to a
single data-capture operation.
CREATE
Once a JOB is created, PDS®
extracts its critical metadata and files a record in the system database. The JOB is
now ready to be captured.
CAPTURE
The uniqueness of PDS® is centered on it's PDF-Based user interface. Thanks to this approach, the Data Entry
Operator (DEO) keys data in a scalable interface that is identical to the original
scanned document. The DEO sees the scanned image on screen, with the fields that
have to be captured conveniently aligned with the target fields in the user interface. When the
DEO switches to a different group of fields, the image view also adjusts, reducing the effort needed to locate data in the original document, while speeding up the data-capture process.
This
advanced interface features built-in intelligence to visually help the DEO
complete the data-capture operation. See below for a partial list of the available features:
-
Intelligent Image Loading Algorithm
(ILA)
- Color schema for field
completion
- Conditional double
entry process
- Redundant group
filling process
- Group oriented
navigation
- Conditional
Auto-Fill
- Individual image
request
- Image
navigation
- Validations against
external sources
- Empty field
indicators
- Completed fields
count
- Intelligent Keystroke
Count
On the IT side, the PDF-Based approach eases up the client setup
process on the DEO side, by allowing anyone with an internet connection,
Internet Explorer and Acrobat Reader installed to immediately start working.
Thanks to the Internet, PDS® allows for worldwide distributed data-capture
operations.
DATA CONSISTENCY
PDS® allows for data to be validated in
real time against external databases, or to be cross-checked with data from
other fields in the form. The PDF-Based approach allows for the embedding of complex
business rules that are then enforced while data is being entered. This prevents bad
data from being entered, ensuring maximum data quality before it is
exported to the final depository.
REVIEWING
PDS® has a second level role for decision-making that is
managed by Reviewers. Reviewers are one level above the DEO, and are
allowed to decide what to do with the JOBS than can't be correctly
captured.
Sometimes, there are missing pages in an application that
contains several forms and other documents, or maybe some data from the original
scanned image cannot be read.
Thanks to its workflow capabilities, PDS®
allows a DEO to "flag" a job when its data cannot be accurately captured. If
this happens, the JOB is moved to the Reviewer's queue for further analysis. It
is the Reviewer who will try to "fix" the job or to "suspend" it. PDS® embeds
additional tools to help the Reviewer with the final
decision, such as putting the JOB "on hold" for further analysis, or while additional information is gathered.
ADMINISTRATION
PDS® includes a complete HTML-based set of tools for
system administration. See below for a partial feature list:- System settings (Form
types, Exception types, File repositories,
etc)
- User & ID management
(Operators, Reviewers)
- System
performance Reports & Historical JOB
tracking
- Real-time production
tracking
(keystroke count, avg. returns
processed, avg. time per return, avg. group production, individual
production, flagged returns control, status control, objective control, batch
control, etc)
For more information about PDS® or to request a Web Demo,
please contact our sales department.
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