AIIM Product Preview

More than 200 exhibitors are expected at AIIM 2002, March 6-8 in San Francisco. Here's a sampling of what's in store.

CONTENT MANAGEMENT

Total Enterprise Content Management
Gauss Interprise, Booths 829 & 1029

VIP Enterprise 8 from Gauss Interprise, Irvine, CA, is an integrated enterprise content management suite unifying Web content and document management, portal development and business process workflow. This unified system offers an alternative to the approach of buying disparate best-of-breed systems and spending months integrating technologies. The modular, J2EE-based software is said to streamline the interdependencies of document and Web content management life cycles and provide consistent context for managing disparate structured and unstructured content sources.
VIP Enterprise offers compatibility with a range of operating systems including OS/400, Linux, Unix, NT and Windows 2000, and it is compatible with leading J2EE application servers. Pricing starts at $50,000.
www.gaussvip.com

Web-Based Management & Collaboration
iManage, Booth 2623

iManage WorkSite MP from iManage, San Mateo, CA, is collaborative content management software designed to enable organizations to capture, store and reuse business-critical content. The software lets business users refine that content through collaboration among employees, customers, suppliers and partners. Users create online WorkSites where they conduct their daily business, securely managing and sharing documents, scheduling meetings and carrying out online discussions. WorkSite MP is said to enable geographically or organizationally dispersed team members to work together in a barrier-free, yet secure, online environment.

Through tight integration to the desktop and other communications systems, iManage captures data generated in meetings and transferred as correspondence. The software is said to drive group management down to the team level, easing administrative burdens. Entry-level pricing for a system with fewer than 100 users starts at $70K.
www.imanage.com

Low-Cost Web Site Management
Interlucent Internet Solutions, Booth 2515

Interlucent iCMS is billed as an affordable content management system that lets companies take control of their Web content generation processes. Developed by Interlucent Internet Solutions, Houston, iCMS provides a standard methodology for implementing applications and for propagating them throughout the sites managed by the system.

iCMS' Workflow Management is designed to minimize costly errors by enforcing review processes as part of the publishing process. Control can be established at the user, group, page, folder and site level to ensure adherence to corporate standards.
Interlucent iCMS requires Windows 2000 Server with IIS, Microsoft Transaction Server and Microsoft SQL 7.0. Costs range from $10,000 for a five-user system up to $150,000 for unlimited users.
www.interlucent.com

XML Tool for Componentized Content
Interwoven, Booth 1547

TeamXML from Interwoven, Sunnyvale, CA, is designed to let companies build XML-based solutions for Web content and document management. The product is said to enable content collaboration, reuse and versioning at the element level, delivering on the promise of data reuse and consistency across the enterprise.

Traditional architectures can break down when documents are deeply componentized and components are widely shared in multiple documents. TeamXML supports object relationships within complex documents, ensuring performance and scalability for XML repositories used for content management.

Another limitation of some XML systems is said to be inadequate search. TeamXML offers a discovery model based on parametric search that provides easy access to reusable content components. Content can be modified anywhere in the enterprise and automatically updated in any document that contains a shared component. Content is never locked up inside a document; rather, it is shared across documents and all documents are always consistent and up-to-date.
TeamXML pricing starts at $40,000.
www.interwoven.com

E-Forms Workflow System
Optical Image Technology, Booth 1745

Version 2 of XML FormFlow from Optical Image Technology (OIT), State College, PA, offers upgrades including flexible, Web-accessible electronic form design capabilities. FormFlow is an e-form-based workflow system that allows users to create and save electronic forms to drive paper-free online business processes.

XML FormFlow Version 2 leads users through the process of creating electronic forms with a point-and-click interface. Used in conjunction with OIT's OptiFlow Workflow module, these e-forms can initiate single or multiple workflows that cross departments and physical locations. Completed forms are converted to PDF format using Adobe's Forms Data Format (FDF). Captured data can automatically populate third-party tables while form images are indexed and stored for future retrieval within an OIT content management system.

XML FormFlow costs $15,000 (required IntraViewer and OptiFlow modules not included).
www.opticaltech.com

Personal & Enterprise Knowledge Management
SER Solutions, Booth 1417

SERglobalbrain from SER Solutions, Dulles, VA, is a knowledge tool designed to logically categorize, manage and access personal and enterprise information regardless of file type or format. The software is said to quickly and accurately find relevant content using natural language queries.

SERglobalbrain is powered by the SERbrainware engine, which analyzes and categorizes the contents of information objects. This neural network technology is said to provide fast, accurate information retrieval. The Personal Edition of SERglobalbrain starts at $175, while the Enterprise Edition starts at $45,000.
www.ser.com

Web Content Infrastructure
Stellent, Booth 1447

Stellent Content Management 5.2 can be used to rapidly deploy scalable content-centric Web sites, such as corporate portals and extranets. The software can also manage business and Web content for other e-business applications, including enterprise portals and business commerce applications.

According to Eden Prairie, MN-based Stellent, Content Management 5.2 seamlessly integrates with e-business applications, generating a quick return on investment. The system Web-enables business content by aggregating information from multiple sources; converting it to Web formats; managing and publishing it to the Web; and personalizing it for specific audiences, devices and applications. The product eliminates the Webmaster bottleneck by allowing anyone with a browser to contribute content including ordinary word processing documents, spreadsheets and graphics.

Upgrades to the 5.2 software include localization capabilities for French and German language sites, expanded integration capabilities (including support for IBM AIX and DB2 and the addition of a SOAP interface), and the availability of portlets for the IBM WebSphere Portal.

Stellent Content Management systems are said to range in price from $100,000 to $250,000.
www.stellent.com

Object-Agnostic Process Automation
Tower Technology, Booth M232

High-volume document and content processing is the focus of Tower IDM, an enterprise-scalable, Web-enabled repository intended for all forms of unstructured business information - images, forms, computer-generated reports, statements, office documents, email and Web content.

Tower IDM's process automation function provides unified case folders that allow all mission-critical information to be located and routed using a single database query, retrieved from a single content repository and displayed in a universal viewer. The Tower Document Portal links Tower IDM to the Web for browser access to workflow queues, work forms, case folders, case notes and documents. Other optional modules include IDM e-forms processing technology, which enables direct data capture via Dynamic HTML or PDF forms posted on the Web. IDM WebCapture is a system for capturing, storing and retrieving Web session pages in the context in which they were viewed during a high-value online transaction.

Tower IDM can include integrated modules for high-volume production imaging; forms processing; COLD/ERM; document, content and email management; and workflow. The software can be deployed on Unix or Win2000 servers with MS Windows or browser clients. Complete system pricing starts at $1,500 per user.
www.towertech.com

Low-Cost Document Management
Canon, Booth 1105

ImageWare from Canon, Lake Success, NY, is a low-cost document management system aimed at small- to mid-sized organizations. The system includes Scan Manager, a capture application offering pre- and post-scan indexing and zone OCR, and Document Manager, which creates searchable databases of images, electronic documents and other digital objects.

ImageWare Document Manager is available in an entry-level Workgroup Edition for small offices or departments or in an Enterprise Edition built on multiple servers. The software's graphical interface is said to be easy to use, with thumbnail views of documents, user-intuitive folder structures and functions for index, full-text and annotation searching.

ImageWare supports TWAIN and ISIS scanners and multifunction devices including Canon's ImageRunner systems. Scan Manager costs $4,495 while Document Manager is $3,495 for the Workgroup Edition (including 10 client licenses) and $17,495 for the Enterprise Edition. Web Edition server software costs $4,310.
www.usa.canon.com

MICROFILM

Combo Scanner/Microfilmer
Canon,Booth 1105

Canon, Lake Success, NY, describes the DR-5060F as a scanner with a photographic memory. The unit combines digital document imaging with obsolescence-proof microfilm imaging, simultaneously recording images to a PC and to microfilm. The bitonal/grayscale scanner captures 51 ppm/102 ipm (8.5" x 11" @ 200 dpi). The 500-sheet feeder handles documents up to 11.7" x 17". The scanner's maximum optical resolution is 300 dpi. Standard features include auto deskew, auto cropping and auto thickness detection. The scanner is $18,000 with 24x and high-capacity 57x 16mm cameras priced at $1,900 each.
www.usa.canon.com

Microfilm Capture System
SunRise, Booth 1011

The SunRise 2000 digital microfilm system is said to enhance productivity with new features including 12-bit grayscale capture, auto gamma (exposure) correction and ReelScan 2000 software for auto cropping, deskew and fast "Go To" retrieval.

The latest imaging enhancements from SunRise are designed to make the most of difficult and demanding content such as historical documents, photographs and poor contrast text documents. Gamma correction can be used on grayscale or bitonal images to achieve a clearer white background with sharper text information. ReelScan 2000 is the newest component of SunRise's ScanFlo 2000 application software for Roll Film scanning. Pricing was unavailable.
www.sunriseimaging.com

SCAN & CAPTURE SOFTWARE

Production Document/Data Capture
ActionPoint, Booth 1412

Enhanced XML and color support are among the upgrades to InputAccel 4.0 capture software from ActionPoint, San Jose, CA. InputAccel's scalable architecture is designed to let you deploy departmentally and expand up to the enterprise level as volumes increase. The software supports both distributed and centralized scanning environments.

ActionPoint has been a leader in supporting the burgeoning use of color in document imaging. Color reduces user eye strain and increases key-from-image speed and accuracy. InputAccel is the first product of its kind to support dual-stream color/bitonal output from new scanners such as the Kodak i800 series.

InputAccel's XML support puts data and metadata to use across your organization. The software's API is said to be compatible with enterprise content management systems from vendors such as IBM, Documentum and OpenText without requiring coding. Pricing starts at less than $4,000.
www.actionpoint.com

Invoice Automation System
Captiva, Booth 1713

InvoicePack is an invoice processing solution developed to increase accounts payable staff productivity and improve efficiencies in capturing data from invoices. Offered by San Diego-based Captiva, InvoicePack uses advanced recognition and neural network technologies to locate and extract data from invoices of varying design with minimal human intervention.

InvoicePack delivers verified data to ERP and accounting systems while invoice images can be exported to document management systems for later retrieval. Captiva says the system significantly reduces the need to manually key data from invoices, allowing organizations to redeploy accounts payable staff.

InvoicePack comes with a set of pre-defined templates for common invoice types. This database automatically grows as new invoice types are encountered and the software "learns" about and stores templates for new invoice types. Prices start at $25,000.
www.captivasoftware.com

Thin-Client Forms Processing
Datacap, Booth 1244

Datacap of Tarrytown, NY, says Task Master 5.0 is the first capture product to combine production forms processing capabilities (ICR, OCR, OMR and barcode recognition) with thin-client access.
Task Master 5.0's iCapture browser interface distributes processing anywhere in the world instead of confining it to where the capture software has been installed. To support Internet interoperability, Task Master stores the results of ICR and OCR recognition in XML format. This enables iCapture to extend scanning and verification workflow tasks to the Internet.

iCapture is a native IIS application and does not require a terminal server product or other client-side interfaces. Pricing starts at $7,995.
www.datacap.com

Upgrades For Distributed Capture
Kofax,Booth 805

A thin-client scanning option, an improved Internet server module and advanced recognition technologies are among the upgrades and options bolstering Ascent Capture software from Kofax, Irvine, CA.

Ricochet is Kofax' new browser-based document creation and indexing solution designed to extend an existing Ascent production capture system to every desktop in the enterprise. The product enables users to scan images on a digital copier or other multifunctional peripheral (MFP) device. From their desktop, users review images for quality before submitting them to a central capture system. An easy-to-use, interactive interface ensures that metadata and workflow routing parameters are predefined. Ricochet also enables users to attach electronic documents and obtain notification of delivery. Ricochet pricing starts at $15,000.

Ascent Capture Internet Server (ACIS) Version 5.5 is the latest upgrade of Kofax' production-level distributed scanning and data entry. ACIS enables inexpensive, high-volume document scanning at remote sites. Resulting image batches are automatically downloaded and synchronized with a central Ascent Capture server. Upgrades include batch class filtering for enhanced security and reduced complexity. In addition, remote locations can now balance workloads with a network of workstations rather than multiple stand-alone deployments. A new installation and configuration wizard eases setup and administration of the IIS server. Volume-based ACIS pricing starts at $8,250.

Release 5.5 of the core Ascent Capture software now incorporates the fast, accurate RecoStar recognition engine from Oce for zonal OCR data capture. Recognition can be further improved with the RecoStar Professional voting engine. Other upgrades include a custom module setup and an administrative API said to ease application integration. Auto-polling allows Ascent to automatically take input from other applications as XML data streams. Ascent's volume-based pricing starts at $995.
www.kofax.com

Variable Forms Processing System
Mitek Systems, Booth 2437

DynaFind is designed to tackle high-volumes of invoices, bills of lading and other like forms of varying design. DynaFind is able to find data points even when they appear in different positions from document to document. The software uses positional as well as keyword information to recognize forms by type and then extract specified data.

To improve accuracy, DynaFind has built-in image enhancement capabilities such as auto invert, deskew, despeckle and line removal. The software is sold as an add-on to Mitek's Doctus forms processing system or as a stand-alone offering as a programmer's toolkit. Prices start at $7,900.
www.miteksys.com

Handwriting-Savvy Forms Processing
Parascript, Booth 548

Set to ship in June, ParaPort software from Parascript, Niwot, CO, combines the benefits of traditional automated recognition technology with advanced technology that reads cursive, handprint and machine print - in any combination. ParaPort is said to streamline data capture processes with faster processing speeds and higher data accuracy.

Parascript's combined machine print, handprint and cursive handwriting recognition recognizes unique field types and special symbols, reads entire words and phrases in context, and validates information with customer-furnished databases. Prices start at $1,000 per server plus $100 per seat.
www.parascript.com

All-Source Data Collection
Top Image Systems, Booth 1039

The latest version of eFlow from Top Image Systems, Carlsbad, CA, provides a common enterprise-level onramp for business-critical data. Whether the source is scanned document images, faxes, e-forms or data from mobile devices, eFlow is designed to extract, validate and deliver data and content to ERP, CRM, database, workflow, document and content management systems.

The eFlow platform is said to offer faster application development and lower costs. You define one set of business rules to capture data and content from any source. Mobile device support lets you accept field-generated business transactions. System pricing was not available.
www.topimagesystems.com

E-Form Management System
Cardiff Software, Booth 1021

LiquidOffice version 2 is the latest-generation electronic forms management system from Vista, CA-based Cardiff. This automated e-form capture, workflow and processing system brings paperless transactions to academic, government and corporate enterprises. The system provides a centralized, online repository for blank forms and includes services for submitting, routing and approving forms. LiquidOffice leverages XML, HTML and Adobe PDF standards to eliminate the requirement for licensing and deploying "filler" clients.

Version 2 of LiquidOffice adds XML Virtual Submit, a Web Services layer that can be used to prepopulate forms, add attachments and submit information to specified users. This tool supports multiple capture technologies, including document imaging, in a single workflow.
LiquidOffice Workgroup supports up to 100 log-in accounts and costs $15,000; the scalable LiquidOffice Enterprise edition starts at $45,000.
www.cardiff.com

SCANNERS

Departmental & High-Speed Color Scanners
Fujitsu, Booth 817

Color support and low cost are the leading attractions of the fi-4340C and fi-4990C, two new scanners from San Jose, CA-based Fujitsu. The fi-4340C is a departmental flatbed model boasting duplex support and speeds of up to 40 ppm/80 ipm bitonally or 16 ppm/29 ipm in color (8.5" x 11" @ 200 dpi). The 100-page feeder handles documents up to legal size, and optical resolution tops out an impressive 600 dpi. Standard features include push-button color dropout and infrared double-feed detection, while options include an onboard JPEG compression board. The list price is $5,495.

Fujitsu's fi-4990C is a high-speed duplex production scanner boasting speeds up to 90 ppm/180 ipm bitonally or 85 ppm/135 ipm in color (8.5" x 11" @ 200 dpi). The 1,000-page feeder handles documents up to 12-inches wide with infrared double-feed detection and auto paper thickness detection. Standard features include electronic color dropout, document profiles that improve scan image quality, and onboard adjustable JPEG compression. The optical resolution is 400 dpi, and options include an imprinter. The list price is $29,995.
www.fcpa.com

High-Speed Business Process Machine
Imaging Business Machines, Booth 1719

IBML of Birmingham, AL, speeds paper-intensive business processes with a combination of software and hardware. SoftTrac software unleashes all the speed and functionality of the ImageTrac II, among the fastest color-capable production scanners available on the market.

The ImageTrac II includes dual 1.1 GHz processors to drive front and rear color image capture, multiple (color/grayscale/bitonal) image outputs, barcode and 2D barcode reading, OCR and MICR recognition and advanced pocket sorting. The scanner captures color images at more than 205 ppm/410 ipm (8.5" x 11" @200 dpi). An optional high-resolution camera captures front-side images up to 400 dpi.

SoftTrac software exposes and stores any combination of processing options with push-button ease from the scanner's touch-screen display, and it adds intelligence to pocketing and inkjet endorsing. ImageTrack II and SoftTrac are designed for banks, financial services, healthcare and government agencies with paper-intensive processes involving more than 15,000 pages per day. A base scanner without options is $175,000.
www.ibml.com

TOOLKITS & COMPONENTS

Cross-Platform, Codec-Rich Toolkit
Accusoft ,Booth 2523

Broad support for more than 100 image formats highlights the ImageGear developer's toolkit from Accusoft of Northborough, MA. Codecs are available for JPEG 2000, AutoCAD 2000, wireless bitmaps, DICOM medical imaging and multimedia functions. More than 600 functions are available for manipulating images. Accusoft says the toolkit is 100 percent thread safe for multitasking and multiprocessing environments.

Versions of ImageGear are available for a number of platforms including Windows (both ActiveX and DLL), Windows CE, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, Linux, and Mac OS. A Java version is also available for image processing in Web applications. ImageGear pricing starts at $2,995.
www.accusoft.com

Low-Cost JPEG 2000 Add-On
Pegasus Imaging, Booth 216

Tampa, FL-based Pegasus Imaging has introduced a JPEG 2000 add-on for its ImagXpress toolkit. JPEG 2000 uses wavelet compression to reduce color image file sizes with minimal loss in visual quality. ImagXpress lets developers add imaging functions to their applications including image capture, TWAIN support, image format conversion, annotation, image processing, printing and TIFF compression and multi-page document support. In addition to the JPEG 2000 add-on, ImagXpress modules are available for barcode printing and recognition, and ISIS scan and capture functions. The JPEG 2000 add-on costs $999.
www.pegasustools.com

.NET and COM Imaging Tools
Lead Technologies, Booth 1045

Lead Technologies of Charlotte, NC, has added .NET and COM support to version 13 of its venerable Lead Tools imaging toolkit. The .NET and COM additions broaden a suite of programming interfaces that already included ActiveX, DLL, VCL and Class Libraries.

.NET and COM components will let developers use Lead Tools in fully distributed applications using native Web Services and Win32 APIs. Lead Tools Version 13 is reportedly the first toolkit written in C# for .NET. Also new are expanded annotation and TWAIN scanning functionality. The TWAIN support includes buffered memory transfer with or without compression and access to extended image information.
www.leadtools.com

Image Processing and Recognition
Mitek Systems, Booth 2437

The QuickFX Pro toolkit from San Diego-based Mitek is a complete OCR/ICR toolkit with extensive image processing options. Features include intelligent cropping, dilation, erosion, despeckle, deskew and form recognition. Mitek says the latest version QuickFX Pro, expected to ship in late April, will offer faster processing and improved image enhancement, form identification, accuracy and ease of use. QuickFX Pro also supports color and grayscale images. Pricing is expected to be between $476 and $9,800, depending on user licensing requirements.
www.miteksys.com

State-of-the-Art Compression for ISIS
Pixel Translations, Booth 1305

JPEG 2000 and color support are new for version 6 of PixTools from San Jose,CA-based Pixel Translations. PixTools is used by more than 200 commercial software developers to add ISIS-based scan and capture support to their applications. According to the vendor, PixTools supports all features available in the newest scanners, including dual-stream output, and now offers faster and more accurate color compression with its JPEG 2000 support.
www.pixtran.com