Scanners

High Volume Scanners

If your business needs a high-volume scanner, prepare to encounter a dizzying array of products from HP, Epson, Kodak, Canon, Xerox and other manufacturers. We give you the information you need to make sense of high volume scanners and make a sound buying decision.

For some business owners, a high-volume office scanner may seem like a luxury.

But in today's business environment, more and more companies are discovering that high-volume scanners can reduce their dependency on physical storage space and traditional archiving processes. In fact, given the ROI that you'll get from it, it's hard to find reasons not to use high-volume scanning solutions.

The primary benefit your business will receive from a high-volume business scanner is efficiency. You will have the ability to quickly and easily transform printed financial reports, contracts, HR data and other content into digital formats for the purposes of data transmission and storage. Sophisticated high-volume scanners can deliver 60 ppm scanning speeds and even midmarket products offer features that leave typical flatbed scanners in the dust.

If a high-volume scanner sounds like it might be a wise investment for your business, here are some of the factors you'll need to think about:

• High-volume scanner prices. High-volume scanners are generally more expensive than single sheet, flatbed devices. However, the high-volume scanner market offers a variety of price points that are affordable for most small businesses. Entry-level products start in the $300-$400 range while high-end, departmental scanners can cost $1,000 or more.
• Available features. Many high-volume scanners do more than simply scan documents. Many devices will also flip images, darken/lighten text, perform duplex scanning, and include automatic time stamps.
• Networking. High-volume scanners are often networked, but not all scanners have this ability. Talk with your dealer or vendor about the networking capabilities of their products and make sure your solution can be easily integrated into your existing business server environment.
• Size requirements. When you enter the market for a high volume scanner, consider the size of the documents it will be scanning. Most businesses primarily scan 8.5 x 11" documents, but your scanner may also need the ability to scan larger sized documents, e.g. legal, tabloid or blueprint sizes.
• Standalone versus multifunction. Like single sheet scanners, high-volume business scanners come in either standalone or multifunction models. If your high-volume scanning needs are sporadic, a multi-function device may suffice. But if you routinely scan documents with a large number of sheets, a stand-alone model is a better choice.

Share this article

Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary