Interesting Use Cases of OCR Technology in 2021

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology has been in existence for around a century. However, in its current guise, its technology has been used since the early 1990s, with the capability to convert any form of written text – handwritten or otherwise – into machine-readable text formats.

It's still a legitimate form of technology today, with plenty of use cases as a data capture solution, improving efficiencies, reducing overheads, and minimizing carbon footprints. Within this article, we'll explore some of the most fascinating OCR data capture solutions being implemented in 2021, improving services and delivering up-to-date information with speed and accuracy.

Dynamsoft's label recognition technology

Canadian software company Dynamsoft has released a brand-new software development kit (SDK) targeting web and mobile application developers. The kit is designed to make it easy for consumers to scan and extract content online via physical labels. Dynamsoft Label Recognition SDK is underpinned by OCR technology, which could be used to enhance data capture potential in a range of sectors, spanning the public sector, automotive, and retail.

Amy Gu, president of Dynamsoft described how its label recognition solution could transform grocery stores where "prominent price labels" are commonly used to present in-store sales and special discounts. Ms Gu said that the labels "do not always match the price" on the barcode, causing frustrating delays at the checkout for both consumers and businesses alike. Dynamsoft's Label Recognition simplifies this entire process, enabling staff to scan multiple labels and barcodes down an aisle and immediately pinpoint price discrepancies. They follow in the footsteps of companies like Cangler Analytics that seek to unlock insight and efficiency from data.

Dynamsoft has developed its OCR-powered solution for specific use on brief and sparse content, as commonly placed on labels. It can also read and understand low-resolution imagery on labels using state-of-the-art algorithms that refine the label's contrast for an immediate result. This particular software is also made to be compatible with deciphering text displayed on live video streams. This SDK can extract data and cross-reference it with neighboring frames to achieve unrivaled accuracy.

Dynamsoft has been in existence for almost two decades now and for a considerable portion of that time OCR technology has been at the heart of simplifying document and barcode scanning online, via mobile and on desktop.

OCR's role in the everyday lives of consumers today

OCR technology has had a transformational impact on the hospitality sector. It's enabled hoteliers and restaurant owners to accelerate their response times to customers, improve kitchen productivity and subsequent levels of customer satisfaction. Nanonets is even making menu digitization easier and slicker for customers to order their food. Consumer banking has also benefited greatly from OCR technology, which is now increasingly used to verify customer records, monthly statements and even signatures. FinanTeq is one such firm simplifying mobile banking for customers using OCR technology, making paper invoices and bills a thing of the past too. OCR technology is also at the heart of online entertainment, helping to power the latest live dealer casinos, capturing in-game data like card values and wheel numbers to overlay to players in real-time on-screen. Augmented reality (AR) also supplements this technology wherever possible to create immersive gaming experiences. Betway's live casino gameshow titles are aided by AR, with Monopoly Live featuring Mr. Monopoly himself sitting alongside the human game host.

Smart Engines' document recognition solution

Russian software development company Smart Engines has recently teamed up with robotics specialists Promobot – the company that recently developed Promobot Thermocontrol – to deliver an exciting high-end document recognition solution, a temperature screening solution suitable for public places. Labeled the "Promobot Scanner", the purpose of the device is to ramp up the productivity of form-filling by automatically pulling through data from identification documents. This includes the next-generation biometric passports that are fully compatible with Smart Engines' ID-scanning software, underpinned by GreenOCR technology and its proprietary Smart ID Engine.

The ID documentation is first scanned via the Smart ID Engine, pulling through data on an individual's identity information and sensitive data which can then be used to automate forms without having to transfer them through unknown third-party sources. Smart Engine's software integrates seamlessly into Promobot's hardware. Whenever a digital form of identification is placed on its scanner, all data and imagery are sent to its AI-powered recognition module for swift and efficient processing without the need for humans posing single inquiries. It's yet another example of the democratization of AI technology. It's also by no means the first or last time Smart Engines has collaborated using OCR technology, with recent integrations for biometric onboarding in Oman and Peru.

The future of OCR technology looks increasingly intertwined with AI and machine-based learning, helping to automate, simplify and secure processes in years to come.