In the age of digital transformation, more and more businesses are looking for ways to go paperless. One way to do this is by scanning all of your documents and storing them electronically. But should you scan your documents yourself or outsource it to a document scanning company? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each option.
Do-It-Yourself Document Scanning: The Pros
The main perceived advantage of scanning your documents yourself is that it's free - but is it really?
Do you already have extra people and scanning hardware lying around with excess capacity to scan hundreds of thousands of documents?
Probably not.
In that case, you will have to invest in:
- High-quality document scanners from companies like Canon, Fujitsu, or Kodak. Which can cost thousands of dollars.
- Developing proper procedures for preparation, scanning, and indexing your documents
- Quality control procedures
- The labor to scan your documents
Do-It-Yourself Document Scanning: The Cons
There are several disadvantages to scanning your documents yourself. First, it can be time-consuming - especially if you have a lot of documents to scan.
Second, the quality of your scanned documents may not be as high as it would be if they were done by a professional document scanning company. This is because professional scanners are designed specifically for scanning documents and often produce higher-quality results than general-purpose scanners.
Finally, if you make a mistake while scanning your documents, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to fix it - which could lead to lost or damaged data.
Outsourcing Your Document Scanning Needs: The Pros
There are several advantages to outsourcing your document scanning needs. First, it's more efficient - you can simply send your documents off to a company and let them handle the scanning for you.
Second, it's more accurate - as mentioned above, professional document scanners often produce higher-quality results than general-purpose scanners.
Third, it's more reliable - when you outsource your document scanning needs, you can be confident that your documents will be scanned correctly the first time around.
Finally, it's more cost-effective in the long run - although there may be an upfront cost associated with outsourcing your document scanning needs, it will likely be less than the cost of buying a scanner and spending weeks (or months) scanning your documents yourself.
Conclusion:
So, should businesses scan their documents themselves or outsource it to a document scanning company?
The answer depends on several factors - but overall, outsourcing is usually the best option for businesses that want to digitize their data quickly and efficiently (not to mention affordably).
If you're interested in outsourcing your document scanning needs, DocCapture can help connect you with pre-vetted companies in your area so that you can get started right away! Contact us today for more information or request a quote now!
