Factors to Consider When Buying
an Automatic Feeder Scanner
Currently, scanners are present in almost every office, irrespective of the industry. An automatic feeder scanner is the type of scanner that is programmed to automatically extract documents from a feeder tray and move them along to the imaging sensor before the results are generated to the output tray. So if you need to scan a huge number of documents, you can use an automatic feeder scanner to scan them in order to save time. It does this by eliminating the need to feed documents into the scanner one by one. With this scanner, you reduce human assistance when scanning and save time.
Unlike most of the other types of printers on the market, if you use an automatic feeder scanner, you will not have to worry about dealing with queues when you want to scan pages. An automatic feeder scanner will help you save time when scanning.
While having an automatic feeder scanner can improve efficiency, choosing the best automatic feeder scanner will require you to consider a number of factors, which can make it a bit difficult. We have compiled some of these factors below...
Scanning Speed
When you are looking for an automatic feeder scanner, one of the most important factors to consider is the scanning speed. The scanning is often measured in images per minute or page per minute. The faster the scanner is, the quicker your scanning needs can be met. So if you are choosing a scanner, this is definitely a factor you should consider if you want your scans done as fast as possible.
However, it should be noted that for some scanners, the speed may vary depending on the selected resolution. For instance, a scanner can provide 50 images per minute for a document with 200 dpi. Compare these factors and choose whichever can accommodate your scanning needs.
Resolution
For some people, getting a high-quality scanned document is a very important factor. So if you fall under this category, the resolution is definitely an important factor to consider when buying an automatic feeder scanner.
Some of the best multi-page scanners can offer you a 600 PPI resolution, which is pretty awesome because this ensures your scanned documents will feature high-quality images and text. It does not matter if the image is cropped or stretched; you will still get your high quality. However, it is important to note that the higher the quality, the greater the size of the scanned file.
However, if you are not really interested in high-quality images in your scanned documents, you can go for a multi-page scanner that supports at least 200 PPI. Currently, you can find scanners with a resolution as low as 200 PPI and as high as 4800 PPI on the market.
Duty Cycle
Alongside scanning speed, the duty cycle is also one of the most important factors to consider when you are choosing an automatic feeder scanner. The duty cycle refers to the average volume of scans that the scanner can handle at a time. So, if you are the type that requires high volume scans every day, you should go for scanners that can handle a larger volume per cycle. It should be noted that if you decide to use the scanner for volumes that exceed the recommended duty cycle, you might damage the scanner in the long run. While the damages might not be apparent immediately, the effects will become more visible as time goes on.
If you are a business owner, this is definitely one of the most important factors for you to consider when you are choosing an automatic feeder scanner. For instance, you might find an automatic feeder scanner that has a duty cycle of about 5,000 pages per day.
Versatility
If you are getting an automatic feeder scanner, you will probably want to make the most of any scanner you choose. This is why versatility is a very important factor to consider when you are choosing an automatic feeder scanner. You should make sure you choose a scanner that can handle a wide range of document sizes. And if it cannot, you can go for it if it supports an external flatbed scanner kit.
You should also make sure that your scanner can handle bigger pieces of paper like A2 or A1. You should note that a scanner with a larger flatbed will be able to scan documents in a wide range of sizes.
Software
A lot of people do not know this, but along with its printing, faxing and scanning components, an automatic feeder scanner also features a piece of software to increase the efficiency of its operations. With these pieces of software, automatic feeder scanners can now scan and upload files to the cloud, share scans and monitor print policies. They can also enable scanners to convert scanned documents from one file type to another; for instance, from JPEG to Docs or Excel.
You can also integrate your document management system to your scanner with these pieces of software.
Security
Another essential factor you need to consider when you want to buy any technological device at this age is security. Before you choose an automatic feeder scanner, you should make sure to answer a few questions.
- Are the hard drives in the scanner cleaned once the contract has ended?
- Proof of hard drive wipe after the end of the contract.
- Is there an extra cost associated with data wiping?
Customer Service
Although no one wishes for their automatic feeder scanner to break down, you should be prepared just in case it happens at a bad time. One of the things you should consider when buying an automatic feeder scanner is if you can easily contact the service providers, how fast they can respond to you, how fast their service and maintenance take and so on. These questions will help make sure you know what type of service you will be getting in case your scanner malfunctions or needs maintenance. All of these should be carefully considered when getting an automatic feeder scanner.
