ImageIndex

ImageIndex is a software suite of intranet applications facilitating capturing of any type of forms, however complex they may be.

Fortune initiated the development of ImageIndex in 2002 with an aim to capture data and index any kind of forms, resulting in the development of a highly efficient n-tier data entry software product. ImageIndex is targeted at optimizing the delivery of information across the enterprise and into highly sophisticated information systems. Ranging from low volume, desktop products to high-volume, enterprise-level products, ImageIndex enables feeding the client’s information-intensive systems in a faster, more cost effective manner, and with greater accuracy.

ImageIndex is currently used to process thousands of forms and documents every day. The forms processed are insurance claims, invoices, credit applications, or customer orders, and they can be in any format – paper, faxes, or electronic documents. ImageIndex speeds up and enhances the overall processing times, reduces overhead costs and improves data accuracy. It is a fully automated, universal forms processing platform that automatically identifies and matches both paper and electronic forms, regardless of their type or design. ImageIndex comprises of various modules that collectively execute a process.

ImageIndex suite can be broadly categorized into following domains:

Server Suite for Administrative Tasks

In any enterprise level system, there is a need to centrally control the flow of data. With every different type of form, different workflows best suited to index that individual form must be configured, thereby providing greater flexibility and accurate control over how the data flows in the system. Considering this, the Server Suite of ImageIndex provides various modules viz. Image Scanner, Image Enhancement, File Scanner, OCR Server, Application Server, Popup Servers, Supervisor Module, etc. – each targeted at a specific area in the whole workflow.

The following is a brief description of various Server Suite Modules:

Scan and Upload
When paper claims arrive at Fortune Infotech, they are fed to the Image Scanner to produce batches of highly compressed digitally scanned images. The Image Scanner module also provides rescan facility for forms rejected at a later stage in indexing without hindering the overall workflow. These newly scanned batches are then passed on to a series of image enhancement processes such as deskewing, deshading and despeckling; removing lines, borders, edge noise or entire form backgrounds; and locating relevant fields with registration technologies (barcode etc). This module improves the quality of incoming data and adds a level of flexibility to the overall solution and avoids form redesign.

The File Scanner module uploads the batches into the indexing workflow. The Application Server keeps track of all the images in the workflow, e.g. who is processing which image, in which workflow and in what mode. The Popup Servers hold the data needed to be filled/validated automatically when the form processing is done.

OCR, ICR & OMR
The OCR server reads machine print and barcodes on forms with high speed and accuracy. Using OCR and OMR technologies, both fielded data and full-text recognition is possible. Also, the Free Form technology allows data capture from unstructured forms such as invoices, without the need to create a unique template for each form type. Moreover, multiple recognition engines and CVAs can be configured to further improve results of OCR and OMR.

Client Suite for Forms Processing

The Client Suite consists of various forms processing software – each customized for indexing a specific kind of form. It provides high-speed interface Reject-Repair, Key from Image, Double Blind Key Verification and Data Validation modes of indexing.

Reject-Repair mode provides interface to effectively key unrecognized characters and correct low confidence characters declared by OCR server.

Key from Image mode, as the name suggest, provides key-what-you-see kind of interface.

Double Blind Key Verification mode presents the operator with critical fields where accuracy is must. While the operator is keying the data, the client continuously verifies each key pressed against the data keyed in the first pass. This multi-pass capability of ImageIndex increases efficiency and ensures 100% accuracy.

Output Generation

ImageIndex is equipped with Output Generation Server. This module provides the capability to generate output of the captured data in a variety of formats such as fixed width plain ASCII text, Excel, XML, PDF, Word, HTML and 4010 EDI claim processing format. Also it allows creating and implementing custom format with ODBC compliance, allowing data export to almost all leading content management and database systems.

Reports

ImageIndex provides the administrators with a variety of reports such as summary of jobs done, detailed performance data for tracking statistics of indexing operators and many more.