Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we save money by outsourcing our data entry?
• What type of services does Point Blank Imaging provide?
• What do you mean by “verify”?
• Does it matter what types of forms are used?
• What if the data on the forms are handwritten?
• In what format is the data available?
• What is your turn-around time?
• How accurate is the extracted data?
• What if we need an even higher degree of accuracy?
• Am I able to access the document images?
• How does PBI receive the documents to be scanned?
• What happens to the documents after PBI scans them?
• What if we want to maintain possession of our documents?

Can we save money by outsourcing our data entry?     Return to Top
In most instances, it is more cost-effective for a company to outsource the data entry function rather than maintaining internal data entry staff. In addition, it is expected that an automated data extraction/verification process such as ours provides greater data entry accuracy than manual data entry.

What type of services does Point Blank Imaging provide?     Return to Top
Point Blank Imaging (PBI) uses sophisticated document imaging and optical character recognition (OCR) software to extract data from paper forms, verify that data for accuracy, and deliver the data to the customer.

What do you mean by “verify”?     Return to Top
Depending on the quality of a document image, many numbers and letters look similar (e.g. 1 and I, 5 and S, 8 and B, etc.). We deal with those similarities by, first, defining rules that apply to each field and, second, manually verifying the fields in which the data looks questionable or irregular.

Does it matter what types of forms are used?     Return to Top
In general, No. PBI is able to handle an unlimited number of forms, no matter if they have multiple fonts or colored backgrounds. During the initial set-up, PBI will evaluate each form with the customer.

What if the data on the forms are handwritten?     Return to Top
PBI may be able to extract and verify clearly printed handwritten data as well. However, since handwritten text is not as uniform as original print text, there will be a surcharge due to the requirement to double-verify each data field.

In what format is the data available?     Return to Top
PBI can assemble and remit extracted data in a standard ASCII format. A data file is created and either transmitted to the customer’s FTP address or held at PBI’s FTP address for access by the customer.

What is your turn-around time?     Return to Top
Our turn-around time is generally no more than 48 hours – usually, it’s closer to 24 hours. There are certain circumstances in which an even faster turn-around time is required by the customer. In those circumstances, PBI can convert data from paper forms to a data file within 4 hours. There will be additional costs associated with this “priority” imaging service.

How accurate is the extracted data?     Return to Top
Typically, manual data entry is between 90%-98% accurate. PBI electronically verifies the extracted data based on customer-defined rules and manually verifies any questionable or irregular data fields to yield an accuracy level of 99.5%.

What if we need an even higher degree of accuracy?     Return to Top
Rarely, a customer will require an even higher degree of data accuracy beyond 99.5%. In those instances, all defined data fields will be manually verified, even if the data in those fields are not questionable. This “double-verification” process yields an accuracy level of approximately 99.95%.

Am I able to access the document images?     Return to Top
Yes. In addition to providing you with the extracted data from the scanned documents, the document images can be made available to you as well. If you would like the images for archival purposes, we can provide you with a CD-ROM (which can hold up to 10,000 pages). In addition, if you would like easier access to those images, we can allow for online image access by multiple concurrent users. This is especially useful if more than one user will have a need to access the same set of documents.

How does PBI receive the documents to be scanned?     Return to Top
Documents need to be shipped by the customer to PBI. We can accept deliveries by the U.S. Postal Service or by any other commercial freight carrier. In some circumstances, forms may even be mailed directly to PBI for imaging rather than first being routed through the customer.

What happens to the documents after PBI scans them?     Return to Top
The customer has several options. PBI can either ship the original documents back to the customer, PBI can recycle the documents if they are no longer needed by the customer, or for confidential documents, PBI can shred the documents before recycling.

What if we want to maintain possession of our documents?     Return to Top
PBI recognizes that some customers deal with confidential documents that they would rather not ship. In those cases, PBI can arrange for the installation of a scanner, computer, and requisite software at the customer site. The customer would maintain responsibility for scanning the documents and remitting the image files. PBI would then access those document images and extract/verify the data fields. Although there would be a nominal cost to the customer for the software lease, PBI’s fee str