Kendata enhances bureau service with proprietary
forms-processing software
Kendata Peripherals, a leading provider of data-entry products
and services, has significantly enhanced its forms-processing
bureau service through the use of an in-house developed software
package and by investing in additional hardware at its Southampton-based
facility.
The company's bureau-service clients are typically organisations
using short questionnaires to obtain feedback from customers
or staff. These questionnaires normally include a combination
of check-mark boxes, bar codes and free text boxes, and when
complete they are returned to the Kendata bureau for scanning
and processing.
Automated systems already enable Kendata to process thousands
of forms in a short period of time, and the company's new
forms-processing software further improves service levels because
it specifically addresses the needs of the bureau environment.
Developed by Kendata after years of using commercially available
products, the new software minimises the need for operator intervention
and handles all the decision making when errors such as double
marking are detected.
As each sheet is scanned, a unique identification number is
printed on it to provide a complete audit trail, which is especially
important when dealing with longer survey booklets as they have
to be separated into individual sheets prior to scanning.
In addition, the software randomly selects a certain number
of forms for QA validation from each batch, thereby ensuring
that quality assurance checks are carried out in accordance
with the sampling requirements of ISO2859/BS6001. After each
batch has been scanned, the software prints out two copies of
a batch label, identifying the documents selected for QA and
listing any forms in which errors were detected.
To complement the new forms-processing software, Kendata has
invested in additional equipment, including the Kodak i260 scanner
- which features ultrasonic double-sheet detection - and the
latest PC hardware, 17in. and 19in. TFT monitors and DVD writers.
The company has also introduced an online response-monitoring
facility that enables customers to use a secure area of the
Kendata website to check how many completed questionnaires have
been received each day.
11th February 2005 Ref. KE211A
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