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IN-HOUSE SCANNING CAPABILITY
We occasionally are asked to help organizations set up in-house scanning capabilities.
If you are at the stage where on-going scanning requirements justify purchasing
equipment and committing and training staff to operate it, we can help you
define and set up the facility.
Similarly, clients sometimes can handle the scanning themselves and want to send
the results to us for analysis. We can put a small OMR scanner at their site
and provide seamless methods for them to scan in their data (such as laboratory
results) and then have us process it.
One of our related companies is involved with software development as well as computer
network design, installation, and support. Also, we have used various scanner
hardware and software products. Because of that, we can give a more balanced
and objective view of those products, capabilities, prices, and reliability.
Here are the steps we go through with you:
PHASE 1 - SYSTEM DEFINITION
- Meet with you to define requirements
- Prepare a specification defining hardware, software,
and training requirements
- Suggest products to satisfy the defined hardware
and software requirements
- Discuss form design and printing process
- Define any custom software requirements
- Establish implementation schedule
- Estimate costs
PHASE 2 - SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
- Work through implementation schedule
- Work with you to acquire and set up scanner
- Work with you to acquire and install scanner
control software
- Work with you to acquire statistical analysis
and reporting software
- Develop any necessary custom software
- Develop necessary forms, have printed, and
test
- Train your staff to operate scanner hardware
and use analysis software
PHASE 3 - FOLLOW-ON SUPPORT
- Establish hardware maintenance agreements
- Establish software and support maintenance
agreements
- Provide as needed changes and improvements
- Assist with programming new forms
To determine whether such an in-house approach
is feasible, you have to have an idea of what this all might cost. VERY ROUGHLY,
the costs may be as follows:
- Phase 1 might be about $1,500
- Phase 2 might be about $10,000
- Phase 3 might be $2,000 per year.
These are low-end costs and could be more, depending
on the hardware selected and the complexity of your analysis. Also, the cost
for your staff has to be added in.
Fill in the
Information Request page if this approach makes sense for you.
On
the other hand, these costs might justify having us perform the scanning and analysis
for you!
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