Sep 25, 2024• 5 minute reading(s)
GoDaddy Content Team
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what is ocr
In this article
What is OCR
Popular OCR Tools and Software
Benefits of using OCR for document scanning
How to improve OCR accuracy
Ever since we started using computers, the idea of digitizing documents in order to be able to edit them easily has been a common desire that would have made life much easier for all of us. Imagine how useful it would be to scan a paper document and work directly on it, without having to rewrite it from scratch!
Well, this has been possible for a few years now thanks to Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools , which allow you to convert scanned documents into editable digital files to manage large volumes of text and images, making them easier to store and search. Find out how to get the most out of OCR scanning software!
What is OCR
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that allows text to be identified and extracted from images, scanned files or photographs of documents, and converted into editable text by a computer or mobile device .
It works by analyzing the characters in an image and comparing them to predefined patterns or using rules that allow it to identify the shapes of letters and numbers. This process is very useful when digitizing canada business email list paper documents, making it possible to edit, search and store them electronically.
How to convert images to text
Common OCR Applications
OCR has a large number of applications both at personal and professional levels.
On a personal level , the main application of OCR is to convert scanned documents into text files so that they can be edited and stored digitally.
On the other hand, at a professional level , an OCR reader can be used in sectors such as the financial sector to process forms and contracts in the most efficient way possible, in the health sector to digitize medical records and in the legal sector, to manage large volumes of court files. In addition, its use extends to the digitization of old books, license plate recognition and the verification of identity documents in government processes. And that's just to name a few examples!
Popular OCR Tools and Software
Just like online design software like GoDaddy Studio , OCR tools have come a long way in recent years. Now that you know what OCR is and how it works, how about we list some other OCR scanning software that might be useful to you?
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC : Offers a complete OCR solution that converts scanned documents into editable and searchable PDF files. This makes it perfect for users who need advanced options such as annotations and compression.
ABBYY FineReader : This is an advanced OCR software that supports more than 190 languages and stands out for its accuracy in converting complex documents. This makes it increasingly used in professional environments.
Tesseract : Free, open source OCR scanning software that supports a large number of languages and offers advanced features such as page layout analysis and file export in different formats.
In addition, it is also possible to use Google Docs as an OCR . This free tool allows you to upload PDF files and images and extract their text by right-clicking on them and selecting the 'Open with Google Docs' option. It's that simple!
Benefits of using OCR for document scanning
The use of OCR tools in the digitalization of documents provides a large number of advantages, which can transform the way in which we work with volumes of information that would be unmanageable in any other way.
Automate the conversion of printed documents to digital , eliminating the need for manual transcription and saving a great deal of time.
By converting physical documents into digital files, you reduce the need for physical storage .
Digitized files are easier to protect , with encryption and access control systems.
Additionally, digitized documents can be shared and edited as a team from anywhere with internet access.
How to improve OCR accuracy
The accuracy of an OCR is key when using it, and fortunately there are some actions that will help you fine-tune it even further. For example, there are OCR tools that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) , such as Nanonets, that offer superior accuracy by learning from patterns and improving with use.
Please try to use clear , high-quality, and well-aligned images so that the software can better identify the characters. Select the correct language in the OCR software settings , as this will reduce possible conversion errors.
Also, be sure to clean up the background and adjust the contrast of the document before scanning it . This will improve the OCR accuracy considerably!
Now that you know what OCR is and what possibilities it offers, what are you waiting for to speed up your work with one of the OCR applications we have recommended in these lines? Now you have no excuse not to be much more productive!
