Data in faxes or "snail mail" can automatically be recorded into databases and a range of file formats.Hosted PDF service provider FormRouter Inc. announced Tuesday at the annual Adobe Acrobat & PDF Conference that it now supports the use of two-dimensional bar-code activation in PDF forms. Now customers that receive print form data through faxes or so-called "snail mail" can have it automatically recorded into databases and a range of file formats without again having to input the data.
This 2D bar-code functionality is the latest addition to FormRouter's Reader Extensions Service, which enables the company's customers to implement digital signatures and local save for offline work just by using Adobe's free Acrobat Reader software. These features are available through Adobe; however, Adobe in most cases requires its customers to purchase its LiveCycle Server, which has a starting price of about $75,000.
Ryan Hunter, senior product marketing manager for Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions, said that FormRouter is a terrific partner for Adobe because, unlike Adobe, whose sales force in this space focuses on large enterprises, FormRouter does a great job at taking Adobe PDF solutions to small and medium-sized businesses and to departments within larger corporations.
"FormRouter's approach to PDF form design is extremely innovative and meets the strong demand that is out there. And [the company] is continuing to build out custom forms functionality by providing 2D bar-code modules and hosting it. There is very little [FormRouter's] customers need to do because FormRouter creates and hosts these forms," Hunter explained.
FormRouter adds 2D bar-code functionality to its intelligent PDF strategy, said Adobe Senior Project Manager Geoff Baum. Baum pointed out that many organizations, such as those that must abide by regulations to maintain paper records or have customers who are reluctant to submit forms electronically, will remain tied to paper forms for years to come.
"Take the IRS. About half of the population still submits their returns by paper. 2D bar-code technology [would allow the IRS] to save a lot of money by recording that data more quickly and with fewer mistakes," Baum said. He said that other forms, such as mortgage applications that must be signed by both spouses, are often mailed or faxed in because requiring electronic submissions is too problematic in many cases.
For his part, Jim Healy, founder and chief technology officer at FormRouter, said that his company's ability to implement 2D bar codes is the latest feature that breaks down the barriers for users of all stripes to take advantage of Adobe's PDF technology one form at a time—without having to plunk down thousands of dollars on infrastructure and IT staff or wait several months while such an infrastructure is set up and tested.
"The Daughters of the American Revolution had a form they needed unlocked. We turned on the magic functionality in Reader, and they now have the technology to collect responses quickly in whatever format that shows up—electronically or via fax," Healy said.
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