If your desk is inundated with paperwork, you might be in the market for a NeatDesk. This is a simple-looking scanner that is supposed to clear all of that clutter out of your life by digitizing the data and storing it on your computer. But how well does it work at clearing you out of the mess, and is it worth the price tag?
Jun 23, 2011 GetConnected - Tech Look - Neat Receipts Scanner - Duration: 3:15. GetConnected Media 25,135 views. Scanning Documents & Photos on a Mac. NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Software. Getting items into Neat is simple. Scan with any TWAIN-compliant scanner, snap a picture using our mobile app, email, or drag and drop documents into Neat and our OCR software will turn your paper document into usable, keyword-searchable data. Find your scanner model number by looking on the underside (bottom) of the scanner. Unplug your scanner and close Neat on your computer. Click the link for your scanner model number in the list below to download the driver: NC-1000, ND-1000, or NM-1000 (the same driver file is used for all three models) Select the Finder icon from your Dock.The Finder has the blue smiling face icon.
Overview
Scanners are nothing new and have been around for over a decade, but they do have some inherent limitations. They are basically copy machines that just take a picture of what you’re scanning, and convert it into a digital image to be stored on your computer.
Scanners are nothing new and have been around for over a decade, but they do have some inherent limitations. They are basically copy machines that just take a picture of what you’re scanning, and convert it into a digital image to be stored on your computer.
They work great for things like passports and IDs, so you can keep copies of them online. But for things like text documents, they leave a lot to be desired. The NeatDesk is a PDF creator, meaning that when you scan in a document you’ll be able to print copies of it that look like the original. But that is just one of the features that sets it apart from an ordinary scanner.
Neat Scanner Driver Mac
The Claim
They are saying that it is more than just a scanner because of the software that comes with it. It takes your scanned images and can extract data from them. This would be useful, as you wouldn’t have to visually look at each document you can in, and it will automatically sort your paper work, and allow you to search through it like you would a database. Pretty sophisticated stuff. So really what you are paying for here is not so much the hardware, although that seems to be pretty solid, but the software that runs it is where the magic happens.
They are saying that it is more than just a scanner because of the software that comes with it. It takes your scanned images and can extract data from them. This would be useful, as you wouldn’t have to visually look at each document you can in, and it will automatically sort your paper work, and allow you to search through it like you would a database. Pretty sophisticated stuff. So really what you are paying for here is not so much the hardware, although that seems to be pretty solid, but the software that runs it is where the magic happens.
Here’s what the makers of NeatDesk have to say about themselves:
NeatDesk is a high-speed desktop scanner and digital filing system that will quickly turn all the paper on your desk into organized, digital files. More than just a great scanner, NeatDesk also includes patented Neat software to identify and extract key information from your paper files, then automatically organizes it in the easy to use database.
The Hype
The hype comes from the fact that this is basically a scanner, so the technology is nothing new. Also, with so many documents already being in PDF format, and receipts becoming digitized as technology improves, we should be experiencing a reduction in the amount of paperwork you receive.
The hype comes from the fact that this is basically a scanner, so the technology is nothing new. Also, with so many documents already being in PDF format, and receipts becoming digitized as technology improves, we should be experiencing a reduction in the amount of paperwork you receive.
The Cost
The cost of a NeatDesk is $400, but they also have the NeatReceipts system for $200, or you can get them both for $500. Not exactly the cheapest thing in the world, but if you or your business handles a lot of paperwork, this can be a Godsend and you’ll never regret the expenditure when you see how much time it saves from from doing it the old way.
The cost of a NeatDesk is $400, but they also have the NeatReceipts system for $200, or you can get them both for $500. Not exactly the cheapest thing in the world, but if you or your business handles a lot of paperwork, this can be a Godsend and you’ll never regret the expenditure when you see how much time it saves from from doing it the old way.
The Commitment
If you want to have a “neat desk”, you will have to commit to using the product to the point where all of your receipts and paperwork have been scanned in. From there you’ll have to decide what to do with all of that paper, either to shred it or recycle it, depending on the sensitivity of the data. Either way, you’ll have to do some work to get to the promised land.
If you want to have a “neat desk”, you will have to commit to using the product to the point where all of your receipts and paperwork have been scanned in. From there you’ll have to decide what to do with all of that paper, either to shred it or recycle it, depending on the sensitivity of the data. Either way, you’ll have to do some work to get to the promised land.
Evaluation
This software not only scans in your documents and paperwork, but converts them into an editable PDF. This allows you to make changes to your documents after they’ve been scanned in. It also pulls keywords and other data from them, so you can search through a mountain of paperwork digitally, and find what you’re looking for in just a few seconds, without shuffling through a big mess.
This software not only scans in your documents and paperwork, but converts them into an editable PDF. This allows you to make changes to your documents after they’ve been scanned in. It also pulls keywords and other data from them, so you can search through a mountain of paperwork digitally, and find what you’re looking for in just a few seconds, without shuffling through a big mess.
Also, you can export all of this raw data into things like Quickbooks and TurboTax so that you can get additional help in making heads and tails of it all. During tax time, or end of the month reporting, you’ll definitely appreciate these additional features.
Final NeatDesk Review
We like NeatDesk and it earns our Thumbs Up. It will definitely be a help for those of us out there that seem buried in paperwork, and spend a lot of time sorting through it all just to get to the information needed. Because of the software’s ability to not only scan a document, but also read and sort the data on it, it is very useful. Surely, some businesses out there will consider this indispensable, but for you and your company it will be a judgement call you’ll have to make.
Our Recommendation
The biggest thing you have to make a determination on here is whether or not the NeatDesk will give you enough efficiency to justify the price tag. Sure it’s a one-off expense, and it should last you maybe a year or two of pretty heavy use, so be sure to factor that in to your decision.
The biggest thing you have to make a determination on here is whether or not the NeatDesk will give you enough efficiency to justify the price tag. Sure it’s a one-off expense, and it should last you maybe a year or two of pretty heavy use, so be sure to factor that in to your decision.
What do you think? Does NeatDesk work or not?
Receipt scanning software is special software that allows you to take paper receipts and digitize them.
What this means is that you render the paper receipts into quality digital images and/or turn the physical text printed on them into highly organized, categorized and searchable digital text that you can easily access, work with and share from just about anywhere, anytime.
If you want to scan receipts, software like this will be of great assistance. So we want to help you understand how receipt scanner software works so that you can decide what you think is the best scanning software for your purposes.
There are several aspects involved in the process of taking advantage of receipt scanning software. Let’s take a look at each of them.
The first step in using receipt scanning sofware is to transform your paper receipts into digital images. There are several options for how you can do this:
(Note: Links to Neat and other products on this page will let you see information about them on Amazon)
Desktop Scanners
Some receipt scanning software will allow you to use whichever desktop scanner you happen to have to input your receipts. Other systems, like the Neat system, can include their very own scanner which is designed specifically to work seamlessly with their own software in an integrated solution.
Neat’s desktop scanner is especially nice because it uses Automatic Document Feeder technology with a special input tray to allow you to do batch scanning of many documents at once. It even allows you to do two-sided scanning in one pass.
NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System |
Mobile Scanners
Neat offers an extremely lightweight, portable scanner. It requires only a USB cable both to send and transmit data and to receieve power so you don’t even have to carry batteries for it, making it even more convenient to bring on the road. You can use it to scan receipts just about anywhere. So, for example, it is very helpful for inputting receipts of your travel expenses as you obtain them, rather than having to wait until you return to your home or office, by which time you may have forgotten to do so or lost some of the receipts.
NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner and Digital Filing System |
Neat also sells accessories like protective cases to keep your mobile scanner safe on the go.
There are also plenty of other small portable scanners on the market. So you can decide which you think is the best receipt scanner for your purposes.
Free Software For Neat Scanner
Mobile Devices
Some receipt scanning software providers offer applications that enable you to initially digitize your receipts using a mobile device’s camera.
Outsourced Option
Shoeboxed is a service that offers the ability to simply mail them your receipts and have their staff scan them into their system for you. To facilitate the mailing, they will provide you with special envelopes that are prepaid and which they track. When they are done inputting your data, you can have them either return your physical receipts to you or shred them.
Using any combination of these options, you can quickly digitize even a large pile of old receipts and keep up with inputting any new receipts as you get them. From the point when you begin employing them, you will always have crystal clear images of your receipts that will last until long after the paper versions would have become unreadable.
Different receipts scanning software allows you to securely upload scans of your receipts in various ways:
- Neat comes with digital filing software that you put on your computer and, when you use it, the images that you scan are directly entered into the system.
- OfficeDrop receipt scanning software will take the images from your scanner and upload them directly to a cloud-based OfficeDrop account that you set up.
- Shoeboxed takes the scans that they have done for you and puts them in your online account. Shoeboxed also offers a web-based uploader so that, if you prefer, you can scan images of your receipts yourself and then transmit them so their staff can carry out the next steps for you.
Both OfficeDrop and Shoeboxed also provide you with a dedicated email address where you can send your scanned images for uploading into their systems.
Furthermore, both OfficeDrop and Shoeboxed offer encryption and other security features to protect your sensitive data during the uploading process.
Once your images are uploaded, different receipt scanning software will handle and/or transform your scanned images in different ways in order to store them in what is sometimes called a “digital filing cabinet” in which it will be very easy for you to find whatever information you need in the future.
- OfficeDrop, for instance, will immediately turn your image into a PDF file and store it on its cloud servers.
- Shoeboxed will store an image of the receipt along with the text form of its data, which has been extracted from the printed version, in your online tracking account.
Both of these services boast of the security of their data storage systems.
- Neat’s digital filing software will take your uploaded digitized receipt and do two things:
- Store an image of the receipt in the digital filing system
- Use its patented parsing technology to determine which text on the receipt represents the vendor, the date, the price and so on and automatically place each piece of information in the proper field in the system. This makes it simple to sort by any of these fields when you work with your information in the future.
All of these receipt scanning software options use what is called Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to turn the text in the scanned images of the receipts into actual digital text that you can work with as you wish.
All of them let you categorize receipts and use various types of tags and labels to make it easier to find particular documents later.
And all of them give you the peace of mind of knowing that your receipts are not lying around haphazardly where others might find them and view sensitive information and that your important financial data and documents need not be lost, even in the event of a disaster.
Once your data is organized and stored in a digital filing system, you can do just about anything you wish with it. You can:
- Access it from anywhere, anytime on multiple types of devices – Some of these companies offer apps specifically to allow you to optimally work with your data on particular devices
- Modify or add notes to any document
- Assign tax-related information to receipts – This will make tax time far easier and help ensure you get your maximum deductions and that you will instantly be able to produce any receipt necessary if the IRS comes calling for it
- Use a search function to find any image, document or information you want very easily – Neat, for instance, offers both simple and advanced search capabilities designed precisely for use with with these types of files. You’ll always be able to find the recipt you need quickly whenever you have to look up some information or make a return
- Safely and conveniently share specific images, documents or information with others as you wish
- Export your data for use in many programs and formats, such as Excel, PDF, Evernote, Google Docs, Dropbox, Gmail, Quicken, Quickbooks, Salesforce and Turbo Tax (depending upon which of these is compatible with the particular receipt scanning software you are using.)
- Create expense or other related reports – Some of the software, like Neat’s, will directly facilitate these operations
Many of these receipt scanning software systems will carry out similar functions with business cards and even with all kinds of other documents.
Whether you wish to use it to digitize and work with financial information for yourself or your family or for your organization or business, there is a receipt scanning software solution that will work well for you.
Neatdesk Scanner Software Download
There are also solutions available for use with different operating systems, including ones that work very nicely with Windows and Mac, as well as with myriad mobile devices.
And each company offers a variety of products and plans, so there is sure to be one that can meet your needs, whatever they are.
Neat Receipts Desktop Scanner Software For Mac Windows 10
As you can probably see and imagine, using receipt scanning software brings many benefits. It will save you time, energy and so much money that it will likely pay for itself many times over.