CamScanner allows users to create PDF presentations from multimedia scans, among other great uses, says Steve Manser, senior account director at integrated marketing agency Space
Developed by IntSig
CamScanner does exactly what it sounds like, namely utilising your mobile camera features in a scanner-like way to offer a quick solution for creating and storing PDF files. It works by simply taking existing or newly shot photos of documents, whiteboards, notes, articles and physical things – then allowing the user to select the most useful parts and combine them to create a multi-page PDF, complete with tags and other functions.
The obvious uses for the app extend across all business functions. These include the chance to store and scan receipts, expenses and keep track of related documents in an itemised manner; retain useful information from articles, magazines and reports; make copies of letters, charts or estimates and other ways to help improve work productivity.
However, it really becomes useful from a B2B marketing perspective when you consider how easy it is to take advantage of the batch mode, photo functionality and tagging facilities when creating PDF files. For example, photos of site visits, exhibition ideas, locations, experiential activity and events can be taken and seamlessly integrated into a multi-page PDF with existing images of creative work – offering a great way to provide clients and contacts with everything in one place.
Alternatively, it could be used to simply collate everything for use back in the office to then prepare a presentation with tags and references for future use.
Design
As with any mobile-based user interface, offering an intuitive experience for marketers is vitally important, especially with speed of access and operating time. CamScanner manages to achieve this through the use of minimal menus, opting instead for intuitive simplified icons along the bottom that change according to the stage of the process (scanning, creating or archiving).
Banner advertisements always seen on free applications are placed neatly at the bottom as well, meaning they are less intrusive than usual and ensure marketers can get an accurate feel for the app before opting to purchase the full (and ad-free) version. The app also takes advantage of each phone’s camera functions and layouts too, meaning inserting images feels natural and familiar.
Most importantly, the final PDF files created are professional and industry standard, with options to include white borders, labelling and other functions, even with the free version.
Functionality
It is very easy to start putting together PDF files from existing or new images and scans, as the one-touch photo and upload buttons are clearly visible, as are pre-created documents that can be updated. Easy manual and auto cropping is offered, as well as the option to enhance the quality of scans – important for text-based sources especially.
It is also worth mentioning the batch scan mode, which works best when you have taken a number of photos (e.g. an exhibition set-up, outdoor media, brainstorm notes on a whiteboard, etc) as it allows the upload of everything in one hit, along with other images you may have on your phone.
The opportunity to move, archive, back up and also reinstate from SD card is also a welcome feature, as it offers peace of mind and flexibility to share things remotely, in addition to the options of sharing through a number of online cloud sources plus direct printing, faxing, emailing and texting.
Overall opinion
There is a free version of the app to try out that gives you everything the paid-for version provides for a maximum of 50 documents, but with a few limits on total scans in batch mode, watermark credit on the bottom of pages and advertising links. This still offers ample chance for users to see whether the app is something that will be of benefit during the working day before deciding to purchase and download the full version.
