A check scanner is a device that utilizes magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) to scan and read checks. These are useful for remote deposit capture, including situations where you might need to scan a large volume of checks in a certain amount of time. In this way, check scanners can help cut back on the costs associated with courier services.

But how do you choose the right check scanner for your business, and what do scanning acronyms mean? This article will explore some of the key tips to keep in mind when purchasing a check scanner, as well as how to create and read SKUs.

Selecting a Check Scanner

There is a wide array of check scanners to choose from, each with its own features and functions, so it’s important to do your research and go for the one that best fits your business needs and goals. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a check scanner:

• Compatibility: Before doing anything else, you should check to ensure that a scanner is actually compatible with your software. It doesn’t matter how fancy it is—if it won’t work with the systems your business already has in place, it’s essentially useless to you.
• Check Volume: Depending on the number of checks you intend to process in a given period of time, you’ll want to select a low or high-capacity scanner. The highest volume scanners allow for hundreds of checks to be loaded at once, while lower-capacity scanners might only be able to handle one at a time, so select your scanner accordingly. Note, however, that it’s always good to plan for a little extra.
• Decide Whether or Not to Frank: Some scanners allow users to frank or endorse checks, so if this is a feature you plan on utilizing, you’ll want to be on the lookout for scanners that offer a franker roller option.
• Prepare for Downtime: Should your scanner malfunction, you’ll be glad to have a swift plan of action in place. This is where it pays to have a service agreement with an authorized service provider to ensure timely maintenance and, in the worst of cases, replacement.
• Compare Your Options: Define your must-haves and use them to compare various scanners.

Understanding SKUs

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll want to look at SKUs and functionality in order to make a final selection. SKUs, or stock-keeping units, are identifiers used to scan and keep track of items. These are most often represented by barcodes that display two sets of numbers. The bottom set indicates the UPC (Universal Product Code), while the top is comprised of the SKU code itself. No two SKUs are alike. You can create a unique sequence of letters and numbers to reflect the information your business finds most vital in managing inventory.

You should aim for a check scanner that can easily scan SKUs. You might also want to consider programming your scanner to manage your specific coding and sequence.

Assessing Functionality

It can be difficult to make sense of the different scanners on the market and what each of them does. Again, keep in mind factors such as desired check volume and software compatibility when making your final selection.

Teksetra offers over a dozen different scanning devices to help you with your business needs. Each product title denotes certain specifications that you should be aware of. Here are a few of the most common ones you’ll run into on our site:

DPM = documents per minute
FF = full feed
SF = small feed
IJ = inkjet
NJ = non inkjet

The Panini Vision X item number, for instance, might be displayed as VX50.1.FF.NJ. This tells you that it is capable of scanning up to 50 documents per minute (50), utilizes a full feed (FF), and does not contain an inkjet (NJ). Likewise, the Vision X can be purchased with an inkjet, small feed, 75 DPM configuration, or VX75.1.SF.IJ.

There are a plethora of good reasons for your business to use a check scanner. They can save you valuable time and, if installed and managed correctly, allow for a more seamless, smooth-flowing customer experience. However, because there are so many different options on the market, you should prioritize your most desired features in order to narrow down your list and simplify the buying process.

Visit Teksetra to view our broad selection of scanners. We offer great products from multiple brands, including Epson and Panini. To learn more about check scanners and how to integrate them into your business, feel free to reach out to us today. We can help you to better understand how they work, as well as how to get them set up and running in order to maximize operations in the shortest amount of time.