Scanning converts a paper document into a digital image or file. Documents that are already digital can be uploaded directly for online faxing.
- Scanning converts a physical paper document into a digital image or file that a computer, phone, or online service can send.
- Paper documents can be scanned before faxing; files that are already digital can be uploaded directly without scanning.
- Fax.Plus's mobile app scans a document with the phone's camera at the moment of sending, no separate scanner needed.
What Does Scanning Mean?
Scanning is the process of converting a physical document or image into a digital file, using a a network scanner, a flatbed scanner, a multifunction printer, or a phone camera. The result can be a PDF, an image file, or, on many devices, an editable text file if optical character recognition is applied afterward.
Scanning Before You Fax
A paper document must first be converted into a digital file for online faxing, using a scanner, a fax machine with scanning capability, or a phone camera. Files that are already digital, such as PDF or Word documents, can be uploaded directly without scanning. Fax.Plus's mobile app handles this step in one motion, capturing the document with the phone's camera and sending it as a fax immediately, without a separate scanning device.
Scanning vs. Faxing as Products
Scanning and faxing solve related but different problems: faxing gets a document to a recipient's fax number, while scanning just gets it into digital form. For document scanning as its own dedicated task, unrelated to faxing, Alohi's Scan.Plus is the product built for that job, Fax.Plus's own scanning capability stays focused on getting a document ready to fax.
A Common Case: Scanning a Delivery Receipt on the Road
A dispatcher at a large logistics company in Louisiana needs a signed delivery receipt faxed back to a customer's billing department the same day, with no scanner nearby. Scanning it with a phone camera through the Fax.Plus mobile app and sending it as a fax on the spot covers both steps without a trip back to the office.
FAQs
Do I need a scanner to fax a document online?
No dedicated scanner is required. You can upload a supported file that is already digital, or use the Fax.Plus mobile app and your phone's camera to scan a paper document before sending.
Is scanning the same as faxing?
No. Scanning converts a paper document into a digital file, while faxing sends a document to a recipient's fax number. A file that is already digital can be uploaded directly for online faxing without scanning.
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