Business card scanning apps

Updated: August 01, 2023

Business card scanning is a digital process that uses specialized software and mobile apps to capture and digitize information from physical business cards. Users can simply take a picture of a business card using their smartphone's camera, and the scanning app employs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to extract the contact details, such as name, phone number, email, and company name, from the image. The scanned information is then organized and stored in a digital format, making it easy to manage and access contact information without the need to manually enter data. Business card scanning is a time-saving and efficient solution for professionals who receive numerous business cards regularly, as it helps them keep their contact lists up-to-date and eliminates the hassle of manually inputting details. By leveraging business card scanning technology, individuals can better organize their contacts and enhance networking and business communication.

See also: Top 10 Notebooks

2018. Zoho Notebook adds business card scanning, deep search, favoriting



Zoho has announced its latest update for Notebook. While the app already had the capability to capture images and scan documents, it now also supports scanning business cards. To utilize this feature, users can open the Photo Card and switch to the "Business Card" option. Additionally, the new Deep Search feature allows users to search for objects and text within images across their notes and notebooks, similar to how they search through text-based notes. Another notable addition is the Favoriting feature, which enables users to create a stack of favorite notes on the home screen, allowing for easy access to important information or creating a master to-do list. To favorite a note, simply swipe left and tap the star icon. Furthermore, Zoho Notebook now allows users to easily link notes together. While editing a note, selecting the link option allows users to choose the note they wish to link to.


2014. Evernote and LinkedIn integrate business cards into social network


Business card scanning apps have been available on the market for some time, including popular ones like Evernote. These apps offer a convenient solution for business professionals overwhelmed by overflowing wallets filled with business cards. However, they fail to address a significant challenge: contact information often changes over time. Thankfully, social networks, particularly LinkedIn, have resolved this problem by enabling individuals to update their own contact details, which are automatically synced with their friends' address books. Recently, LinkedIn integrated with Evernote, resulting in a seamless experience. Now, all you need to do is capture a photo of a business card, and your smartphone instantly displays the person's LinkedIn profile. From there, you have the option to connect with the CEO, secretary, or digital prophet on LinkedIn, or add their contact information to your address book. However, the real intrigue begins as your business relationship develops. Over time, you can enrich the card's page in Evernote by adding audio recordings from meetings, relevant documents, or even key emails exchanged with that individual.


2011. Evernote Hello - pesonal CRM in your notebook



We recently highlighted the service called CardCloud, which offers electronic business cards as a modern alternative to traditional ones. However, Evernote, the note-taking service, has now come up with an even better solution. Their free iPhone app, Evernote Hello, not only allows you to remember the people you meet at business meetings or conferences but also links them to the notes you've taken during these interactions. Here's how it works: after a conversation, you can take out your iPhone, launch Evernote Hello, and ask the person you met to enter their contact information (or you can do it yourself based on their verbal input). You can also take a picture of the person, or they can do it themselves. If they provide an email address, the app will automatically send them your electronic business card. After bidding farewell, you can add the meeting details to the contact card (to remember where you met this person) and include meeting-related notes. The next time you encounter them, you can add a new meeting and additional notes to the existing card, creating a history of your interactions, much like a CRM system. Furthermore, this information will be accessible in your Evernote online account and Evernote desktop app if you use them.