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The evolution of a passport scanner: from plywood crafts to real business

Hello, Habr! Now, when each of us obediently sits on self-isolation, we sincerely miss the office, development and invention. In addition to software, we at Smart Engines invent scanning software and hardware systems (by the way, we wrote about it here and here earlier ). Our earlier articles were more like an article from the magazine Crazy Pens, which told how to make something useful and high-tech out of improvised materials. Today we will talk about something else. We decided to share with you a story about how we brought a plywood box with a scanner to a full-fledged product that is successfully sold on the market.



Before we start the story about how we turned our prototype into a serial product, we want to say a few words about why we are generally engaged in the invention of software and hardware systems (PACs). Isn't it more efficient to concentrate all your efforts purely on writing software? There are several considerations.

Firstly, recognition programs are often used in conjunction with a device for digitizing documents. Of course, lately there are more and more “digital” companies that have forgotten (and in some cases did not even know) about paper. Nevertheless, even if you develop a universal program that will be completely unpretentious and compatible with all computers, cameras, scanners, multifunction devices, phones, tablets, document scanners (just like our Smart IDReader), all the same, be ready to call at presentations to recommend the devices necessary for solving the task of entering passport data.

Secondly, in our experience, a special PAC often solves the problem much better, and the software and hardware interact more stable with each other than if it were a “hodgepodge”. It is easy to explain on the fingers: due to the limitations in the models, debugging and testing of software and equipment are easier, which naturally increases the overall quality of the solution. By the way, it is for this reason that the software for the iPhone (for which no more than 5-6 models are relevant at any given time) is more stable than the software for Android phones. But this is a completely different story, let's not delve into it.

And finally, thirdly, PAK is something physically tangible. PAK has physical dimensions, weight, color and even smell (which of us does not like the smell of new technology?). And PAC, in contrast to the same software, has 20% VAT, but about this unpleasant part of the business a little later. Let's move on to the main content of today's article.

How we organized the production of scanners


As soon as we live saw the effectiveness of the prototype passport scanner, as soon as the emotions cooled and the brain “cooled” (having returned to its stable state), we began to think about the potential audience of the passport scanner and how to distribute it. It took us a month and a half. And we immediately shared with you, our reader Habr, our dreams in conclusion to the next article :

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So, the first step we took was providing ourselves with legal protection by submitting applications for registration of inventions and utility models. Without any sarcasm, we declare that the presence of honest registered results of intellectual activity (RID) is a very important element of the business that shoots several times: it provides legal protection for products, raises the value of the company, and increases the trust of partners and contractors. It’s not worth pulling with patents, often a working prototype, and sometimes even a clearly described idea, is enough. We have registered both a patent for a utility model and a patent for an invention:

  • Utility Model Patent No. 166038 Automated Workstation for Passport Documents Control
  • Patent for invention No. 2643130 Automated workstation for control of passport documents

The second step was to choose the organizational form of our new direction. Realizing that the serious development of a new business line will require the full use of our administrative resources and can cause serious damage to our main area - the development of recognition software, we decided to create a spin-off. More precisely, two at once: the first should develop a “simple and cheap” modification of the passport scanner for the mass market, and the second should establish the production of “advanced and expensive” devices containing autonomous calculators inside for solving the recognition problem. We left behind the important role of supervisor.

The idea to split the business of passport scanners into two independent areas was not at all random. Although at that time we had practically no experience in manufacturing the final product, we clearly saw the difference between the two classes of devices (and this difference was not only in the functional characteristics, but also in the design features, organization of the production process, and sales markets).

To develop the first class of devices (“cheap” scanners for the mass segment), we were looking for a team that could quickly organize a small business and put the first production models on the conveyor, developing and upgrading the scanner during the life cycle. Fortunately, we managed to find the guys who took on all the routine work of developing a normal building (I recall that in the first samples it was only chipboard), certification, production and logistics. Would you know how much thermoplastic was used up before you managed to make a case suitable for conveyor assembly and subsequent operation! As a result, a reliable device was released, which is extremely in demand especially when organizing ACS and hotel business.


It is time to make a small indentation to the accounting component and the method of selling goods. Despite the fact that PAK is a holistic device that performs a clear business function (document recognition), it is more profitable for end customers to sell it “in parts”: separately passport scanner (20% VAT is levied), separately software ( not subject to VAT). With such a scheme, there is no "extra" tax increase on recognition software (which in fact costs a lot). Despite the financial advantage, this scheme has a drawback: in case of returning the PAK (in the event of a breakdown or some other reason), only the cost of the scanner itself can be returned.

Second-class devices (“expensive” autonomous models), according to our plan, were to be manufactured at a serious Russian (better, defense) enterprise and be operational in the most unpredictable conditions. And look solid.


The seriousness of our intentions naturally required us to invest more. The defense plant that we chose did not want to start production according to simple "drawings on checkered paper." We had to develop a complete set of design documentation in order to somehow get closer to the cherished goal. Then we faced problems with the supply of components from abroad (about this, if you are suddenly interested, we will write a separate post listing the working life hacks). The organization of the assembly line, the provision of the testing procedure for the finished product, the elaboration of the firmware update scheme — these are all new disciplines, which we, the software developers, had to read online. Although, on the other hand, it was a time of frequent business trips! But the main thing is a decent result, which we are proud of!



And what after production adjustment?


About two years have passed since the moment when we finished the organization of production of both classes of devices. Observing how sales are growing, we understand that our scanners have found their target audience. It's nice to realize that your invention (in the past - a plywood box, twisted at the dacha with a screwdriver) today helps people quickly cope with the routine of entering personal data. And although not all checkpoints, offices of financial organizations and ticket offices are equipped with our scanners, we firmly see the vector for a brighter future and clearly follow the chosen direction. Thank.

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