Fujitsu recently released the ScanSnap Cloud, a cloud-based service for ScanSnap users. The idea behind ScanSnap cloud is pretty clever. Your scanner connects to the Internet and sends all scans up to ScanSnap Cloud where they are then distributed to your cloud service of choice, like Dropbox, Box, One Drive, Evernote, and others. ScanSnap Cloud can figure out if your scan is a document, receipt, business card, or photo and then can follow your specific instructions based on the category of document. ScanSnap Cloud will also do some rudimentary OCR and, where it finds a date in the document, set the file name to match.

The net effect of this service is that it allows you to remove your scanner from your computer. You can put it anywhere in your house or office where it has access to Wi-Fi and your scanning works just fine. I've been using my ScanSnap iX500 in my laundry room with ScanSnap Cloud. Now I just scan the mail as it comes in the door. I can trash and recycle as appropriate right there and the paper never even makes it up the stairs to my home office. Getting the scanner off my desk frees up more space and having the scanner next to the recycle bin means I scan things immediately now, as opposed to the old system where I let it pile up until the weekend. Win-win.

They made a clever video, below.

The newest productivity feature from ScanSnap. ScanSnap Cloud enables users to scan directly from their iX500 or iX100 scanner to their favorite cloud services without the need for a computer or mobile device. ScanSnap Cloud intelligently sorts scans into documents, receipts, business cards and photos, and then automatically delivers scanned images to your designated cloud services.

Full disclosure: Fujitsu has been a long time sponsor of the Mac Power Users and I've been a long-time customer of their products.