by Gary Mintchell | Jan 24, 2025 | Productivity
A new company (to me) developing products in the PDF and eSignature market came to my attention late last year. I have been using the Foxit app for a few months preferring it to its competitor. Adding features attributed to AI seems to be a requirement in the market these days. Not to be outdone, Foxit has released Foxit AI to fill that product line “hole”.
Foxit AI, a standalone web-based AI platform, delivers cutting-edge document-centric AI capabilities to users across industries. This innovative platform redefines how individuals and organizations manage and interact with their documents, offering unparalleled flexibility, accessibility, security, and efficiency. [Superlatives are theirs.]
Foxit AI Features and Benefits:
- AI-Powered Chat Assistance – Provides instant, conversational support for document-related queries (e.g., quickly locate specific clauses in legal contracts or clarify essay structures).
- Image-to-Text and Analysis – Upload images (JPEG, PNG, etc.) to extract text, insights, or contextual information from the image (e.g., upload PNG, JPEG, etc. and use “Extract Text” command – for instance, upload a receipt screenshot, and then easily retrieve dollar amounts or other key details.).
- Text Enhancement Tools – Rewrite text with adjustable tone (e.g., professional, casual) and length (e.g., short, medium, long) (e.g., adapt content for different audiences, polish communications, or refine emails for clarity and tone).
- Security – Ensures user privacy and data protection through robust security measures and compliance with industry standards (e.g., process sensitive documents with confidence, knowing they are safeguarded against unauthorized access).
- Document Analysis – Upload documents for in-depth analysis to extract key insights and summarize content (e.g., analyze financial reports to identify critical data points without reading the entire document).
- Advanced Summarization – Generate concise summaries of large documents or specific sections for easy review (e.g., summarize meeting notes to identify actionable insights).
- Spelling and Grammar Checks – Ensure polished and error-free writing in seconds (e.g., proofread proposals and reports to improve quality).
- Text Clarification – Simplify complex or technical language for better understanding (e.g., break down dense legal or technical terms for students or professionals),
- Multilingual Translation – Translate text into multiple languages to bridge communication gaps (i.e., convert marketing materials for international audiences).
- Multi-Document Analysis – Review and compare multiple documents simultaneously to save time (e.g., compare contracts or analyze multiple reports in one session).
- Cross-Device Accessibility – As it is web-based, accessible on desktop, mobile, and tablet browsers without needing a PDF Editor license (e.g., Work efficiently across devices with cloud-based functionality).
- User-Friendly Design – Intuitive interface with product tours and real-time support (e.g., easily navigate features with minimal learning curve).
- Enterprise Scalability – Includes admin-controlled licenses and compliance tools for organizational use (e.g., manage access and ensure security across a team or enterprise).
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 2, 2024 | Personal Development, Productivity
Have you ever watched a blacksmith or potter or glass-blower at work?
I watch with utter fascination. What a magnificent set of skill, knowledge, creativity.
When you make something from start to finish like that, there is a little piece of you in that thing. You are passing your skill and creativity along to someone else.
Karl Marx observed workers at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s. He theorized something he called alienation. Humans had become alienated from the output of their work. As factories multiplied and grew, most of humanity was no longer involved in this combination of skill and creativity in the production of something useful or beautiful for someone else.
I thought of that today while listening to Cal Newport’s latest podcast. (https://thedeeplife.com episode 329 not posted yet, you can find on Overcast or your podcast app of choice)
He studies life in a digital world. Humans working at a computer pushing messages over digital networks are alienated from the eventual product of the organization—indeed, even if they know what it is and how it serves the market.
That thought had never really sunk into my consciousness. Of course, much of my digital work does have a direct impact. Those who work in larger organizations, though just perform a role which is one of hundreds just pushing bits through a wire.
Can we think of a better way to organize work?
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 7, 2024 | Productivity
A marketing communications person I’ve known for some time sent news about a new client—and a product I never expected to see, let alone review. Foxit has built a PDF editor with expanding features. I wrote a couple months ago about its e-signature subscription plan. Below is news about an AI assistant added to its Editor and Editor Pro products.
I am no longer a power user of this technology. When Adobe went to a subscription model that cost much more than any benefit I could derive, I found workarounds. Foxit sent a courtesy copy of the application. I’ve been playing around with it for a month or more at this point. I like the interface and the user interface. I’ve found the annotation and ability to copy and paste to my blog text editor to be flawless. I like it and recommend checking it out.
Guess I should say that I’m not compensated for the review. But I do like it. Don’t know if I’ll return to power user status at this point. Foxit makes it tempting.
Speaking of subscription versus purchase, they have published a blog that analyzes the benefits and drawbacks. Personally, I hate it every month when I see the expense paid to Microsoft for Office 365 for the limited use I have for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. And I just dropped Adobe altogether except for the generic reader app. Subscriptions give you updates (occasionally free), but for my money you need to be really using the product. Check out the blog for a reasoned analysis.
And now the new product.
Foxit Announces PDF Editor and Editor Pro with AI Assistant, Now Natively Supported on PCs powered by Snapdragon
Foxit announced that its Foxit PDF Editor and Editor Pro with AI Assistant are now natively supported on PCs powered by Snapdragon processors. This integration will provide commercial and consumer PC customers with greatly enhanced performance and capabilities – such as those customers working with PDF files on Dell Technologies’ latest devices powered by Snapdragon.
Native Snapdragon support refers to software that is developed and optimized to run directly on Snapdragon processors, without the need for emulation or translation layers. This allows the software to take full advantage of Snapdragon’s capabilities – resulting in improved performance, compatibility, and battery life, as well as decreased complexity and maintenance demands – compared to running the software in an emulated environment.
Foxit’s solutions empower PC users to create, edit, collaborate and secure PDF documents with ease. By combining the advanced capabilities of Foxit’s PDF Editor with the AI-driven natural language processing of ChatGPT, PCs powered by Snapdragon allow users to interact with PDFs more intuitively and efficiently. The integration of ChatGPT provides intelligent automation and enhances the user experience by enabling intelligent interactions for tasks such as redaction, document annotation, and form filling.
by Gary Mintchell | Aug 2, 2024 | Manufacturing IT, Operations Management, Productivity
How refreshing to talk to a true evangelist of American manufacturing. While I believe in international cooperation and market expansion, I recognize that as long as we have countries those countries will need a solid manufacturing base to survive.
The other day I received a pitch about a new company in the US trying to bring digital solutions to manufacturing—from small to large enterprises. This led to a conversation with Ryan Kuhlenbeck, CEO of Pico MES. His enthusiasm and evangelical fervor was a refreshing change from the usual corporate conversation. That was beyond even just a sales pitch.
Let’s set the stage. Human errors cause 80% of manufacturing defects, impacting employee retention, slowing efficiency & costing the industry $1T. On the brink of a huge labor shortage, factories need solutions that reduce headaches while improving quality standards.
Bosch-backed factory floor tech Pico MES is digitizing, error-proofing & increasing efficiency for the small/mid-sized factories (98% of the industry) at the heart of the American supply chain & providing a blueprint for how to transform our factories.
Ryan has worked at GM and Tesla. He told me that Elon drove an emphasis on data, something that he brings to his new company. He wants to fill the gap between enterprise and supply chain software.
The MES in the company name basically tells prospective customers that Pico’s application resides between the control/HMI layer and the ERP layer. He told me that their MES is bottom up rather than top down. They don’t try to use the complex integration of ISA 95. That requires too much custom code (and I’d add, too many consultants).
The Pico MES no code application (a recent theme) builds on a library of tools used in discrete manufacturing. The library is a digitization of all the information relevant to the tool. (Another thing he learned from Elon—the more digitizing, the better.) As they talk with prospects, “We see a lot of paper,” says Ryan.
Pico provides process workflows, worker guidance, traceability. The library includes videos to assist training and setup. The goal is to minimize setup and maximize work. The software is built on modularity for ease of use. Pico’s customers range from 6-person shops to large manufacturers—including some who manufacture semi-trucks.
Nothing theoretical here. All nitty-gritty shop floor tested systems.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 19, 2024 | News, Personal Development, Productivity, Workforce
- • ResumeTemplates.com Survey Finds ChatGPT Helps 4 in 10 Users Get Raises, as Workers’ Fears of AI Fizzle
- Workers report that ChatGPT helps them save time, complete tasks more efficiently, and increase their productivity
Everyone performs surveys these days. This company would not normally hit my radar. ResumeTemplates (think CV, not beginning again) provides a platform for free professional resume templates and examples. It recently surveyed 1,666 employees in the United States in order to determine the extent of usefulness or fear of Large Language Model (LLM) AI. Namely they questioned use of ChatGPT.
600 of the 1,666 reported using ChatGPT at least once a month. The survey is based on results of these 600.
According to the survey, 36 percent of workers use ChatGPT at least once a month at work. Specifically, 22 percent use it daily, 12 percent weekly, and 2 percent monthly. Workers primarily use ChatGPT to summarize documents, summarize topics, and write emails. Other common uses include brainstorming, interpreting data, writing articles or content, and translating text.
These types of results often drive my skepticism meter toward red, but they are interesting. Define saving time…
These ChatGPT users claim the AI tool has helped them save time at work. Notably, 16 percent of workers report saving one to two hours per week, 22 percent save three to four hours, and 30 percent save five to eight hours. Additionally, 11 percent save nine to 10 hours, and 18 percent save more than 10 hours per week. With the time saved, 94 percent of respondents say they reinvest “all” or “some” of that time back into the company.
“Workers report that ChatGPT assists them in completing assignments more quickly and delivering higher quality results,” says ResumeTemplates’ executive resume writer and career coach Andrew Stoner. This combination creates a win-win scenario for employers and workers, and I believe signals an eagerness on the part of workers to learn and adapt to new technology.”
Survey findings also suggest a significant impact of ChatGPT on respondents’ professional careers. In fact, 38 percent report earning a raise as a result of using ChatGPT. Furthermore, workers say ChatGPT has led to faster task completion, increased productivity, reduced stress levels, and enhanced problem-solving capabilities. Looking ahead, workers believe ChatGPT will continue to benefit their careers by helping them secure promotions, raises, more advanced roles, and better job offers.
View the complete report.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 12, 2024 | Productivity
A longtime media contact wrote that she had a new gig. Unlike most media people who contact me over the past few years, she actually knows what I cover. But this new company had never been on my radar. In fact, the entire category had not been on my radar. The category is document management, in this case specifically eSignatures.
I love eSignatures. The healthcare app uses them when I go through the pre-visit questionnaire. These save time and grief.
This company is called Foxit. It has been cruising under the radar since startup and has decided it’s time for a public unveiling. Especially for a distributed workforce, their plans streamline document workflows, ensuring global compliance, and integrating seamlessly with existing tools like Google Workspace and Salesforce. These plans offer cost-effective, secure, and legally binding solutions, simplifying contract signing, payment collection, and compliance management.
Foxit announced launch of two new eSignature subscription plans: Foxit eSign Essentials and Foxit eSign Business. These new offerings cater to the unique needs of individual users and enterprises, providing comprehensive solutions for efficient and legally binding document workflows.
Both plans include global compliance settings, simplified document tracking, robust automation, integrations with popular platforms, payment collection, notary services, and advanced workflow tools.
“Foxit has introduced a revolutionary new plan for their eSign service, emphasizing unmatched transparency and value,” said Susana De Abrew, CSO at Foxit. “This ‘all-you-can-eat’ plan offers unlimited envelopes and templates, alongside the complete suite of advanced workflows and compliance features, all without hidden costs. This unique approach ensures that users can fully leverage Foxit eSign’s capabilities without worrying about additional charges, setting it apart from other eSign solutions currently available on the market.”
Foxit eSign Essentials includes reusable templates for collecting legally binding signatures and Foxit Pay, allowing signers to complete agreements and make payments seamlessly.
Foxit eSign Business features unlimited envelopes and templates, tracking, reminders, notary services, signature certificates, and Foxit Pay. It also includes global compliance features, API access, and advanced workflows, ensuring a comprehensive and flexible document management experience.
Foxit just published a blog on this subject titled, “Employee Remote Job Seeking Is Going Up: Here’s How PDF and eSign Tools Can Help,” written by Symphony Ragan, Content Planner, Foxit.
The shift toward remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented, and the trend shows little sign of reversing. As organizations transition to a predominantly remote workforce, efficient digital solutions have become indispensable. PDF and eSign tools, in particular, have proven essential for businesses across numerous sectors.
Remote and distributed work contribute to several situations that management may not have planned for. Secure document handling may have been one.
These technologies are crucial in maintaining productivity, ensuring secure document handling, and streamlining workflows. Businesses focused on growth must understand how PDF and eSign tools integrate into the broader context of remote work, recognize their advantages, and examine the options.
A few benefits:
Users may easily generate, edit, and distribute documents thanks to powerful tools such as Foxit PDF Editor. This software provides a comprehensive collection of functionality, such as text editing, annotation, and form filling, all required for any remote work configuration.
For example, remote workers in the manufacturing industry must manage various documents, including contracts, project plans, reports, and presentations. PDF solutions make these files more accessible and customizable, saving time on administrative procedures and allowing staff to focus on their primary responsibilities.
Pick your tools:
With the increased demand for remote and hybrid work solutions, selecting the appropriate PDF and eSign tools is critical. While Adobe has long been popular, rivals such as Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit eSign provide robust capabilities at affordable prices.
Get a free trial of Foxit PDF Editor and eSign today to keep your remote and hybrid work on track.
