Exploring perceptions of OCR technology adoption for paper document archiving in Saudi Arabia: an exploratory study

The ongoing digital transformation agenda introduced under Saudi Vision 2030 has encouraged organizations across the Kingdom to modernize document management practices and reduce dependence on paper-based records. Within this context, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology has become an important enabler of document digitisation by supporting the conversion of printed records into searchable digital content. Despite its potential, the implementation of OCR in Saudi organizations continues to face a number of organizational, technical, and linguistic challenges, particularly when processing Arabic-language documents and integrating OCR into existing archival workflows. This study investigated the adoption of OCR technology for document archiving in Saudi Arabian organizations through the theoretical perspective of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed using a structured questionnaire that included both closed-ended items and optional open-ended responses. Data were collected from two participant groups comprising domain experts ( n = 8) and general technology users ( n = 15) representing public and private sector organizations. The findings indicate that participants generally viewed OCR technology positively, particularly with regard to its perceived usefulness. Document retrieval efficiency received unanimous agreement from both participant groups, identifying faster access to archived information as the most widely recognized benefit of OCR adoption. Simultaneously, respondents identified several factors that continue to hinder wider implementation. These included limited access to specialized OCR training and concerns about digitizing fragile or historical paper records. Challenges associated with Arabic script are considered in the manuscript as contextual issues identified in the existing literature rather than as direct empirical findings of the present survey. Participants also reported that although OCR improves document retrieval and day-to-day workflow efficiency, its integration into organizational processes still depends on adequate technical infrastructure, workforce preparedness, and effective implementation planning. The findings offer practical insights that may support future organizational digitisation initiatives aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Overall, the study provides exploratory descriptive evidence on participants' perceptions of OCR adoption, implementation challenges, and perceived organizational impact within Saudi Arabian document-archiving contexts. The study contributes to the limited empirical literature examining the organizational and user-centered dimensions of OCR adoption in Arabic-language archival environments.