????現代收據真是種令人頭痛的東西。它們令采購者自責不已，因為它們是沖動性購物的見證；同時，它們更是繁瑣的報銷流程中必不可少的內容。但是，將收據歸檔保存卻是件棘手的麻煩事，如果不慎遺失，情形還會更糟糕。兩家位于硅谷帕羅奧圖的初創公司希望能解決上述麻煩。SliceLemon這兩個名字也許聽起來更像是出售碳酸飲料而非領先的IT產品的公司，但他們應用靈巧的軟件解決了機打和電子收據中存在的種種問題。而且，兩款軟件完全是免費。

????Slice將保存在電子郵箱收件箱中的所有電子郵件收據匯集在一起。它主要是對電子郵件進行掃描，從中揀出收據、定單確認信、以及追蹤號碼。該服務還可以按收據中的時間和交付地點保存賬單，同時還能追蹤配送信息，在地圖中將相應地點標注出來。如果用戶最近采購的物品降價了，Slice也會通知用戶，這樣他們在下次采購時可以買得更劃算。

????該公司于本周二剛剛發布了上述應用的手機版。公司首席執行官斯科特?布萊迪希望，此舉能夠推動該軟件的應用。用戶可以始終保持登錄狀態，一旦有包裹即將到達，便能隨時收到通報（當然，他們也可以只在需要使用Slice軟件時才登錄，避免好打聽的人破壞用戶安排的意外驚喜。）現在，用戶可將Slice作為獨立的應用程序、在線應用、或者雅虎（Yahoo！）電子郵件中的內置功能來使用。據布萊迪介紹，Slice還能逐條記錄每筆采購，目前，就算信用公司做不到這一點。

????該服務尤其適合經常進行網購的人，比如Gilt Groupe以及其他團購網站的用戶。“對于經常進行大量在線采購的人而言，這是款了不起的工具，”布萊迪表示。他還指出，盡管如此，收據增加最為迅猛的領域卻是蘋果商店（Apple Store）等實體零售店，這些商店開始越來越多地以電子郵件的形式提供收據。

????機打發票就是另外一回事了。Lemon公司針對這個問題的解決辦法是：利用其軟件，用戶可以給機打發票拍照，然后將電子照片在線保存起來，以出現在在線搜索的結果中。盡管給收據照相并非什么新鮮事，但Lemon的創新之處在于，將收據數字化，并建立全面的主清單。收據進行數字化處理之后，處理起來就像電子收據一樣輕松了。

????這兩家公司會形成競爭嗎？有可能。Lemon首席執行官文西斯?卡薩爾斯坦承，有些消費者只愿意使用一種解決方案。（事實上，這兩家公司的辦公地點相距不足一個街區，而且雙方的領導團隊彼此都是朋友。）Slice主要有助于在線購物者，而Lemon則適合必須對自己的所有開支進行審慎管理的人，卡薩爾斯補充道。Slice表示，迄今該軟件已處理了300萬筆交易，而Lemon則號稱目前已經擁有30萬名用戶，其中主要是iPhone和安卓手機用戶。

????兩家公司更為擔心的也許是隱私和利潤。二者均表示，為了確保系統的安全性，他們都下了很大的功夫，比如對交易信息進行加密。如果短時間內大量消費者開始采用其服務，那更大的挑戰也會隨之來臨。屆時兩家公司有可能會設法利用軟件生成的數據，以賺取更大的利潤。目前，Lemon提供免費服務以及兩個等級的付費使用服務。Slice目前可免費使用，但將來，它有可能向會員商戶提供目標交易或者的部分信息。

????針對收集和管理收據方面存在的種種問題，兩個服務都能提供直觀的解決方案。現在，二者都瞄準了從感恩節到年末的假期購物狂潮。如果也存在收據處理的旺季的話，這段時間顯然應該算一個。

????譯者：大海

????The modern receipt is a sorry thing. Talismans of buyers' remorse, impulse decision-making and reimbursement migraine, receipts are bothersome to file and even worse to lose. Two Palo Alto startups want to fix that. Slice and Lemon may sound more like soft drinks than cutting-edge tech, but they use clever software to address the problems of both printed and electronic receipts. Both are free.

????Slice compiles all the electronic email receipts stored in your inbox. It essentially scans email to find receipts and order confirmations, picking up any tracking numbers along the way. The service keeps tabs on the timing and location of deliveries, mapping their location while en route. Slice also notifies users if recent purchases dropped in price, enabling them to potentially get a better deal.

????The company launched a phone app yesterday, which CEO Scott Brady expects to drive adoption. Users can remain logged in at all times to be alerted of impending package arrivals. (They can also log in with each use to avoid prying eyes that might spoil gift surprises.) Slice is now available as an app, online and as a built-in tab in Yahoo (YHOO) Mail. Slice can also itemize each purchase, something credit companies cannot track when they list spending, according to Brady.

????The service appears especially suited for high-volume online shoppers, such as Gilt Groupe enthusiasts and other daily deal users. "For people who order a lot online, it's a significant tool," he says. Brady notes that the fastest growing area for receipts, however, is through brick-and-mortar retailers such as Apple (AAPL) Stores, which are increasingly offering their receipts as email.

????Printed receipts are a different animal. Lemon tackles the problem by allowing users to take photos of receipts that are then stored and made searchable online. While photographing receipts is not new, Lemon's innovation is to digitize them to create a comprehensive master list. Once digitized, receipts can be dealt with as easily as email receipts.

????Will the two compete? Perhaps. Lemon CEO Wences Casares admits that some consumers will only be willing to use one solution. (In fact, Lemon and Slice work within a block of each other and the leadership teams consider each other friends.) Slice most benefits online shoppers, while Lemon works for those who must carefully monitor all expenses, he adds. Slice says it has processed 3 million transactions, while Lemon boasts 300,000 users, primarily using iPhones and Android phones.

????Privacy and profit may be the bigger concerns. Both companies say they take great pains to ensure security, encrypting transaction information for example. The bigger challenge will come if consumers begin rapidly adopting their services. The firms could then be tempted to find ways to use the data being generated to grow their profits. Currently, Lemon offers a free service as well as two levels of paid subscriptions. Slice is free but may offer targeted deals or limited information to affiliate merchants in the future.

????Both services appear to provide intuitive solutions to the hassle of monitoring receipts. Now, both will tackle the holiday shopping frenzy between Thanksgiving and the end of the year -- a busy season for receipts if there ever was one.