????現(xiàn)代收據(jù)真是種令人頭痛的東西。它們令采購(gòu)者自責(zé)不已，因?yàn)樗鼈兪菦_動(dòng)性購(gòu)物的見證；同時(shí)，它們更是繁瑣的報(bào)銷流程中必不可少的內(nèi)容。但是，將收據(jù)歸檔保存卻是件棘手的麻煩事，如果不慎遺失，情形還會(huì)更糟糕。兩家位于硅谷帕羅奧圖的初創(chuàng)公司希望能解決上述麻煩。SliceLemon這兩個(gè)名字也許聽起來更像是出售碳酸飲料而非領(lǐng)先的IT產(chǎn)品的公司，但他們應(yīng)用靈巧的軟件解決了機(jī)打和電子收據(jù)中存在的種種問題。而且，兩款軟件完全是免費(fèi)。

????Slice將保存在電子郵箱收件箱中的所有電子郵件收據(jù)匯集在一起。它主要是對(duì)電子郵件進(jìn)行掃描，從中揀出收據(jù)、定單確認(rèn)信、以及追蹤號(hào)碼。該服務(wù)還可以按收據(jù)中的時(shí)間和交付地點(diǎn)保存賬單，同時(shí)還能追蹤配送信息，在地圖中將相應(yīng)地點(diǎn)標(biāo)注出來。如果用戶最近采購(gòu)的物品降價(jià)了，Slice也會(huì)通知用戶，這樣他們?cè)谙麓尾少?gòu)時(shí)可以買得更劃算。

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

????該服務(wù)尤其適合經(jīng)常進(jìn)行網(wǎng)購(gòu)的人，比如Gilt Groupe以及其他團(tuán)購(gòu)網(wǎng)站的用戶。“對(duì)于經(jīng)常進(jìn)行大量在線采購(gòu)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(jù)增加最為迅猛的領(lǐng)域卻是蘋果商店（Apple Store）等實(shí)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(jù)。

????機(jī)打發(fā)票就是另外一回事了。Lemon公司針對(duì)這個(gè)問題的解決辦法是：利用其軟件，用戶可以給機(jī)打發(fā)票拍照，然后將電子照片在線保存起來，以出現(xiàn)在在線搜索的結(jié)果中。盡管給收據(jù)照相并非什么新鮮事，但Lemon的創(chuàng)新之處在于，將收據(jù)數(shù)字化，并建立全面的主清單。收據(jù)進(jìn)行數(shù)字化處理之后，處理起來就像電子收據(jù)一樣輕松了。

????這兩家公司會(huì)形成競(jìng)爭(zhēng)嗎？有可能。Lemon首席執(zhí)行官文西斯?卡薩爾斯坦承，有些消費(fèi)者只愿意使用一種解決方案。（事實(shí)上，這兩家公司的辦公地點(diǎn)相距不足一個(gè)街區(qū)，而且雙方的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)團(tuán)隊(duì)彼此都是朋友。）Slice主要有助于在線購(gòu)物者，而Lemon則適合必須對(duì)自己的所有開支進(jìn)行審慎管理的人，卡薩爾斯補(bǔ)充道。Slice表示，迄今該軟件已處理了300萬筆交易，而Lemon則號(hào)稱目前已經(jīng)擁有30萬名用戶，其中主要是iPhone和安卓手機(jī)用戶。

????兩家公司更為擔(dān)心的也許是隱私和利潤(rùn)。二者均表示，為了確保系統(tǒng)的安全性，他們都下了很大的功夫，比如對(duì)交易信息進(jìn)行加密。如果短時(shí)間內(nèi)大量消費(fèi)者開始采用其服務(wù)，那更大的挑戰(zhàn)也會(huì)隨之來臨。屆時(shí)兩家公司有可能會(huì)設(shè)法利用軟件生成的數(shù)據(jù)，以賺取更大的利潤(rùn)。目前，Lemon提供免費(fèi)服務(wù)以及兩個(gè)等級(jí)的付費(fèi)使用服務(wù)。Slice目前可免費(fèi)使用，但將來，它有可能向會(huì)員商戶提供目標(biāo)交易或者的部分信息。

????針對(duì)收集和管理收據(jù)方面存在的種種問題，兩個(gè)服務(wù)都能提供直觀的解決方案。現(xiàn)在，二者都瞄準(zhǔn)了從感恩節(jié)到年末的假期購(gòu)物狂潮。如果也存在收據(jù)處理的旺季的話，這段時(shí)間顯然應(yīng)該算一個(gè)。

????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.