Businesses rely on modern technology, such as intelligent document processing (IDP) and optical character recognition (OCR), to do this. Both IDP and OCR play important roles in automated data extraction and document processing, although their capabilities and applications differ. In this blog post, we will look into the fundamental differences between IDP and OCR, as well as their respective commercial benefits.
In the previous blog about the IDP, we focused on intelligent document processing, how it works, and other relevant details about it. We also briefly discussed the difference between OCR and IDP. But this blog will guide you in detail through the differences between OCR and IDP and their similarities. How the transformation took place and what the new iCustoms IDP offers.
In the early stages of reading the documents into the computer, a mechanism called optical character recognition was used. To read the text and convert the machine-readable document text from scanned photos or handwritten text. It is defined as:
OCR converts handwritten or scanned text into machine-readable text. It recognises and converts letter shapes, patterns, and combinations into editable and searchable data using algorithms and pattern recognition.
On the other hand, IDP, or intelligent document processing, is an advanced form of the OCR feature that uses artificial intelligence for reading and, moreover, extracting the data. It is defined as:
Intelligent document processing is software that is used for smart document processing. It deliberately takes the documents, reads them, and also extracts the required information upon request.
The methodology of character recognition is very simple and includes an easy format to follow. It includes the input, reading, and giving the output in the form of machine-readable language. Its workflow operates on the following steps:
| Optical character recognition | Intelligent document processing |
|---|---|
| OCR technology reads scanned or handwritten text. | IDP extracts text and contextual information beyond OCR. |
| OCR only extracts text and does not automate operations. | IDP automates end-to-end document-centric procedures using business process management solutions. |
| Complex document formats for fonts could result in OCR issues. | IDP handles exceptions automatically. It handles OCR exceptions, reducing manual involvement. |
| OCR extracts text and offers searchable and editable data, but it does not provide insights or analytics. | IDP analyses extracted data. |
| OCR works well for simple text extraction. Complex documents, tables, and unstructured data may challenge it. | IDP handles tables, forms, and unstructured data. It better understands context and extracts data from various document types. |
Intelligent document processing offers its use according to specific requirements with respect to the field. iCustoms has designed an IDP that is used for customs automation with accurate results. It accepts documents in the form of images and PDF files. The iCustoms IDP is user-friendly and super easy to use.
You can either use one service, like classification, or multiple services, according to your needs. The documents are saved for further use, and while extracting, it gives you a choice to choose any other important information that hasn’t been used earlier or is new from the pre-defined ones.
Below are pictures of three screens that show the document processing working. The first image is the window, which has all the documents saved with their statuses. One important thing to remember is that you can use these documents over and over, i.e., such documents are certificates, and they can be used over and over if you just upload them once.
Additionally, the second image shows the document upload status. As mentioned earlier, you can use the image or PDF file for it. The last image shows two sides: on the right side, there are the keywords which will be extracted from the particular document. The left side shows the document with the highlighted parts to show what information it has acquired. You can choose any other keyword too or remove it from the existing one.
With the advent of IDP and OCR, document processing and data extraction have received a major technological boost. OCR lays the groundwork for digitizing documents and automating basic data extraction; IDP expands upon this with its superior capabilities.
Organisations may make educated decisions about which option is best for them based on an awareness of the key distinctions and benefits of IDP and OCR. IDP and OCR can play critical roles in optimising processes and unlocking the true potential of digital transformation by increasing efficiency, enhancing data correctness, and achieving end-to-end automation.
Capture & Upload Data in Seconds with AI & Machine Learning
Capture & Upload Data in Seconds with AI & Machine Learning
