OCR and data extraction from import/export documents

Purpose

1.1. Automate OCR and data extraction from import/export documents for the Main Customs Office to reduce manual data entry and increase customs clearance speed.
1.2. Automates the digitization, validation, and structured data capture from scanned or photographed customs, bills of lading, commercial invoices, and shipping documents.
1.3. Supports compliance, audittraceability, shapes a reliable data pipeline for customs processing, and streamlines workflow between customs officers, brokers, and shipment stakeholders by transforming physical paperwork into automatable structured data streams.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Receiving a document upload in a monitored folder (e.g., import/export scans or photos received by email, FTP, or APIs).
2.2. Scheduled batch automation for periodic customs documentation review and extraction.
2.3. Event-driven: Customs document submission in digital applications or portals by an importer/exporter.
2.4. Workflow automation triggered by physical document scanning or imaging, instantly initiating OCR extraction and downstream automating.

Platform Variants

3.1. Google Cloud Vision OCR
• Feature/Setting: Use `textDetection` API; configure for batch image or PDF extraction and integrate webhook callback for downstream automation.
3.2. AWS Textract
• Feature/Setting: `AnalyzeDocument` or `StartDocumentTextDetection` API; configure S3 bucket as trigger with Lambda to automate post-processing.
3.3. Microsoft Azure Form Recognizer
• Feature/Setting: `Analyze Layout` with custom model endpoint; configure resource group integration and use `DocumentModelAdministrationClient` for automation.
3.4. Abbyy FlexiCapture Cloud
• Feature/Setting: Configure `ProcessDocument` endpoint; set up watched hot-folder, automate validation workflow, and use document definition templates.
3.5. IBM Watson Discovery
• Feature/Setting: Document ingestion automation and OCR pre-processing via Discovery API; configure relevance tuning for customs use-cases.
3.6. Adobe Document Services
• Feature/Setting: `Extract API` function for content retrieval from PDFs, configure webhook for output, automate by uploading via REST API.
3.7. Tesseract OCR (open source)
• Feature/Setting: Shell integration in document automation pipeline; set language and segmentation mode for customs terms.
3.8. Kofax RPA
• Feature/Setting: Document automation robot; configure capture component for import/export forms, automate mapping fields to structured output.
3.9. Rossum
• Feature/Setting: API for AI data extraction from bills of lading/invoices; set callback for automating post-extraction workflows.
3.10. UiPath Document Understanding
• Feature/Setting: OCR Extractor activity configured with taxonomy for customs document types; automate unattended job triggers.
3.11. Datacap (IBM)
• Feature/Setting: Capture Flow for import/export paperwork; configure rules in Application Builder, automate recognition zones.
3.12. Hypatos
• Feature/Setting: API workflow for document OCR and data extraction with pre-trained customs templates, set webhook automation.
3.13. Parascript FormXtra.AI
• Feature/Setting: Auto-classification and field extraction using REST API; schedule jobs for periodic automation.
3.14. Veryfi OCR API
• Feature/Setting: Real-time OCR API for receipts and invoices; configure callback/webhook for automated storing of structured data.
3.15. Klippa OCR
• Feature/Setting: Document-upload automation, use `Extract` endpoint for customs paperwork, automate API integration.
3.16. Docparser
• Feature/Setting: Email-inbox trigger to parse attached customs docs, setup parsing rules automation, push data via webhook.
3.17. PDF.co
• Feature/Setting: API endpoint for PDF-to-JSON/XLSX data, configure auto-forward emails to process customs docs automatically.
3.18. Foxit PDF SDK
• Feature/Setting: OCR text extraction automation, configure to batch-process import/export document folders.
3.19. Automation Anywhere
• Feature/Setting: Document Automation Bot; set up Document OCR action, automate with triggers for new uploads.
3.20. Laserfiche Cloud
• Feature/Setting: Workflow automation for scanned import/export documents, configure `Capture Engine` for automated OCR/classification.
3.21. Blue Prism
• Feature/Setting: Intelligent Document Processing skill; automate batch import, OCR, and field extraction rules.

Benefits

4.1. Automates document processing, removing bottlenecks and reducing customs clearance delays.
4.2. Automatedly minimizes data entry errors and increases data reliability for customs systems.
4.3. Automator workflow enhances compliance by creating an audit-proof, searchable database of customs transactions.
4.4. Automation saves human resources, enabling scaling without cost increases during peak trade periods.
4.5. Automating cross-system data flow reduces silos, accelerates processing, elevates transparency, and supports government modernization mandates.