Hours spent re-typing what's already written

"All day long, we read emails and PDFs to copy numbers into the system." Purchase orders, supplier invoices, forms, quote requests: the information arrives already written, but in a format your software can't read.

So someone has to open it, read it and type it in again. It is slow, tedious and error-prone: a transposed digit, a misread date, a forgotten attachment. The more the volume grows, the longer the backlog gets.

This use case fits businesses that receive similar documents every day (supplier invoices, purchase orders, forms) and need to move their content into accounting software, a CRM or an Excel sheet.

The document arrives, the data is already in place

Before

  • Emails opened one by one to find the useful information
  • PDF invoices read and re-typed into accounting
  • Attachments saved into folders by hand
  • Data entry errors discovered too late

After

  • Emails and documents read automatically as they arrive
  • Key data extracted and sent to the right system
  • Files filed automatically in the right place
  • Doubtful cases flagged to a person for review
  1. Take stock of your documentsWe look at which documents you receive, in what volume, and which information you take from them today.
  2. Define the data to extractFor each document type, we specify the useful fields: supplier, number, amount, date, products.
  3. Automate reading and routingIntelligent extraction reads the documents and sends the data to your accounting software, your CRM or your Excel files.
  4. Validate and improveWe test on your real documents, then adjust until the results are reliable.

From inbox to your systems

Power Automate or Zapier watch your inbox or folders, intelligent extraction reads the content, and the data is sent to QuickBooks, Salesforce, Excel or any other tool you already use.

What's included

  • A review of the documents and emails handled by hand
  • The data to extract, defined for each document type
  • Extraction and routing to your systems
  • A human review step for uncertain cases
  • Training your team to handle exceptions

How it unfolds

The free efficiency analysis lets us gauge the volume of documents handled by hand and choose which document type to start with. We then extend to other documents, one at a time.

Frequently asked questions

What if a document is unreadable or unusual?

It is set aside and flagged to someone on your team instead of being processed blindly. That way you stay in control of the exceptions.

Does it work with invoices from different suppliers?

That is exactly the point of intelligent extraction: it adapts to varied layouts. We test it on your own documents before going live.

Our documents contain sensitive information. Is that a problem?

We discuss it from the analysis stage onward: the choice of tools takes your confidentiality requirements into account.

Do we need new software to benefit?

No. Extracted data is sent to the tools you already use. We are vendor-independent.

Can we start with just one type of document?

Yes, and that is what we recommend. Once the first document type runs smoothly, we add the next ones, building on what already works.

Related pages

This automation is often step one. See how we automate an entire operation.

How many hours go into re-typing documents?

A free analysis of about one hour and a prioritized roadmap, at no cost and with no commitment, to measure the time spent re-typing documents.

Request my free analysis