What is intelligent document processing?

Definition

Intelligent document processing combines optical character recognition, classification, extraction and validation to turn files into structured information. It can help route forms, identify missing data and prepare records for a business process.

A bounded intake system should not automatically inherit authority over later decisions. Confidence thresholds, exception handling and human review keep uncertain documents from silently affecting complex claims or other consequential outcomes.

ELI5

Intelligent document processing uses AI to turn documents into organized information. It can recognize text, identify the document type, extract fields, and check whether required information is missing.

For example, a system can read invoices and prepare supplier, date, and total fields for review. Unclear documents should be sent to a person instead of silently creating incorrect financial records.

Acronyms and aliases

IDP acronymdocument intelligence synonymAI document processing variant

Frequently asked questions

What documents can intelligent document processing handle?

It can handle forms, invoices, claims, reports, correspondence and other structured or semi-structured documents, subject to the model and validation rules.

Why keep humans involved in document processing?

Documents can be incomplete, ambiguous or unusual, so low-confidence extraction and consequential downstream decisions need review by authorized people.

Videos explaining intelligent document processing