What is Azure AI Document Intelligence?
Azure AI Document Intelligence (formerly Form Recognizer) automatically extracts text, tables, key-value pairs, and structures from documents. The service combines OCR with machine learning to not only recognize text but also understand its semantic meaning. An invoice is returned not as a text block but as structured data with fields like invoice number, date, line items, and total amount.
The service offers prebuilt models for common document types and the ability to train custom models for specialized documents. The layout model extracts structure (tables, paragraphs, checkboxes) from any document as a basis for further processing.
Core Features
- Prebuilt models for invoices, receipts, IDs
- Custom models for specialized document types
- Layout analysis for tables and structure recognition
- Handwriting recognition in addition to printed text
- Batch processing for large document volumes
Typical Use Cases
Finance departments automate invoice processing. Incoming invoices are scanned, Document Intelligence extracts vendor, amount, bank details, and line items, a workflow validates against orders and initiates payment.
Legal departments analyze contracts. Custom models recognize clauses, deadlines, parties, and terms. Extraction reduces manual review and enables systematic contract analysis across thousands of documents.
Insurance companies digitize application forms. Handwritten entries are recognized, matched against master data, and automatically transferred to core systems.
Benefits
- Reduction of manual data entry by 80%+
- Structured data for downstream processes
- Scalable from single documents to millions
- Consistent extraction without human errors
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure AI Document Intelligence: document analysis, custom model training, workflow integration, and ERP connectivity.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What document types are supported?
Prebuilt models for invoices, receipts, IDs, business cards, W-2 tax forms, and more. Custom models can be trained for any document type.
How accurate is the extraction?
Prebuilt models achieve 95%+ accuracy on standard documents. Custom models with sufficient training data achieve comparable values for specialized documents.
Can I recognize handwritten text?
Yes, Document Intelligence supports handwriting recognition (ICR) in addition to printed text (OCR). Quality varies with handwriting legibility.
How do I integrate Document Intelligence with my ERP?
Via REST API or SDKs. Typical architecture: Logic Apps triggers on new documents in SharePoint, Document Intelligence extracts data, Power Automate writes to SAP/Dynamics.
