How to Create An OCR Solution for Invoice

Optical Character Recognition, or OCR, is a technique that enables computers to identify and extract text from images or scanned documents. The main objective of OCR software is to convert text-containing photos into machine-readable text data. This technology can benefit numerous sectors and streamline data entry, document digitalization, and automation procedures, such as accounts payable processes. In this article, we will explore the use of OCR solutions for processing invoices and how it renders manual invoice processing obsolete.

How to use OCR Solution for Invoice

1. Install the IronOCR C# library.
2. Create a new C# project in Visual Studio.
3. Explore the feature-rich C# library to perform OCR on receipts.
4. Use Tesseract to extract data from receipts.
5. Search for specific data in the extracted text result.
6. Examine the barcode values on the provided receipt image.

What is Invoice Processing?

Businesses can transform image-based or scanned bills into machine-readable text by utilizing OCR invoice processing, which automates the extraction of text and data from invoices. This automation increases the efficiency of financial procedures, decreases manual data entry, and streamlines the way invoices are processed.

IronOCR

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is enabled for developers using the C# programming language by IronOCR, a .NET library. Created by Iron Software, IronOCR is a useful tool for applications needing automatic text recognition, letting users extract text from images, scanned documents, and PDF files. To extract text and data from invoices, you need to integrate the IronOCR library into your .NET application for automated invoice processing.

IronOCR helps to avoid fraud through AI algorithms, quickly identifying mistakes, fraud, and duplicate invoices. It reduces errors with superior OCR invoice data extraction, thus avoiding mistakes caused by human data entry. Learn more about IronOCR here.

IronOCR's Salient Characteristics are:

• Text Extraction: Extract text content from images, scanned documents, and PDFs. It uses sophisticated OCR algorithms to identify words, characters, and layouts in the provided documents.
• Vendor Information: Extract text information, including vendor details, line items, invoice number, date, and any other relevant data from invoice images using IronOCR.
• Barcode Reading: IronOCR includes capabilities for reading barcodes from images in addition to OCR, which enhances its adaptability for applications needing to handle both text and barcode data.
• Image Preprocessing: Supports deskewing, noise reduction, and contrast correction. These techniques enhance input images and aid in increasing OCR accuracy.
• Zone-Based OCR Technology: Allows developers to define specific image areas where text extraction should be focused. This is useful when dealing with documents with structured layouts.

It's important to note that the solution's success depends on OCR settings' accuracy, invoices' complexity, and input images' quality. Furthermore, using IronOCR's APIs and understanding the library's specific features may be essential steps in the integration process. Always consult the official IronOCR documentation for the most up-to-date details and recommendations.

Creating a New Project in Visual Studio

Start Visual Studio and navigate to the "File" menu. Select "New Project" and choose "Console Application." Here we'll create a console program for OCR work.

Enter the project name and specify the file location in the text box. Click the Create button and select the required .NET Framework.

Once the application is selected, the Visual Studio project will create its structure. If you selected the Console, Windows, or Web versions, it will open the Program.cs file, allowing you to add code and build/run the application.

We can add the library to test the code after that.

Install IronOCR

Using Visual Studio's NuGet Package Manager tool, install packages directly into your solution. Refer to the snapshot below to view the NuGet Package Manager.

It provides a search box to list packages from the NuGet website. As depicted below, search the package manager for "IronOCR":

The graphic above should list relevant search terms. We need to make the necessary selection to install the solution package.

IronOCR to Extract Data from Invoices

IronOCR is a powerful OCR library that can be used to extract and read invoice data. With IronOCR, you can convert a receipt image into easily processed and analyzed machine-readable text without compromising data privacy. Invoice OCR lets us extract invoice data into digital format.

Below is an example of how IronOCR processes vendor invoices and extracts text from paper invoices.

using System;
using IronOcr;

class InvoiceProcessor
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Create a new instance of IronTesseract
        var Ocr = new IronTesseract();

        // Set language and Tesseract version
        Ocr.Language = OcrLanguage.EnglishBest;
        Ocr.Configuration.TesseractVersion = TesseractVersion.Tesseract5;

        // Using OcrInput to add images and read text
        using (var Input = new OcrInput())
        {
            // Add the invoice image
            Input.AddImage(@"invoice.png");

            // Read the text from the image
            var Result = Ocr.Read(Input);

            // Output the extracted text
            Console.WriteLine(Result.Text);
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

using System;
using IronOcr;

class InvoiceProcessor
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Create a new instance of IronTesseract
        var Ocr = new IronTesseract();

        // Set language and Tesseract version
        Ocr.Language = OcrLanguage.EnglishBest;
        Ocr.Configuration.TesseractVersion = TesseractVersion.Tesseract5;

        // Using OcrInput to add images and read text
        using (var Input = new OcrInput())
        {
            // Add the invoice image
            Input.AddImage(@"invoice.png");

            // Read the text from the image
            var Result = Ocr.Read(Input);

            // Output the extracted text
            Console.WriteLine(Result.Text);
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Imports System
Imports IronOcr

Friend Class InvoiceProcessor
	Shared Sub Main()
		' Create a new instance of IronTesseract
		Dim Ocr = New IronTesseract()

		' Set language and Tesseract version
		Ocr.Language = OcrLanguage.EnglishBest
		Ocr.Configuration.TesseractVersion = TesseractVersion.Tesseract5

		' Using OcrInput to add images and read text
		Using Input = New OcrInput()
			' Add the invoice image
			Input.AddImage("invoice.png")

			' Read the text from the image
			Dim Result = Ocr.Read(Input)

			' Output the extracted text
			Console.WriteLine(Result.Text)
			Console.ReadKey()
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

The following is the result of the code mentioned above:

This example demonstrates how IronOCR extracts and displays data in the console.

Read Barcodes on Invoice

Besides text, barcodes on receipts can be scanned using IronOCR. To scan barcodes on receipts with IronOCR, use the ReadBarCodes feature alongside the BarcodeReader class.

Here's how to use IronOCR to decode a receipt's image for barcode reading.

using System;
using IronOcr;

class BarcodeReaderExample
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Initialize IronTesseract
        var ocrTesseract = new IronTesseract();

        // Enable barcode reading
        ocrTesseract.Configuration.ReadBarCodes = true;

        // Use OcrInput to add image and process barcodes
        using (var ocrInput = new OcrInput("invoice.png"))
        {
            var ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput);

            // Iterate over and output each detected barcode
            foreach (var barcode in ocrResult.Barcodes)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(barcode.Value);
            }
        }
    }
}

using System;
using IronOcr;

class BarcodeReaderExample
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Initialize IronTesseract
        var ocrTesseract = new IronTesseract();

        // Enable barcode reading
        ocrTesseract.Configuration.ReadBarCodes = true;

        // Use OcrInput to add image and process barcodes
        using (var ocrInput = new OcrInput("invoice.png"))
        {
            var ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput);

            // Iterate over and output each detected barcode
            foreach (var barcode in ocrResult.Barcodes)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(barcode.Value);
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports System
Imports IronOcr

Friend Class BarcodeReaderExample
	Shared Sub Main()
		' Initialize IronTesseract
		Dim ocrTesseract = New IronTesseract()

		' Enable barcode reading
		ocrTesseract.Configuration.ReadBarCodes = True

		' Use OcrInput to add image and process barcodes
		Using ocrInput As New OcrInput("invoice.png")
			Dim ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput)

			' Iterate over and output each detected barcode
			For Each barcode In ocrResult.Barcodes
				Console.WriteLine(barcode.Value)
			Next barcode
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

While IronOCR offers strong OCR capabilities, it's crucial to remember that the complete invoice processing workflow might involve additional components like data validation, business logic, and financial system connectivity. Depending on your use case, you might need to combine IronOCR with other tools to achieve a complete invoice processing solution.

Result:

To learn more about the IronOCR online demo, refer here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, IronOCR stands out as a strong and adaptable Optical Character Recognition (OCR) library for C# developers. This comprehensive offering from Iron Software simplifies text extraction from images, scanned documents, and PDF files.

Finally, IronOCR is a noteworthy OCR solution that offers outstanding integration, flexibility, and accuracy. IronOCR is unparalleled in accuracy due to its advanced algorithms and ability to identify a wide range of document formats, making it one of the best OCR solutions available. It provides well-documented code examples which allow beginners to learn quickly and easily.

IronOCR's cost-effective development edition is accessible, and purchasing the IronOCR package grants a lifetime license. With an IronOCR package starting at \$liteLicense, it offers exceptional value as a single cost for multiple systems. It provides 24/7 online engineer support for licensed users. For more details on the fees, please visit the IronOCR website.