Say Goodbye to Manual Data Entry With AI-Powered Document Processing
Are you spending too much time (or not enough) entering loan application form details into your Salesforce solution, looking through medical history scanned PDFs for pertinent patient data to enter into your CRM, or sending bulk files offshore to be entered only to find the end result inaccurate AND expensive?
This article explores how Salesforce products, and other third party applications such as Intellistack Streamline, DocuSign Navigator or Box can harness AI to automate document processing, enhance accuracy, and save valuable time.
Structured vs. Unstructured Data
As a Salesforce Admin, have you ever wished for an automated way to extract key data from documents and populate Salesforce fields? With AI, that wish is becoming reality.
Structured data—such as predefined Salesforce field values—is organized and machine-readable. For example, an ACV field displaying $10,000 is easy for a system to process.
Conversely, unstructured data—like PDFs or scanned contracts—requires manual intervention to extract key details. AI transforms this process by converting unstructured documents into structured data, eliminating the need for tedious data entry.
How AI Transforms Document Processing
AI-powered document processing goes beyond traditional Optical Character Recognition (OCR). It intelligently extracts and interprets data, providing structured outputs that seamlessly integrate into Salesforce.
For instance, AI can analyze a contract and identify specific clauses or extract an invoice total from a PDF.
AI + Salesforce Automation = Efficiency
By combining AI with Salesforce automation, businesses can create scalable data entry workflows. AI can process various document formats, extract critical information, and feed it directly into Salesforce fields.
For example, in the hospitality industry, vendor invoices often come in different formats. AI can extract invoice amounts, allowing finance teams to generate real-time reports without manual data entry.
How to Get Started With AI-Powered Document Processing
Adopting AI doesn’t have to be complex. Start by identifying your document processing needs with these simple questions:
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What critical documents do you receive? (e.g., contracts, invoices, or compliance forms)
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What key data points do you need to extract? (e.g., invoice amounts, contract dates, or client names)
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How can this automation improve your workflow? (e.g., faster approvals, reduced errors, or improved reporting)
Once you define your requirements, you can integrate AI-powered document processing into your Salesforce automation strategy.
Free AI Tools to Kickstart Your POC
Several AI-powered tools can help you test document automation in Salesforce:
1. Einstein OCR
Salesforce’s Einstein OCR can extract data from images and scanned documents, making it easy to digitize business cards or invoices. Trial access is available for existing Salesforce users.
2. MuleSoft Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)
MuleSoft IDP extracts and structures data from documents, integrating directly with Salesforce through Apex and Flow. While developer knowledge is helpful, tutorials are available for a smooth setup.
3. INTELLISTACK AND OTHERS (APPEXCHANGE)
Intellistack Streamline and DocuSign Navigator provide a place for documents to reside and be analysed. Along with some core Salesforce workflow features, processing can be automated and checked by human before it is committed to the client record.
These tools provide a no-code way to experiment with AI-powered document automation before investing in a full-scale implementation.
Final Thoughts
AI-driven document processing is transforming how businesses handle data within Salesforce. However, success depends on selecting the right tools and maintaining data security. Importantly, professional advice save you in the immediate and longer term.
Start with a proof of concept using free trials or demonstrations of tools like Streamline or Einstein OCR. By refining your approach based on real-world testing and use cases that actually exist in your business, you can unlock efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance your Salesforce workflows with AI-powered automation.
