Just like any other field, productivity is also considered essential for accountants. They have to handle a bunch of documents, invoices, financial statements, and many more. Manually extracting and entering important data into a database is really hectic and time-consuming.
Here, OCR-powered tools offer an excellent solution to tackle this challenge. These tools automate the data extraction from different sources, i.e., images or documents, saving valuable time and effort for improved productivity. The internet is overflooded with such tools.
But to make things easier for you, we have researched and reviewed some of the best OCR tools in this blog post.
In this article…
Top OCR-Powered Tools That Accountants Can Use for Increased Productivity
Here are some of the most accurate and reliable optical character recognition tools accountants can consider using for productivity boosts.
1. Image to Text Converter
For accountants, Imagetotext.io can serve as a one-stop solution. It is a freemium (available in free and paid versions) OCR tool that seamlessly extracts all the text from invoices or scanned documents while ensuring the highest accuracy.
The tool can even scan and extract special symbols, characters, and even mathematical equations. The feature that accountants may find useful is batch processing. This means you can upload up to 3 images for extraction.
The multiple submissions will ultimately speed up the workflow, resulting in enhanced productivity and efficiency.
Moreover, the tool supports 20 international languages, so accountants worldwide can use it fully in their native language. It also supports diverse image formats, including PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, and many more.
There is also an integration of other conversion tools, i.e., JPG to PDF, PDF to Word, etc., that accountants can use to streamline routine tasks.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Simple and free to use | Security Captcha |
Multilingual support | |
Batch-processing | |
Diverse image format support | |
Integration of other conversion tools |
2. Prepostseo Image to Text Converter
Prepostseo is a free online platform offering a wide range of tools. Some tools at Prepostseo, like Image to Text Converter, can help accountants boost their productivity. The integration of OCR and AI in this tool ensures good accuracy in the extraction process.
The tool allows accountants to upload up to 3 pictures of financial documents, such as invoices, receipts, ledgers, etc., in one go for free. However, if they want to increase this limit further, a premium subscription to Prepostseo will be required.
Prepostseo image-to-text allows accountants to upload images in various ways, i.e., by dragging/dropping, loading from a local gallery, or pasting the URL. It accepts images as input in almost all standard formats for added versatility.
Talking about the output results, the tool gives the option to copy and download Txt or DOCX files for later use. Finally, there is also a dark mode available for accountants with sensitive eyes.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Easy-to-understand interface | Contains frustrating advertisements |
Multi-submission of pictures | |
Different uploading options | |
Dark mode | |
Availability of mobile applications |
3. Extract Text from the Image
Now extracting text from receipts, bank statements, or scanned documents is not a problem for accountants, all thanks to this OCR tool. It is a completely free-to-use tool that automates data extraction with a single click, ensuring maximum productivity and efficiency.
This tool stands out because it allows accounts to submit up to 10 pictures at once. So, if an accountant has to extract data from several invoices for database updating, they will find this tool a productive option.
It also supports a wide range of international languages and is capable of extracting special characters and symbols, indicating versatility and reliability. It offers multiple image-uploading options and accepts pictures in various formats.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Completely free to use | No integration of other conversion tools |
No sign-up is required | |
Diverse image formats | |
Submit ten images at once | |
Multiple language support |
4. OCR.best
The name already provides a clear idea—this OCR tool can also be a handy option for improving an accountant’s productivity by automating the text extraction process. It is available in both free and paid versions and features a user-intuitive interface so that accountants can seamlessly navigate through it.
OCR.best quickly extract all sorts of data from invoices, receipts, and bank statements within a matter of seconds. For this purpose, it utilizes a combination of OCR and machine learning technologies.
When the process is complete, accountants can copy and download DOCX or Zip files.
Like other tools discussed above, it also allows accountants to upload multiple images. However, a premium subscription will be needed to enjoy an increased submission limit.
Besides this, it supports multiple languages for extraction and has an integration of other conversion tools, including PDF to Word, PDF to Text, and many more. All the other tools are free to use, making them a suitable option for worldwide accountants.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
User-intuitive interface for easy navigation | Need to complete security |
Uses a combination of OCR & ML technologies | |
Integration of other tools | |
Multiple language support | |
Comprehensive download options |
5. I2OCR
This is the final OCR tool that we will be discussing today in the context of improving an accountant’s productivity. It is available for free, and the good thing is that it offers dedicated portions; one is “Image OCR” and the other one is “PDF OCR.”
Moreover, I2OCR supports almost all international languages, making it a versatile option for worldwide accountants. When it comes to uploading, I2OCR either allows you to load from the local storage or simply paste the URL.
For accountants dealing with multilingual data, the tool even provides the option to translate the extracted text into different languages. Besides this, they can also copy, download, or open the output in Google Docs. This capability shows its reliability to serve the user in the best possible manner.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Free to use | Take time to process the uploaded image |
Dedicated portions for Image & PDF extraction | |
Allows translate the extracted text | |
Excellent output options |
How Accountants Can Seamlessly Use These Tools for Maximized Productivity
The process is very simple and straightforward. Below, we have discussed a step-by-step procedure for utilizing OCR-powered.
The working procedure of almost all tools is the same. That’s why, for a demonstration of each discussed below, we will be using the screenshots taken from Imagetotext.io.
Upload the Required Picture
First of all, you will have to upload the photo on the OCR tool. The image can be either an invoice, receipt, or scanned document.
Before uploading, make sure it is high quality in terms of resolution. This is because poor picture quality makes it difficult for the tool to effectively analyze what is written on it, increasing the overall chances of inaccurate results.
We are going to upload the following image to the tool.
This is how the tool interface looks now.
Hit the Button
Now, simply click the “Extract Text” button, and the OCR tool will take only a few moments (depending on your internet connection) to come up with the extracted text. In our case, the results we got can be seen in the screenshot attached below.
Review the Extracted Text
It is always recommended that accountants should give a final review of the extracted data to make sure it is accurate and free from any grammatical mistakes. This is because OCR tools can sometimes make errors due to technical glitches or any other reason.
We all know that a single mistake in accounting data can have a devastating effect on both the client’s reputation and reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pick the right OCR tool?
Numerous factors should be considered when choosing an OCR tool, some of the major ones are:
1) Operating on the latest technologies
2) Support for different languages
3) Multiple submissions in one go
Luckily, all the tools discussed above perfectly satisfy all these factors, so you can go with the one that you think is suitable.
Are OCR tools safe and accurate?
Yes, all modern OCR-powered tools are completely safe and highly accurate when extracting text from different sources like invoices, receipts, scanned documents, and many more.
Can OCR tools handle text recognition?
Yes, they aren’t only capable of handling text recognition but can also deal with special characters, symbols, or even mathematical equations.
What should accountants need to keep in mind when using these tools?
Not many, but only one. They should make sure the image or document they are uploading is of the highest quality. Otherwise, it may cause troubles for the tool in performing text extraction effectively.
Ending Note
Accountants should remain productive all the time for a smooth workflow. However, due to the involvement of hectic tasks like text extraction from bank statements, financial documents, etc., many accountants struggle to remain productive all the time.
Fortunately, the introduction of OCR tools has solved this issue. These automate the text extraction process with a single, saving valuable time and effort. In this blog post, we have discussed some of the best options that can be used in this regard.