Receipt Scanning (OCR)

Wambai can read your receipts, invoices, and statements using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) powered by Google Document AI. Upload a photo or PDF, and the AI extracts the transaction details.

How It Works

1. Open the AI Chat (Add Transaction > AI Chat tab).
2. Upload a file — Drag and drop, paste, or tap the attachment button to upload a receipt image or PDF.
3. Wambai's OCR processes the document and extracts text.
4. The AI reads the extracted text and creates a transaction with the correct amount, vendor, date, and category.
5. Review and confirm.

Supported Formats

• Images — PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF.
• Documents — PDF.
• Size limit — Up to 20MB per file.

What Gets Extracted

The OCR system reads:

• Merchant name — The store or business.
• Total amount — The transaction total.
• Date — The receipt date.
• Line items — Individual items on the receipt (when available).
• Payment method — Cash, card, etc. (when shown).

The AI then maps these details to your household's accounts and creates the journal entry.

Processing Steps

1. Upload — Your file is securely stored.
2. Processing — Google Document AI reads the document.
3. Extraction — Text is extracted with a confidence score.
4. AI Analysis — The assistant interprets the extracted text.
5. Transaction Creation — A balanced journal entry is created.

Tips

• Good lighting — Take clear, well-lit photos for best results.
• Full receipt — Capture the entire receipt, including the total at the bottom.
• One receipt per upload — Process one receipt at a time for accuracy.
• Review the result — OCR isn't perfect. Always review the extracted amount and category before confirming.

Plan Requirement

OCR receipt scanning is a Premium feature. Free and Standard plan users can upgrade to Premium to access document scanning.