Tips for Best Results
Photo Quality
Section titled “Photo Quality”The AI reads text from your receipt image, so image quality directly affects accuracy.
- Good lighting — natural light or well-lit areas work best
- Flat surface — place the receipt on a table or desk
- Full receipt — make sure all edges and text are visible in the frame
- Steady shot — avoid blurry photos by holding your phone still
- Close up — get close enough that text is clearly readable
- Shadows — avoid casting shadows over the receipt text
- Glare — watch for shiny/glossy receipt paper reflecting light
- Crumpled — flatten crumpled receipts before photographing
- Partial — don’t cut off the total, date, or merchant name
Receipt Types
Section titled “Receipt Types”Standard Receipts
Section titled “Standard Receipts”Store receipts, restaurant bills, and similar printed receipts work well. The AI extracts:
- Merchant/vendor name
- Date
- Individual line items with amounts
- Total amount
M-Pesa / Mobile Money
Section titled “M-Pesa / Mobile Money”M-Pesa confirmation messages and receipts are supported. The AI recognizes:
- Transaction codes
- Amounts sent/received
- Recipient/sender details
Digital Receipts (Email/PDF)
Section titled “Digital Receipts (Email/PDF)”Receipts from online purchases (emailed as PDF) often give the best results because:
- Text is machine-readable (not OCR’d from an image)
- Layout is consistent and well-structured
- No quality loss from photography
Handwritten Receipts
Section titled “Handwritten Receipts”The AI can process handwritten receipts, but accuracy may be lower. Expect:
- More items flagged for review
- Possible date/amount misreads
- Description may need manual correction
Common Issues
Section titled “Common Issues”| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Wrong date extracted | Edit the date in the journal entry form before posting |
| Wrong GL code mapping | The AI maps based on item description — select the correct account in the form |
| Unbalanced entry | Rare after AI self-correction — adjust amounts manually if it occurs |
| ”All models failed” error | Wait about a minute and try again (rate limiting resets automatically) |
| Blurry text not recognized | Retake the photo with better lighting and stability |
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”Can I scan multiple receipts at once?
Currently, the scanner processes one receipt at a time. Scan each receipt separately and post individual journal entries.
What happens if the AI gets it wrong?
You always review before posting. Edit any field in the journal entry form. If you’ve already posted, use a reversal to correct it.
Is my receipt data private?
Your receipts are stored securely in your organization’s storage. Only members of your organization can access them. AI processing happens on Google’s servers via their API.
Does it work offline?
No — the scanner requires an internet connection to send the receipt to the AI for processing.
What if the scanner is slow?
Processing typically takes 10–30 seconds. If it takes longer, the system is trying multiple AI models for the best result. Wait for it to complete rather than cancelling.