Create a Custom OCR Model for Your App with Zoho Creator's AI Modeler

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is OCR?
3. Benefits of OCR for App Development
4. Types of OCR Models 4.1 Pre-built OCR Models 4.2 Custom OCR Models
5. Building a Custom OCR Model 5.1 Steps to Create a Custom OCR Model 5.2 Specifying Data Types 5.3 Adding Fields and Data Types 5.4 Training the Model 5.5 Testing the Model
6. Deploying the OCR Model 6.1 Two Ways to Deploy the OCR Model 6.2 Selecting Field Types
7. Using the Custom OCR Model
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs

How OCR Can Make Your App Work Smarter

The use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in app development has revolutionized the way apps interact with text within images. OCR allows for the extraction and recognition of text from digital images, including documents, invoices, forms, ID cards, and even vehicle number plates. In this article, we will explore the benefits of OCR, different types of OCR models, and how to build and deploy a custom OCR model for your app. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of how OCR can make your app work smarter and more efficiently.

Introduction

In today's digital era, the ability to extract and recognize text from images is highly valuable. OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, is a text recognition model that identifies and extracts text from digital images. Whether it's extracting information from invoices, forms, or other documents, OCR can greatly enhance the functionality and efficiency of your app. In this article, we will dive deep into the world of OCR and learn how it can make your app work smarter.

What is OCR?

OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, is a technology that enables computers to recognize and extract text from images or scanned documents. It utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze the visual Patterns of characters and convert them into machine-readable text. This text can then be processed, searched, and utilized within your app. OCR has become an essential component of many applications, as it eliminates the need for manual data entry and allows for efficient Data Extraction from images.

Benefits of OCR for App Development

Incorporating OCR into your app can provide several benefits. Firstly, it automates the process of extracting text from images, saving users time and effort. OCR eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing human error and increasing efficiency. Additionally, OCR enables your app to process large volumes of image-based data quickly and accurately. Whether you're building a document management app, an expense tracking app, or a data extraction tool, OCR can significantly enhance the user experience and make your app work smarter.

Types of OCR Models

There are two main types of OCR models: pre-built OCR models and custom OCR models. Pre-built OCR models are ready-to-use models that can extract text from various types of images. On the other HAND, custom OCR models allow you to train the model with Relevant data to scan and extract specific Texts from images.

Pre-built OCR Models

Pre-built OCR models are designed to extract text from a wide range of images. These models are trained on large datasets and are capable of extracting text from different document types, invoices, forms, ID cards, shipping container numbers, and vehicle number plates. They provide a quick and convenient way to extract text from images without the need for customization. However, pre-built models may not excel in extracting specific information and may not be suitable for all business use cases.

Custom OCR Models

Custom OCR models, on the other hand, allow you to train the model with relevant data specific to your application's needs. This enables the model to accurately extract specific information from images based on the training data provided. Building a custom OCR model involves a few simple steps, which we will explore further in this article.

Building a Custom OCR Model

To build a custom OCR model, you need to follow a step-by-step process. By choosing a custom OCR model, you can train the model with your specific data, enabling it to accurately extract the required information from images.

Steps to Create a Custom OCR Model

1. Access the microservices section in your app development platform.
2. Click on the "Create New" button and select "AI Models."
3. Choose "OCR" under the "Custom Models" section.
4. Give your custom OCR model a name.
5. Select the data type you want to train your model with. If your data type is not listed, you can specify it as "Others."
6. Specify the fields and data types you want to extract from the images.
7. Add sample images to train the model. Ensure the images have a similar layout and format.
8. Tag the text from the images to the fields specified earlier.
9. Review the model details and proceed to train the model.
10. Test the model to evaluate its reliability.
11. Publish the model for use in your app.

Specifying Data Types

When creating a custom OCR model, it is essential to specify the data types you want to extract from the images. For example, if you are extracting data from invoices, you can specify fields such as amount, address, invoice date, and due date. By selecting the correct data types, the OCR model can accurately extract the relevant information from the images.

Adding Fields and Data Types

Based on the fields added, you need to choose the relevant data types from the drop-down menu. For example, when extracting the date field, you can choose the correct date format used in your training data. This helps the OCR model understand the structure of the data and accurately extract the required information.

Training the Model

To train the custom OCR model, you need to provide sample images with similar layouts and formats. It is recommended to include at least five images for effective training. The training process involves tagging the text in the images to the fields specified earlier. Once the training is complete, the model will have a better understanding of the required information extraction.

testing the Model

After training the model, it is essential to test its reliability. By uploading sample images and evaluating the extracted text, you can ensure that the model accurately recognizes and extracts the desired information. This step allows you to make any necessary adjustments before deploying the model in your app.

Deploying the OCR Model

Once the OCR model is trained and tested, you can deploy it in your app. There are two ways to deploy the OCR model:

Two Ways to Deploy the OCR Model

1. Use Model Button: Click on the "Use Model" button, select the application and form name, and add the desired field.
2. Drag and Drop: Access the AI Field section and drag the OCR field into the form builder. Select the model and make sure the form includes an image field to store the input image.

Using the Custom OCR Model

Once the OCR model is deployed, it can be used in all the apps within your account. Whenever an image is uploaded, the model will automatically extract the relevant field values and display them accordingly. This feature greatly enhances the user experience, eliminates manual data entry, and makes your app work smarter.

Conclusion

Incorporating OCR into your app can significantly improve its functionality and efficiency. Whether it's extracting data from invoices, forms, or documents, OCR allows for automated text recognition and extraction from images. By building custom OCR models, you can train the model to accurately extract specific information based on your application's requirements. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make your app work smarter and provide a seamless user experience.

FAQs

Q: Can pre-built OCR models extract specific information from images? A: Pre-built OCR models are designed to extract text from various types of images but may not excel in extracting specific information. Custom OCR models are better suited for extracting specific information as they can be trained with relevant data.

Q: How many fields can be added in a custom OCR model? A: You can extract text for up to 10 fields in a custom OCR model.

Q: Can I disable the extraction of certain fields in the custom OCR model? A: Yes, you can choose not to extract certain fields by disabling the checkbox for those fields.

Q: Can the OCR model be retrained or deleted after it's published? A: Once published, the OCR model cannot be unpublished but can be retrained or deleted.

Q: Can OCR models extract text from images in real-time? A: Yes, OCR models can extract text from images in real-time, providing instant results.

Resources:
Learn more about AI fields in Zoho Creator: https://www.zoho.com/creator/platform/ai-fields.html