At a glance
The unreadable receipt detection feature automatically detects blurry, dark, or unreadable receipts on the mobile app.
The feature prevents a major source of frustration for accountants and reduces the time-consuming cycle of resubmissions.
It also improves the quality of documentation for faster approvals and better adherence to legal requirements.
This feature is part of the Professional and Professional Plus plans.
What is the unreadable receipt detection feature?
This feature is designed to ensure the quality of documentation submitted for expenses. Upon the upload of a receipt that is blurry, dark, or otherwise illegible, Circula provides an immediate warning, prompting the user to capture a clearer image.
This system addresses a significant pain point for finance professionals, as unreadable documentation is a primary cause of expense rejection and necessitates a time-consuming correction process. By detecting quality issues at the point of submission, this feature reduces administrative overhead and streamlines the expense approval workflow.
Key Benefits of the unreadable receipt detection
The implementation of this feature yields several key benefits for the expense management process.
Reduced Administrative Burden: Eliminates the need for manual review and flagging of illegible receipts by finance teams, thereby reducing the time spent on corrections and follow-ups.
Enhanced User Experience: Facilitates a "get it right the first time" approach, leading to faster approvals and reimbursement cycles for employees.
Improved Compliance: Ensures that submitted receipts meet legal and regulatory requirements, such as GoBD, which mandate the readability of financial documentation for tax and audit purposes.
How it works
The detection process is executed directly on the user's mobile device.
Local Processing: Image quality checks are performed on the device (iOS or Android) at the time of photo capture or upload from the library, without transmitting the image to a server.
Quality Metrics: The system assesses images based on several criteria, including blurriness, contrast levels, overall clarity, and the visibility of critical details.
Immediate User Feedback: If a receipt is flagged as unreadable, a warning is presented. The user retains the option to submit the image, but the system provides a proactive notification regarding potential issues.
Reviewer Notification: In cases where a flagged receipt is submitted, a corresponding warning is displayed to supervisors and accountants during the review process, providing context for the document's quality.
Unreadable receipt notification in the mobile app
Note
Current Limitations:
The functionality is currently limited to the mobile applications (iOS and Android); web-based uploads are not yet supported.
Criteria for Unreadable Receipts
Common Issues:
Blurry Photos: Resulting from camera shake or poor focus.
Poor Lighting: Images that are excessively dark or overexposed.
Faded Text: Loss of contrast, particularly on thermal paper receipts.
Incomplete Visibility: Portions of the receipt are obscured, folded, or torn.
Distorted Angles: Receipts captured at an angle that distorts the text.
Desirable Qualities:
Sharp, legible text.
Sufficient contrast between text and background.
Full visibility of all essential expense details.
Proper lighting and focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
In which plans will this feature be available?
This feature is available exclusively to Professional and Professional Plus plans. It is not included in the Starter plan.
Does this feature work for both taking photos and uploading from my gallery?
Yes. The detection system is active for photos taken within the app, as well as images uploaded from the device's photo library.
Will this feature prevent me from submitting a receipt?
The system does not block submissions. It provides a warning as a guidance tool, allowing the user to proceed if necessary.
What if I think the detection is wrong?
Users may override the system's warning and submit the receipt if they believe the detection is erroneous. The system is designed to provide guidance, not to act as a barrier.
Why isn't this feature available in the web app?
This feature was initially developed for mobile applications due to the prevalence of mobile-captured receipts. Support for web-based uploads is planned for a future release.
My receipt was flagged as unreadable. What should I do?
If a receipt is flagged, it is recommended that a new photo be taken under improved conditions. Ensuring the receipt is flat, well-lit, and in focus will generally resolve the issue.
Do you still have questions?
💬 Chat Support
📞 +49 30 588 491 01
✉️ support@circula.com