ERP Document Workflow Automation with OCR

An automated document workflow connects document receipt to ERP posting without manual intervention. The pipeline: document arrives via email or upload, OCR extracts structured data, middleware validates and transforms, the ERP creates the corresponding record, and a user reviews exceptions only.

For SAP, the OCR output maps to BAPI structures. Invoices post via BAPI_INCOMINGINVOICE_CREATE, CMRs via BAPI_GOODSMVT_CREATE for goods receipt, and delivery notes via BAPI_SHIPMENT_CREATE. The ABAP receiver program validates and creates the SAP document. Connection uses RFC with JSON to ABAP data conversion.

Odoo connects via its external API. Extracted invoices create vendor bills in Accounting. CMR data creates stock moves in Inventory. Delivery notes confirm deliveries in Sales. The Odoo external API supports creating, updating, and validating all document types. Odoo SH and on-premise installations are both supported.

A middleware service handles transformation between OCR output and ERP format. FastAPI is recommended for its async support and automatic OpenAPI docs. The middleware validates, maps fields, handles errors, and provides a dashboard for exception management.

Week 1: OCR setup and document testing. Week 2: Field mapping and data transformation. Week 3: ERP connector development. Week 4: Middleware integration and testing. Week 5: User acceptance testing. Week 6: Go live with manual review. Week 8: Full automation.