For finance teams in Singapore, managing a growing number of invoices manually isn’t only inefficient, it’s also risky. Errors, delays, and duplicate entries can pile up quickly, especially when data entry depends on human input. That’s why more businesses are turning to OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to automate invoice processing and improve data accuracy. OCR software extracts data from physical or digital invoices and converts it into machine-readable text, ready for processing. This streamlines workflows, reduces manual workload, and supports faster decision-making.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that reads and extracts printed or handwritten text from scanned documents or images. In the context of invoices, OCR software captures essential details such as vendor name, invoice number, date, line items, tax, and total amount.
Once extracted, the data is validated and routed into your accounts payable automation system, reducing the need for manual data entry. This not only accelerates processing but also improves accuracy and consistency across your records. OCR is particularly valuable for businesses handling high invoice volumes or receiving documents in various formats. It also supports compliance by ensuring that every invoice is properly logged, searchable, and audit-ready.
With AI-powered tools becoming more sophisticated, 2025 has brought several standout OCR solutions to the market. Here are some of the top options:
Rossum is a leading intelligent document processing solution powered by self-learning AI. It stands out for its template-free approach, which means it can handle a wide variety of invoice layouts without requiring manual setup. The platform learns from user feedback, becoming more accurate over time. Rossum integrates seamlessly with major ERP platforms and workflow automation tools, making it ideal for businesses that want fast implementation with minimal IT involvement. It also offers powerful real-time dashboards and custom validation rules for tighter control.
A veteran in the OCR space, ABBYY FlexiCapture is renowned for its accuracy and flexibility, especially in multilingual environments. It supports over 200 languages and excels in capturing both structured and unstructured data. ABBYY offers powerful field-level recognition, making it ideal for invoices with complex formatting or multiple currencies. It also provides advanced document classification and compliance tools, making it a strong choice for large, multinational finance teams with strict regulatory requirements.
Klippa is a cloud-based OCR solution tailored for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with fast setup. It supports mobile capture, which is useful for teams that need to process invoices on the go. Klippa includes real-time validation, digital archiving, and automated workflows. With its clean user interface and strong support for European and Asian tax formats, it’s a smart option for regional businesses expanding across borders.
Built for high-volume enterprise environments, Kofax ReadSoft is a powerhouse in OCR and AP automation. It integrates deeply with leading ERP systems like SAP and Oracle, and supports complex rules-based validation to flag inconsistencies before processing. ReadSoft is known for its scalability and security, making it suitable for enterprises that require high availability, data encryption, and role-based access controls. It also includes tools for handling exceptions and automating approvals across multiple departments.
Designed for developers, the Google Cloud Vision API offers flexible OCR capabilities that can be embedded into custom tools or existing finance systems. It supports a wide range of file types and languages and uses Google’s vast machine learning infrastructure for continuous improvement. While it doesn’t offer out-of-the-box AP workflows, it’s ideal for tech-savvy teams that want to build custom solutions for invoice processing, receipt tracking, or data extraction at scale.
Each of these solutions offers varying levels of AI automation, template-free extraction, and real-time processing, making them suitable for different business sizes and needs.
When choosing the best OCR software for invoice processing, finance teams should prioritise a few essential features. Accuracy is non-negotiable. The software should reliably extract data from multiple invoice formats, including scanned PDFs, photos, and image-heavy documents. Multi-language support is important for businesses operating across borders - especially in Southeast Asia, where vendors may submit invoices in different languages. Integration capabilities matter just as much. Choose software that connects easily with your ERP, invoice management system, or accounts payable automation tools to ensure seamless workflows.
Also consider AI and machine learning features that help the system improve over time, reducing the need for manual corrections. For more on integration-friendly platforms, see our guide to key features in a vendor invoice management system.
OCR automation delivers clear, tangible benefits for finance teams. By eliminating the need for manual entry, OCR drastically reduces errors and speeds up invoice processing times. This means fewer late payments, less rework, and happier vendors.
Teams also gain real-time access to invoice data, enabling faster approvals and better financial forecasting. In turn, this leads to stronger compliance and improved internal controls - critical for businesses operating under Singapore’s tight financial reporting standards. Ultimately, OCR empowers finance teams to operate with more speed, accuracy, and confidence.
OCR is just the starting point. At Summit, we integrate OCR into a much broader, smarter invoice processing system—so finance teams aren’t just scanning invoices, they’re managing the entire lifecycle with confidence.
Summit captures detailed, line-item data, not just totals—so you can approve with precision and track spend at a granular level. From there, we layer in automated 2- and 3-way invoice matching, role-based approval flows, and real-time dashboards that give you instant visibility and control.
Unlike standalone OCR tools that stop at data extraction, Summit connects every step—from capture to approval to reconciliation—on a single platform.
Here’s how Summit compares:
| Feature / Capability | OCR-Only Tools | Summit |
|---|---|---|
| Data Extraction | Extracts header-level data (e.g. vendor, total) | Extracts both header-level and line-item level data |
| Template-Free Processing | Varies by tool; often requires manual training | Fully template-free with intelligent auto-extraction |
| Automated Workflows | Requires external tools to build approval workflows | Built-in invoice approval workflows with routing logic |
| Invoice Matching | Not included | Automated 2- and 3-way matching against POs & GRNs |
| Real-Time Visibility | Limited dashboards or reporting | Live dashboards, budget tracking, and audit logs |
| Role-Based Approvals | Needs integration with other systems | Native support for multi-tier approvals |
| ERP Integration | Available in some tools with developer support | Pre-built integrations with Xero, NetSuite, and more |
| Audit & Compliance Readiness | Basic archiving only | Full audit trail, compliance-friendly documentation |
| Implementation Time | Requires IT or dev setup | Fast setup with local support in Singapore |
| Scalability for Growing Teams | Prone to workflow bottlenecks | Scalable for multi-entity, multi-currency environments |
Summit is more than just OCR—it’s end-to-end invoice management built for modern finance teams. With Summit, you don’t just scan invoices—you control the entire process, from intake to audit, all in one place. Whether you’re handling hundreds or thousands of invoices each month, Summit gives you more control, less manual work, and a faster path to accurate, compliant payments.
Want to see the difference in action? Talk to us today and discover how Summit helps finance teams in Singapore streamline invoice processing with clarity and confidence.