Welcome to RateScan
RateScan is an intelligent document processing platform designed specifically for the logistics and transportation industry. Transform your rate confirmation documents into structured, searchable data in seconds using advanced AI-powered extraction.
Whether you're processing invoices, rate confirmations, or shipping documents, RateScan automates the tedious work of manual data entry, reduces errors, and helps your team work more efficiently.
What RateScan Does#
RateScan uses advanced optical character recognition (OCR) and natural language processing (NLP) to automatically extract critical information from your rate confirmation documents. Here's what you can accomplish:
Document Processing
- Upload PDFs, images (JPG, PNG), or scanned documents from your desktop
- Mobile Capture - Scan documents directly from your phone and sync to desktop instantly
- Batch Processing - Handle multiple documents at once with intelligent page merging
- Format Support - Works with various document layouts and formats
Intelligent Data Extraction
- Shipper & Consignee Information - Complete addresses with company names
- Load Details - Load numbers, truck numbers, reference numbers
- Financial Data - Rates, amounts, totals, and payment terms
- Shipping Information - Weight, quantity, dimensions, and item descriptions
- Dates & Times - Pickup dates, delivery dates, appointment times
- Accessorials - Additional charges, special instructions, and notes
Review & Export
- Interactive Editing - Review and correct extracted data with an intuitive interface
- Search & Filter - Quickly find documents by load number, shipper, consignee, or date
- Multiple Export Formats - Generate Standard Invoices, Detailed Rate Cons, or Compact Invoices
- FileMaker Integration - Export tab-separated data ready for AutoHotKey macros
Quick Start Guide#
Get up and running with RateScan in just a few minutes. Follow these steps to process your first document:
Step 1: Access the Application
- Sign in to your RateScan account (or create one if you're new)
- Navigate to the Application section from the main menu
- You'll see the upload interface and document viewer
Step 2: Upload Your Document
You have two options for uploading documents:
Step 3: Review Extracted Data
- Wait a few seconds for RateScan to process your document (usually 5-15 seconds)
- Review the automatically extracted fields in the data table
- Click on any field to edit if corrections are needed
- Verify critical information like addresses, amounts, and load numbers
Step 4: Export Your Document
- Once satisfied with the extracted data, click the Export button
- Choose your preferred format:
- Standard Invoice - Professional invoice format
- Detailed Rate Con - Comprehensive rate confirmation details
- Compact Invoice - Condensed format for quick reference
- Download the PDF or copy data for FileMaker integration
How RateScan Works#
RateScan uses a sophisticated AI-powered pipeline to extract structured data from unstructured documents. Here's what happens behind the scenes:
Document Processing Pipeline
- Document Ingestion - Your uploaded file is received and validated
- Image Preprocessing - Images are optimized, rotated, and enhanced for better OCR accuracy
- OCR Analysis - Advanced optical character recognition extracts all text from the document
- AI Extraction - Machine learning models identify and extract key fields based on document structure
- Data Validation - Extracted data is validated and structured into consistent formats
- Presentation - Results are displayed in an editable table for your review
What Gets Extracted
RateScan intelligently identifies and extracts the following information:
- Company Information - Company headers, logos, and branding (when present)
- Load Identifiers - Load numbers, truck numbers, reference numbers, PO numbers
- Addresses - Complete shipper and consignee addresses with:
- Company names
- Street addresses
- City, state, and ZIP codes
- Contact information
- Load Items - Detailed line items including:
- Purchase order numbers
- Item descriptions
- Quantities and weights
- Destinations
- Financial Data - Rates, amounts, totals, and payment terms
- Dates & Times - Pickup dates, delivery dates, appointment windows
- Totals - Total pickup weight, highest amount, and summary totals
Desktop vs Mobile Workflows#
Desktop Upload
Perfect for processing existing digital documents or scanned files:
- Navigate to Application → Upload
- Drag and drop files or use the file picker
- Supported formats: PDF, JPG, PNG
- Multiple pages are handled automatically with intelligent merging
- Batch upload multiple documents at once
Mobile Capture
Ideal for capturing documents on-the-go:
- Open RateScan on your mobile device
- Navigate to the Mobile section
- Connect to your desktop workspace using the QR code pairing
- Take photos with your camera or import from your photo library
- Images are automatically optimized and sent to your desktop
- Documents appear in your desktop workspace instantly
Reviewing and Editing Extracted Data#
Review Interface
The Application view provides a comprehensive interface for reviewing and editing extracted data:
- Data Table - All extracted fields displayed in an organized, editable table
- Document Viewer - View the original document alongside extracted data
- Search & Filter - Quickly locate documents by:
- Load number
- Shipper or consignee name
- Date ranges
- Amount ranges
- Any extracted field
- Inline Editing - Click any field to edit directly
- Auto-save - Changes are saved automatically as you edit
Best Practices for Review
- Always verify critical fields like addresses, amounts, and load numbers
- Check for common OCR errors (e.g., "0" vs "O", "1" vs "I")
- Verify date formats are correct
- Ensure addresses are complete and properly formatted
- Review totals and calculations for accuracy
Export Options#
RateScan offers multiple export formats to suit different needs:
PDF Exports
- Standard Invoice - Professional invoice format suitable for billing and record-keeping
- Detailed Rate Con - Comprehensive rate confirmation with all extracted details
- Compact Invoice - Condensed format for quick reference and filing
Data Exports
- Tab-Separated Values - Ready for FileMaker integration via AutoHotKey macros
- Custom Field Ordering - Arrange fields to match your FileMaker layout
- Batch Export - Export multiple documents at once
Troubleshooting#
Common Issues and Solutions
No Data Extracted
- Check document quality - Ensure the file is clear, well-lit, and free of shadows
- Try higher resolution - Higher resolution images improve OCR accuracy
- Check file format - Ensure you're using supported formats (PDF, JPG, PNG)
- Verify document orientation - Documents should be right-side up and not skewed
Incorrect Field Extraction
- Edit directly - Click any field in the Application view to edit it
- Check original document - Compare extracted data with the original document
- Re-upload if needed - Sometimes re-processing with a clearer image helps
Mobile Camera Issues
- Check permissions - Ensure camera permissions are granted in your browser
- Use HTTPS - Camera access requires a secure connection
- Try photo library - If camera doesn't work, import from your photo library instead
- Check network - Ensure you're connected to the same network as your desktop
Export Issues
- Verify data completeness - Ensure all required fields are filled before exporting
- Check browser settings - Ensure pop-ups aren't blocked for downloads
- Try different format - If one export format fails, try another
Getting Help
If you encounter issues not covered here, check the detailed documentation sections below or contact your company administrator. For technical support, reach out through your company's designated security contact.
Next Steps#
Now that you understand the basics, dive deeper into specific topics:
- Core → Uploading - Comprehensive guide to uploading documents, best practices, file requirements, and troubleshooting upload issues
- Core → Extraction - Detailed information about what fields are extracted, extraction accuracy, and how to improve results
- Core → Security - Security practices, data handling, and compliance information
- Mobile → Getting Started - Complete mobile setup guide and mobile-specific features
- Mobile → Uploading - Mobile upload workflows, camera tips, and mobile best practices
- Owner Onboarding - For company owners setting up their workspace and team
- Teammate Quickstart - Quick reference guide for team members