What is OCR & PDF automation?
Using OCR (optical character recognition) and PDF automation, Zoho RPA bots can extract printed text from scanned images, photos, and PDFs. It doesn’t just scan; it understands.
And once it has the data, it can:
Pull invoice totals from PDFs and log them in your ERP
Extract names and ID numbers from scanned passports and update onboarding forms
Read model numbers from product tags and sync them with your inventory tool
Actions that make your bots document-smart
Extract from full images or PDFs
Perfect for
Full-page scanned forms, PDF bills, report images
How it works
Upload the file. The bot reads all the printed text and turns it into clean, editable data.
Target specific sections
Perfect for
Totals, names, ID numbers—files with one useful field buried somewhere.
How it works
Select just the area you want to extract from.
Get values based on keywords
Perfect for
Dynamic layouts with fields that change position across files, but its label stays the same.
How it works
The bot searches for a label (like "Invoice No.") and pulls the value next to it, even if the layout changes.
Tune accuracy with smart controls
Perfect for
Poor scans, faded receipts, dark background IDs
How it works
RPA enhances clarity by adjusting scale, inverting colors, and preprocessing the image before reading it.
Key scenarios for OCR & PDF automation
Pull invoice data from PDFs
Extract line items, totals, and dates and feed them into finance sheets or ERP tools.
Auto-fill forms using scanned ID cards
Read customer name, DOB, and ID number and auto-update your CRM or onboarding workflow.
Sync product details from image files
Scan a product label from a warehouse or store and instantly log serial numbers and batch data.
Extract field data from filled forms
Capture structured data from survey PDFs or field reports and populate spreadsheets or dashboards.
Built for real-world processes
PDF automation
- Works with text-based PDFs and scanned files
- Supports table-based PDFs (like line-item invoices)
- Flexible enough to extract single fields or repeating rows
Image automation
- Supports .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, .tiff
- Reads printed English text
- Powered by the open-source Tesseract engine with built-in preprocessing controls
Why it's better with Zoho RPA
Context-based extraction
Bots understand layout shifts and field positions
Multi-format support
Images, and other common image formats
Visual configuration, no code
Set up field mapping with clicks, not scripts
Simple logic, powerful outcomes
"If invoice total > 10,000, send for approval"—built in seconds
Try it in 3 steps
Get a demo1. Upload a file
Scanned form, PDF, or image
2. Define what the bot should extract
An area, a field, a keyword
3. Use the data in your workflow
Update apps, move files, trigger next steps—fully automated
From scraping to syncing, Zoho RPA gets it done
Try for freeFrequently asked questions
What kind of documents does Zoho RPA support?
We support both text-based and scanned PDFs, as well as image files like .jpg, .png, .tiff, .bmp, and .gif. If it’s a standard business file, we can probably read it.
Can it read handwritten text?
No, OCR in Zoho RPA currently only supports printed English text.
Does it only extract text, or can it also act on it?
It does both. Your bot doesn’t just extract data, it can then use it. Whether you want to update a CRM, populate a sheet, or route a file, Zoho RPA bots can do it all in the same flow.
What happens if the layout changes across documents?
You can use key-based extraction,where the bot looks for a label (like “Invoice No.” or “Total”) and picks up the value next to it, even if it appears in a different spot on each file.
How accurate is the OCR engine?
Zoho RPA uses the open-source Tesseract engine, which is optimized for business documents. You also get controls to improve accuracy, like image scaling, inversion, and preprocessing.
Do I need coding knowledge to use this?
No, all configuration is visual. You can set it up by selecting areas or defining rules in a few clicks—no code, no confusion.