VCA x Vaxtor Full Container-Loading Records! Mobile OCR Creates a Container Packing History to Prevent Shortages at the Source
You probably use OCR (Optical Character Recognition)every day without even realizing it. From scanning documents on your phone to real-time translation, these convenient features all rely on OCR technology. OCR works like the computer's "eyes," converting text in images into editable, searchable digital text, eliminating the need for tedious manual data entry.
With the addition of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, modern OCR is not only faster and more accurate, but can evenwork in dim lighting and complex environments, accurately recognizing handwriting, multiple fonts, and complex layouts.
Why Does Export Container Loading Need OCR?
OCR technology has long been widely used at ports to read container numbers, helping track import/export records and improve customs clearance efficiency. This client is a company engaged inimport/export trade, and the problem arose during the critical step of loading goods into the container. When goods arrived at the overseas customer short of items, but withoutcomplete records from the source through to loading, it was difficult to determine responsibility, resulting in losses.
How Do Shortages Happen?
- Product → Loaded into container → (no record kept) → Container sealed → Shipped → Customer discovers shortage upon receipt → Unable to trace back for verification
The Headaches Caused by Shortages
- Customs re-declaration is required, delaying the shipping schedule.
- Shortages may lead to customers withholding payment or create a risk of contract breach.
- Customized products must be remade, extending lead times and increasing costs.
- Customer trust in the supplier declines, affecting future business.
Blind Spots of Traditional Recording Methods
- Relying on manual counting and paper-based verification is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and once paper records are lost, there's no way to trace them back.
- Using photos or video as evidence results in a huge volume of files that are slow and inefficient to review later.
- A video management system paired with IP cameras is difficult to deploy inside a sealed container and cannot scan each item individually, and even if it's used only in the warehouse before loading into the container, there's still a risk of a gap in the record.
Upgraded Mobile OCR Creates a Container Packing History
Suited to locations with Wi-Fi in an enclosed space, such as inside a container
If the quantity of goods can be confirmed directly inside the container before it's sealed, it becomes much faster to identify the cause and responsibility even if a shortage occurs later. With this in mind, we adopted Vaxtor OCR technology, widely used at major automated seaports around the world, to build a complete "packing history" for every batch of export goods.
Vaxtor OCR Genesis is a highly flexible OCR engine that can be deployed on a Windows PC. It supports sending results to a VMS system or Vaxtor's own backend application, Helix, via TCP/IP socket or HTTP-POST (XML or JSON), with real-time viewing of read completion status on the computer. It can accurately read each order number even inside a dimly lit, enclosed container.
▲ By default, only the order number”ORDER NO. 938871″ is read, and it reads automatically whenever the configured format is matched
Exclusive Advantages of Vaxtor OCR Genesis
Standard OCR typically reads all text on an entire image, requiring extra code to filter out noise, which impacts overall efficiency.A major advantage of Vaxtor OCR Genesis is that it can be customized to read only specific regions and text matching a defined format, eliminating the need for extra filtering code and significantly improving recognition efficiency and accuracy from the source.In addition, it can read up to three lines of any combination of uppercase Latin letters and/or numbers.
No More Container Shortages, A Major Boost in Customer Trust
With the VCA x Vaxtor mobile OCR solution, a complete digital record is established starting from the point goods are loaded into the container. Where goods went and whether anything is missing can be traced in real time, with detailed reports available at the click of a button. This not only makes the export process more efficient, but also significantly boosts customer trust and satisfaction, supporting steady growth in trade business.