Receipt scanning and capture for mobile expense management
Last updated:
July 16, 2025
MobileXpense needed to enhance its global expense management platform. The company sought to improve its receipt scanning and capture for mobile expense management for its international clients. Instead of building a new system, MobileXpense chose to buy a specialised technology. They integrated Taggun’s receipt scanning software using its flexible Application Programming Interface (API). This decision allowed them to add advanced scanning features without diverting resources from their main platform development.
The integration transformed expense tracking into a simple, automated process. It reduced receipt processing time to a few seconds and significantly improved data accuracy. The system automatically extracts key data, including the retailer's name, location, date, totals, and tax information. A critical factor in the decision was the technology's ability to handle receipts in many languages and currencies, which was essential for the international clients of MobileXpense. The result was a more efficient, accurate, and user-friendly expense management system that improved productivity for finance departments.
Olivier Durieux
Product Manager
,
MobileXpense
Seeking a Global, Automated Expense Solution
MobileXpense catered to a global client base with complex expense management needs. Their existing process relied on manual data entry from receipts. This method was slow and often resulted in errors. It created a frustrating experience for employees who travelled and the finance teams who processed the expenses.
The core issue was magnified for their multinational clients. These companies required a system that could handle receipts from many different countries. This meant processing various languages and currencies accurately was a significant hurdle. Employees needed a faster way to submit expenses, while financial controllers required reliable data for timely approvals.
Since nearly all expenses required a receipt, this manual bottleneck slowed the entire reimbursement cycle. The process was particularly inefficient for large organisations with high volumes of travel expenses. MobileXpense recognised the need to buy a specialised solution, as building one in-house would divert focus from their core platform.
They required a technology partner that could provide a solution to:
- Instantly and accurately capture key data like merchant details, dates, and total amounts.
- Process receipts from around the world, regardless of language or currency.
- Integrate seamlessly into their existing expense management platform via an API.
- Provide a simple, fast, and reliable experience for all users.
Streamlining Mobile Expense Management
MobileXpense chose to integrate a specialised technology instead of building an in-house solution. This strategic decision allowed them to leverage Taggun's expertise in receipt scanning. They could then focus their own resources on developing their core expense management platform.
The integration process was straightforward. MobileXpense used Taggun’s well-documented receipt and invoice OCR API to connect the OCR technology to their existing systems. This created a seamless flow of data. The new solution provided several key features.
- One-tap receipt capture using a smartphone.
- Automatic extraction of all essential receipt data.
- Real-time processing that returned results in seconds.
- Support for the many languages and countries required by their global clients.
- High accuracy across different receipt types and formats.
This new process transformed the user experience. Travelling employees could now photograph a receipt and have their expense reports populated automatically. For finance controllers, the solution provided fast and precise data, which helped streamline the approval process. Taggun’s extensive global coverage was crucial for supporting MobileXpense’s international client base.
Speed, Accuracy, and Global Reach
The integration of Taggun’s API delivered significant and measurable results for MobileXpense and its clients. The partnership provided a clear return on investment by improving efficiency and enhancing the platform's core functions. The primary benefits were directly linked to speed, accuracy, and global reach.
The main improvements included:
- Faster Processing and Greater Accuracy: Receipt processing time was reduced to just a few seconds. The specialised AI significantly improved the accuracy of extracted data compared to manual entry.
- Improved Efficiency and User Experience: The automated workflow saved valuable time for both travellers and finance teams. A simpler, faster process improved user satisfaction, and better data quality streamlined approvals.
- Enhanced Global Capability: The platform could now seamlessly handle receipts in multiple languages and currencies, which was essential for their international clients.
- Stronger Competitive Position: By quickly adding advanced features, MobileXpense strengthened its market position. The scalable solution supported their growing global user base and reduced operational costs.
Advancing Receipt Scanning and Capture Technology
The solution for MobileXpense is built on Taggun's advanced API. This system uses a combination of technologies to deliver fast and accurate results for global expense management.
Core OCR Technology
Taggun uses a specialised engine for processing receipts and invoices. This engine combines optical character recognition (OCR) with machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to understand receipt data. This approach ensures high accuracy for the specific use case of expense management.
Key Data Extraction
The API automatically extracts structured data from a receipt image. This includes all essential information needed for expense reports, such as:
- Retailer name and address
- Date and time of purchase
- All line items with descriptions, quantity, and price
- Totals, tax amounts, and currency details
Global Language and Currency Support
A key technical feature is the platform's ability to process receipts from over 50 countries. The system supports all languages and can correctly identify and parse regional data. This capability was crucial for meeting the needs of MobileXpense's global client base.
Gaining a Competitive Edge Through Specialised Integration
The collaboration between MobileXpense and Taggun demonstrates a key strategic principle. By choosing to integrate a specialised technology, MobileXpense enhanced its platform without the significant time and cost of in-house development.
This partnership allowed them to quickly deploy a more powerful and user-friendly service. They gained a distinct competitive advantage by offering advanced features like real-time data extraction and comprehensive multi-language support. The seamless API integration was crucial to achieving this result efficiently.
This case study shows how leveraging a specialised API solution can be a highly effective approach for software companies. It enables them to add significant value to their core product, solve complex user problems, and improve their market position in a rapidly evolving industry.