iText pdf2Data offers an easy way to extract data from such PDF documents by defining areas and rules in a template which correspond to the content you want to extract. The template can then be visually validated with other documents to confirm data is recognized correctly, before being parsed by the pdf2Data SDK to process all subsequent documents matching that template.

Unlike AI-based alternatives, you don’t need hundreds of samples and intensive supervision to train the recognition process. The content recognition is controlled by the template you configure, meaning no training is required before you can begin extracting data. You only need one example document to enable data extraction from all subsequent documents.

AI recognition has other disadvantages too. Any changes to the required output (such as adding a new field) will require models to be retrained, and multiple language support is minimal at best. Documents using the same layout but containing content in different languages can give wildly inconsistent results.

iText pdf2Data on the other hand suffers from none of these drawbacks. Making modifications to templates is quick and easy, and it offers excellent language support. It also provides powerful table recognition functionality, which is one of the primary shortcomings of other data extraction solutions.