AI Label Scanner allows mobile users to photograph any printed label—such as equipment tags, asset plates, product stickers, or nameplates—and automatically extract and populate form fields with the detected data.
Instead of manually entering values like serial numbers or voltages, technicians can capture a label image and apply the extracted data directly to the form. The system intelligently matches values to fields based on field names and data types, with no pre-configuration required.
In this article
Benefits
Faster Data Entry
A scan that takes seconds replaces minutes of squinting at small print and transcribing values by hand — especially on complex nameplates with a dozen or more fields.
Reduced Errors
Every mapped value is flagged with a confidence level so technicians can spot uncertain readings before applying them to the form.
Confidence-Based Review
Every mapped value is flagged with a confidence level so technicians can spot uncertain readings before applying them to the form.
No Setup Required
The AI auto-matches extracted values to form fields based on field names and data types. Admins don't need to pre-configure any field mappings — it works on any form immediately after the feature is enabled.
Prerequisites
Before using AI Label Scanner, make sure the following requirements are met:
- Your account is on the FastField Pro Plan
- An admin has enabled AI-powered OCR scanning in Company Settings > Mobile Apps
- Users are on:
- The device has an active internet connection
⚠️ Note: AI scanning requires an internet connection because processing happens in the cloud. If users are offline, they can still use Basic OCR.
Step By Step Guides
Enable AI Label Scanner
- Sign in to the FastField Portal.
- Go to Company Settings.
- Open the Mobile Apps tab.
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Under Enable mobile users to scan with OCR, turn on Enable AI-powered OCR scanning.
👉 Info: Only admins with Company Settings access can enable this feature. Once enabled, the Label Scanner button appears in the mobile app for users on the account.
Scan a Label
- Open a form in the FastField mobile app.
- Tap the Label Scanner button.
- Choose one of the scan options:
- Camera
- Photo Library
-
Basic OCR
- Capture or select the label image. An "AI is scanning..." loading card appears while the image is processed in the cloud
- Wait for the scan to process.
- Review the extracted values on the Field Mappings screen.
Review and Apply Extracted Values
- Review the mapped values on the Field Mappings screen.
- If needed, tap Clear to remove an incorrect value.
- Tap the field name to change the field mapping.
- Use Map to Field for any unmapped values.
- Tap Apply to populate the form fields.
- Review the form and submit as normal.
Scan Input Options
- Camera: Take a new photo of the label.
- Photo Library: Select an existing photo from the device.
- Basic OCR: Extract text from the image and manually map values to fields without AI-assisted matching.
Best Practices and Considerations
Scan Accuracy
Getting accurate results consistently depends on image quality and label condition. The following factors have the biggest impact on what the AI can read:
- Full label in frame — Capture the entire label. Values near the edges of a cropped image may be missed or read with lower confidence.
- Good lighting — Ensure the label is evenly lit with no shadows, glare, or backlighting. Indirect light works better than direct flash on reflective surfaces.
- Steady capture — Motion blur is one of the most common causes of misread text. Hold the device still or brace it against a surface when capturing.
- Label condition — Faded, worn, or physically damaged labels produce lower-confidence results. The AI will still attempt to read them and will flag uncertainty through the confidence indicators.Capture the full label in the image.
💡 Tip: Indirect lighting usually works better than direct flash on reflective labels.
Monthly Scan Quota
FastField Pro accounts include 1,500 AI scans per month. Once the monthly quota is reached, AI Label Scanner is disabled for the remainder of the billing period.
Basic OCR remains available even after the AI scan quota is reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens when the account reaches the 1,500 scan limit?
AI Label Scanner is disabled for the rest of the billing period. Users can continue using Basic OCR until the quota resets.
- Does AI Label Scanner work offline?
No. AI scanning requires an internet connection. If users are offline, Basic OCR remains available.
- What types of labels are supported?
AI Label Scanner works with printed labels and tags, including equipment tags, asset plates, product stickers, and nameplates.
- What do the confidence colors mean?
Confidence colors indicate how certain the AI is about the extracted text and its field match. Users should review low-confidence values before applying them.
- Can I assign a value the AI did not automatically match?
Yes. Use Map to Field to manually assign unmapped values to the correct form field.
- Can I undo a mapping before applying?
Yes. Tap Clear before selecting Apply. No form fields are updated until the user taps Apply.
- Can I skip AI and map values manually?
Yes. Select Basic OCR to use the manual mapping workflow.