TITLE EasyShip.AI. Document driven shipping setup with human validation.
PROBLEM Shipping staff manually retype packing slip data into carrier tools. Manual entry increases errors and slows shipment creation.
USERS Primary user: operations or logistics staff creating shipments. Secondary user: support staff reviewing shipment details and costs.
GOALS Reduce manual data entry. Prevent shipment errors before carrier execution. Return carrier options with price and service level in one flow.
NON GOALS Automatic label printing. Warehouse or ERP integration.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW Frontend: React web app for upload and review. Backend: Azure Function as API layer. AI extraction: Microsoft AI Document Intelligence prebuilt model. Carrier data: Pitney Bowes Shipping 360 API. Storage: structured shipment records after user confirmation.
DATA FLOW User uploads packing slip. Frontend sends file to Azure Function. Function calls Document Intelligence. Extracted fields return to UI. User edits and confirms data. Backend calls Pitney Bowes API. Carrier options return to user.
KEY TRADE OFFS Prebuilt model versus custom model. Faster delivery chosen. Lower accuracy on edge layouts accepted. Human review versus full automation. Slower flow accepted to reduce financial errors. Serverless function versus container service. Lower ops burden chosen. Cold start latency accepted. Single carrier integration versus abstraction layer. Faster proof chosen. Vendor lock in accepted.
RISKS AND MITIGATIONS PII exposure from uploaded documents. Impact: compliance risk. Mitigation: no long term raw document storage, planned retention limits.
Extraction errors from poor scans. Impact: wrong pricing or routing. Mitigation: mandatory user confirmation before carrier calls.
Third party API outage. Impact: shipment creation blocked. Mitigation: retries, clear error states.
Cost growth from document processing. Impact: margin loss. Mitigation: upload limits, monitoring alerts.
SECURITY AND PRIVACY Documents treated as sensitive input. Processing confined to Azure services. Future hardening includes Entra ID auth, Key Vault secrets, audit logs, and retention timers.
PRODUCT IMPACT Fewer manual steps in shipment setup. Lower pricing errors through validation. Faster carrier comparison.
OPEN QUESTIONS Most common packing slip formats. Required retention window for audits. Value of multi carrier support in early phase.