Skip to main content

Booking Document Parsing

Splice Exports uses document parsing tools to extract and normalize key booking information from PDF confirmations. Whether uploaded manually or received through email, the system processes documents automatically and flags any anomalies for review. The goal is to get accurate data into the system without manual rekeying while giving users full visibility and control.

The tools to manage this process are located in the left-hand menu of the Splice Exports portal.

1. Document Processing

The Document Processing section allows users to monitor the flow of incoming booking files.

  • It displays each document file name as received, along with its current processing status.
  • This view helps confirm what has been received and whether the system has successfully extracted the data.
  • If a document is successfully parsed and matches a valid booking, a button will appear that links directly to that booking’s History Page.
  • If a document fails to process — for example, due to formatting issues or missing fields — it remains in this view so the user can investigate further.

This page is especially helpful when managing large volumes of confirmations or validating whether documents forwarded via email have been successfully received by Splice.

2. Exceptions

The Exceptions section is where Splice sends documents that require user review or correction.

  • If the system encounters an anomaly — such as a character that was unreadable by OCR, or a data element that doesn’t match known formats — it flags the document and routes it to Exceptions.
  • This gives the user an opportunity to review the extracted data, correct any inaccuracies, and submit the clean data to the booking record.
  • Examples of common exceptions include:
    • A misread booking number due to a faint character
    • Missing or incomplete terminal names

While ocean carrier booking confirmations follow a general structure, individual agents often fill them out differently. Splice’s document parsing system is trained to recognize these variations — but it may take a few examples to fully adapt to a new format or agent style.

The Exceptions workflow ensures that these edge cases are caught early and that data remains clean and usable for tracking.

How It Works Behind the Scenes

  • Documents are first read using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to convert them into structured data.
  • That data is then matched to known formats and values (e.g., carriers, terminals, vessel names).
  • Clean, structured data is passed into the Splice system for monitoring.
  • If any element is uncertain or mismatched, the document is flagged and sent to Exceptions.

Summary

The document parsing tools in Splice Exports ensure that critical booking data flows into the system with minimal manual effort—while still giving you the ability to review, correct, and control the process.

To manage booking documents:

  • Use Document Processing to confirm that files have been received and check processing status.
  • Use Exceptions to review documents that need correction or manual input.
  • Use the History Page to view finalized bookings, track changes, and generate reports.

If you encounter frequent parsing issues with a specific format or carrier, contact our support team — we can often improve the model’s accuracy with just a few additional examples.