Inspiration
The idea began when we saw our colleagues and mentor struggling to sort through a huge stack of business cards, checking emails and websites one by one. Instead of focusing on tasks that could drive our startup forward, they spent hours sending emails manually. That’s when the inspiration struck—to create a solution that simplifies the process, saves time, and keeps everything in one place.
What it does
- Capture: Take a photo of a business card using the app.
- Extract: The app reads and extracts key details like name, email, and company.
- Annotate(optional): Add personalized remarks about the company or contact.
- Generate: Our generative AI creates a professional email draft based on the details.
- Send: Review, edit if needed, and send the email—all within the app.
How we built it
We developed the mobile app using the Flutter framework, ensuring a user-friendly experience across platforms. To extract information from business cards, we incorporated Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. For rapid prototyping and testing, we utilized the Gemini API, while the backend is powered by Flask with Python, providing API functionality to tie everything together. This combination allowed us to create a reliable and intuitive tool for professionals.
Challenges we ran into
One of the key challenges was validating the app with users to ensure it met their needs. We realized, late in the process, the importance of adding a 'CC' option for emails and allowing users to have their email formats. Different organizations often have specific email styles. Overcoming these challenges taught us the importance of early feedback and adaptability in development.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
It Worked! Even though we’re still in the prototype stage, we made sure to let users try the app early on and gather valuable feedback. This hands-on testing helped us refine features and ensure we’re building a version that truly improves the user experience. User input is driving the development of a better app that meets real-world needs.
What we learned
We learned that it’s essential to consider email formats from the start, as different organizations may have unique requirements. We also realized the importance of allowing users to add others to CC. Most importantly, we understood the value of gathering continuous user feedback to improve the app. This feedback loop has been crucial in shaping a more user-friendly and adaptable solution.
What's next for Bizlens AI
The next step for BizLens is to enhance its functionality with web scraping capabilities. If a business card includes a website, the app will automatically scrape relevant information from the site. This will allow the AI to provide customized partnership suggestions and insights, offering a unique value to each business. By integrating web scraping, BizLens will take networking to the next level, making it even easier to build meaningful and tailored connections. A different use case for BizLens AI, will be validating the authenticity of the business, Smart Contact Management, and quickly building networks for potential clients and business partners.
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