- Extract specific fields into a consistent schema or Box metadata template (structured extraction).
- Use enhanced extraction for more complex use cases and improved accuracy powered by advanced AI models (structured extraction).
- Extract content when the target fields are not known ahead of time (freeform extraction).
- Extract from files the caller can access, without a separate permission system around the model.
- Extract data from documents in various languages, file formats, scanned documents, or photos.
Sales and finance operations
Sales and finance operations
Recommended endpoint: structured metadata extraction (
POST /2.0/ai/extract_structured)Ideal for high-volume, standardized documents where you need predictable data types:- Automated data entry: Structured metadata extraction ensures consistent JSON response every time thanks to a preconfigured metadata template.
- Invoices and purchase orders: Extract line items, totals, and dates.
- Client contracts: Parse standardized fields like “Effective Date” or “Total Contract Value” to update CRM records.
Legal and HR
Legal and HR
Recommended endpoint: freeform metadata extraction (
POST /2.0/ai/extract)Ideal for queries where document structure is not known ahead of time or varies:- HR onboarding: Extract key personal details from diverse offer letters or candidate resumes.
- NDA clauses: Extract specific NDA clauses from legal documents.
Industry-specific solutions
Industry-specific solutions
Use advanced features like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and enhanced extraction agent for regulated sectors:
Financial services
Financial services
- Know Your Customer (KYC) documents: Verify user’s identity by extracting text from scanned passports or driver’s licenses.
- Loan origination: Automate income verification by pulling data from scanned utility bills or pay stubs.
Life Sciences
Life Sciences
- Clinical Trial Enrollment: Extract patient criteria from medical forms to match candidates with trials.
- Regulatory submissions: Organize and validate the data required for submissions such as FDA or EMA.
Public Sector
Public Sector
- Permit applications: Accelerate zoning approvals by validating required documentation.
- Public records requests: Automatically classify and prioritize documents for public requests such as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Core benefits of using the Box Extract API
- Managed scaling: The Box Extract API is designed to handle queues and rate limits, so you can run high-volume processing.
- No defensive code: The Box Extract API is model-agnostic, which enables switching between supported LLMs with minimal code changes and minimizing vendor lock-in.
- Security and compliance: All extracted data inherits the enterprise-grade security and governance policies of Box.
Run extraction across thousands of documents
There is no batch extract endpoint.POST /2.0/ai/extract and POST /2.0/ai/extract_structured accept exactly one file per request. To process a large repository, list the files and call extract per file, up to your rate limits:
- Watch an inbox folder with a (
FILE.UPLOADED), poll folder items, or start from a workflow. - Use an identity that is collaborated on those files. Extraction does not bypass Box permissions.
- For each file ID, call (or for freeform). Run many requests concurrently.
- If the API returns
429 Too Many Requestswith aRetry-Afterheader, wait a moment and retry. See (allows around 1000 general requests per minute per user, plus enterprise licensing). - Store the JSON on the file as a so downstream search and workflows can use the fields.
Invoice intake automation
Webhook on a folder, one structured extract per PDF, metadata write-back — the same fan-out pattern at a smaller scale.
Supplier agreement extraction
Structured extract with
struct and table fields for complex contracts. Repeat per file for a contract library.