Missing fields
What happens if a field is not present in an AI document extraction workflow?
Direct answer for teams evaluating document automation workflows.
Short answer
The safest workflow leaves missing fields blank or marks them for review instead of guessing, then uses required-field rules to decide whether the document can move downstream.
Direct answer
If a field is not present, the document automation workflow should not invent the value. It should return a blank, null, or explicit missing status and then apply the review rules for that field.
Some fields are optional, while others are required before a record can be exported to a spreadsheet, case management system, ERP, or other downstream workflow.
What the workflow should include
Define which fields are mandatory, which are optional, and what counts as a valid value for each field.
Then route documents with missing required values to a review queue, an exception sheet, or a follow-up process rather than letting incomplete records load downstream.
How Lido helps
Lido lets teams define extraction columns, identify missing values, apply validation logic, and review exceptions before export.
That reduces false positives and prevents downstream systems from receiving guessed or incomplete document data.
Example workflow
- Mark each extraction field as required or optional.
- Decide whether missing values should be blank, flagged, or sent to review.
- Block exports for records missing critical fields.
- Track recurring missing-field patterns so the workflow can be improved.