Inspiration
The idea came from seeing how much pastry artisans create wonders… yet often struggle to digitalize them. Their mini treats tell a story, but their documents — menus, photos, catalogs — remain static. I wanted to build a bridge between artisanal indulgence and artificial intelligence, creating a space where technology enhances pastry without ever overshadowing it.
What it does
The project automatically reads any document (photo, PDF, menu) using PaddleOCR, extracts the essential information, and then uses Ernie to understand, structure, reformulate, and elegantly present the data. The result is an interactive catalog and an intelligent showcase website, where each pastry is displayed with its description, image, price, and can be added to a cart linked to customer information. Everything becomes automatic, smooth, and beautifully presented.
How we built it
I used PaddleOCR as the perception system: it reads texts, captures details, and transforms a raw document into usable data. Then, I integrated Ernie as the understanding engine: it organizes the information, generates coherent and enriched content, and creates an intuitive display structure. Around this duo, I built a modern, responsive web interface with a professional design and smooth navigation, adaptable to any screen size.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest challenge was balancing automation with aesthetics. Reading a menu is one thing; transforming it into a beautiful user experience is another. Other challenges included: – ensuring consistency between PaddleOCR and Ernie; – maintaining accuracy of extracted data; – integrating high-quality images; – creating an intelligent yet easy-to-use shopping cart.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I’m proud to have created a system capable of automatically digitalizing a pastry without extra human effort. Proud to have combined a sensitive, artisanal domain with advanced technologies without losing the poetry of mini treats. And most of all, proud to have designed an interface where users feel guided, reassured, and delighted by the presentation.
What we learned
I learned how AI can become a creative partner, not just a technical tool. I better understood the subtlety required to transform simple extracted data into a warm, smooth, and elegant experience. I realized that innovation often emerges where two worlds seem opposed: here, pastry and AI.
What's next for ERP
The next steps are: – automate product storage in a proper database; – integrate a dashboard to manage orders; – add an intelligent recommendation system based on customer preferences; – transform the cart into a mini ERP system dedicated to culinary artisans.
The ultimate goal is to provide pastry chefs with a complete, simple, and powerful tool, allowing them to pursue their passion while embracing the digital future.
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