Feature
Inbox Scanning
Stop hunting for invoices across long email threads. Connect your inboxes, scan a specific period, and get a clean list of what's in—and what's missing.
- Scan any period — last month, last quarter, or a custom range when onboarding a new client.
- Everyone sees the same statuses — no guesswork, no duplicated effort across the team.
- Reply chains and forwards included — if an invoice is buried three messages deep, it still gets found.
Tip: if you're onboarding, scan the last 30–60 days first. It's the fastest way to catch gaps.
Gmail 
Outlook 5 invoices found · January 2026
Where invoices actually get lost
It's rarely "no invoice exists". It's usually "the invoice is somewhere." Inbox scanning is built for that reality.
Someone forwarded an email, then replied, then attached a PDF three messages later. It's there—just hard to find.
Vendors resend the same invoice "just in case". A teammate forwards it again. Now you have duplicates and no clear record.
The email says "attached", but there's nothing there—or the file is a link that expired before anyone downloaded it.
Some invoices arrive as "download from portal" messages. Without a scan, these fall through to month-end as surprises.
From connected inbox to clean backlog
A quick flow you can run any time you're missing documents—especially before reconciliation.
Connect your inbox
Link Gmail or Outlook so invoices can be discovered where they already arrive—no forwarding rules to set up.
Pick a scan period
Use "last month" for a quick catch‑up or choose a custom date range when onboarding. You're not limited to recent mail.
Review what was found
Clerko surfaces a clear status list. Found, processing, needs review—so you focus only on what needs your attention.
Run it whenever you need
Scan mid-month, before closing, or after a client says "I sent it last week." When it's time to close, you're not starting from scratch.
Inbox scanning FAQ
How far back can I scan?
You can scan a custom date range. Most teams start with the last 30–60 days to catch gaps fast.
What attachments are supported?
PDFs and common image formats (like photos of receipts). If something looks like an invoice, it gets flagged for processing.
What about duplicates?
Vendors often resend invoices. Clerko is designed to flag likely duplicates so you can confirm before processing.
Does scanning use credits?
Credits are used for invoice processing. Inbox scanning helps you find invoices to process and keeps your backlog clean.
How fast will I see results?
For most inboxes, you'll see new items quickly. For larger backfills, start with a smaller date range and expand.
What happens after invoices are found?
Found invoices move into processing so key fields can be extracted. You'll see statuses and can review exceptions.
Want to try inbox scanning on your own data?
Sign up, connect a source, and run your first scan. If you want help choosing a scan period, email us.