Strategic AI integration: How Archion implemented the Transkribus API

Archion is a major digital portal for family history research, providing online access to more than 200,000 church books with more than 32 million images from more than 25 German archives. These records, which track centuries of baptisms, marriages, and funerals, are a key source for people researching their ancestors, giving them online access to vital information that was previously tucked away in physical books across hundreds of different locations.

The goal for the Archion team was to move beyond just showing digital images of pages and integrate AI text recognition directly into the Archion platform to assist users with deciphering challenging handwriting in the documents. From the outset, Archion planned to rely on proven specialised technology for this task rather than developing a handwriting recognition engine internally. As Kirchenbuchportal GmbH’s core mission is to provide access to digitised church records and an excellent research experience, using a specialised technology partner was the most effective way to add this functionality.

Key Facts

Organisation: Archion (Kirchenbuchportal GmbH)

Material: More than 200,000 books of German church records with over 32 million images from various centuries

Goal: To improve user experience by implementing AI text recognition into the platform

Project approach: Strategic integration of specialised AI text recognition technology through an API

Result: Used the Transkribus API to successfully implement AI text recognition onto the Archion platform, giving users an improved reading experience and speeding up their research work

Archion provides online access to thousands of church records from across Germany. © Kirchenbuchportal GmbH

Challenge: When handwriting becomes a roadblock to research

While Archion gives users access to thousands of records, one of the biggest challenges for many researchers is actually reading what is on the page. Most of these historical entries were handwritten in old German scripts, especially Kurrent. For users without the right paleographical knowledge, these styles can be almost impossible to decipher, creating a big barrier for beginners and making research very slow, even for those with more experience.

Handwriting recognition is a specialised technological field with dedicated providers continually training and refining models. For Archion, the key task was to integrate reliable recognition technology seamlessly into the existing platform, so that users could access practical support for reading historical records directly within their research workflow.

Reading documents such as this marriage record from 1901 can be tricky for those without the right paleographical skills. © Kirchenbuchportal GmbH

Solution: Implementing the Transkribus API

Archion made the strategic decision to integrate text recognition through the Transkribus API. This allowed the team to connect the platform with specialised AI services while retaining focus on its own core responsibilities: access, presentation, usability, and the overall research workflow. By using an API, Archion could give users access to high-quality text recognition within the Archion viewer through a focused, purpose-built integration.

“Our aim was to bring reliable handwriting recognition directly into the Archion research workflow, giving users practical support exactly where they need it.”- Judith Sutter, CEO, Kirchenbuchportal GmbH

The Transkribus API acts as a bridge between Archion and Transkribus. When a user asks for a transcription, the image is sent to Transkribus via the API. The AI reads the page and sends the text back to the Archion viewer in just a few minutes. This text can then be utilised by users to help decipher the trickier elements of the handwriting on the page, improving their reading experience and making their research more efficient.

The Transkribus API makes it possible to integrate Transkribus text recognition technology into other platforms and software. © Transkribus

Benefits: Better access, focused integration, and up-to-date technology

Using the Transkribus API gave Archion three main advantages:

• Advanced technology through focused integration: By using the Transkribus API, Archion was able to bring specialised AI text recognition directly into its platform, enhancing the viewer with practical reading support that fits naturally into the research workflow.
• A better experience for users: The integration gives researchers immediate help when they get stuck on a difficult word or name.
• Always up to date: AI technology changes fast. Because the recognition technology is integrated via API, Archion’s users benefit from ongoing improvements to Transkribus models.
  
  

Archion uses the Transkribus API to generate automatic transcriptions, which are then displayed as a text overlay directly on top of the document image. © Kirchenbuchportal GmbH

Conclusion: Making history more accessible

By using the Transkribus API, Archion successfully integrated specialised AI text recognition into its platform, making historical church records easier for everyone to read. This project shows how archives, libraries, and specialist portals can offer advanced digital tools through smart technical partnerships. It allowed Archion to focus on what it does best while giving users a state-of-the-art way to explore their family history.

Wondering how this would work with your online archive?

Every archive is unique. Book a short 15-minute chat with our advisors to see a demo of our API in action and get a custom estimate for your project.