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Officers in the field may often face delays and distractions when trying to gather even the most routine information. Typing license details into an MDT, radioing dispatch for a routine check, or handwriting notes can pull their attention away from the scene and slow response times. These workflows can also create inconsistencies that ripple downstream into reporting and investigations. Smart Capture, now available in the Axon app for iOS as part of the Axon AI Era Plan, with Android support coming next year, addresses these challenges with a simple, powerful solution.
A single scan of a U.S. or Canadian driver’s license instantly extracts structured data that officers can use in the moment and carry forward into reports. As Dan Hecht, Senior Product Manager at Axon, explains: “We wanted to give officers something they could rely on in the moment — a simple action that unlocks multiple downstream benefits without slowing them down.”
Start with a single scan
Many officer interactions include information gathering, but handwritten notes and manual data entry can slow things down. As Dan Hecht explains: “Typing or writing down a license number may not take long in the moment, but multiplied across a shift it adds up to lost time. A scan with Smart Capture simplifies that moment.” With a single scan, officers gain instant, structured information they can act on right away. This reduces friction, accelerates decision-making, and keeps their focus on the situation in front of them.
Driver’s license scanning: replace typing or handwriting with a scan that takes seconds. Officers capture structured details instantly and keep their attention on the person or scene in front of them.
Automatic uploads: every scan is securely stored in Axon Evidence, never on the mobile device. This preserves a verifiable record and gives agencies confidence that information will not be lost or mishandled.
One-click copy: instead of retyping the same data into multiple systems, officers can paste license fields directly into third-party apps. This reduces duplication, minimizes errors, and speeds up routine checks.
Transcript keyword search: with a single click, officers can check whether a scanned individual has been mentioned in past Axon Evidence transcripts. This surfaces repeat contacts quickly and helps officers make informed decisions in the field.
Unlock more with ecosystem connections
Every officer benefits from using Smart Capture in the field, but its value grows when paired with other Axon products. As Dan Hecht explains: “We are building Smart Capture so it multiplies as part of the ecosystem. Each scan becomes a building block for reports, searches, and investigations.” In practice, that means the more connected your agency is within the Axon ecosystem, the more powerful each scan becomes.
With Axon Records: instantly search the Master Name Index directly from a scan within the Axon app, giving officers faster context on repeat contacts in the field.
With Axon NCIC: query scanned identities against the NCIC database from the Axon app, returning warrants, wants, or missing person information in seconds.
With Axon Records and Axon Standards: automatically populate reports with scanned license data on mobile or desktop, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.
With Axon Fleet (coming soon): view Smart Capture scans directly in the Fleet dashboard, with one-click copy to search information in third-party apps.
Built for trust and security
Faster access to information only works if agencies can trust that data is protected and used responsibly. Smart Capture was designed with both security and accountability at the forefront using our Responsible Innovation Framework. Every scan stays secure within Axon Evidence, and officers remain in control of how information is acted on in the field.
Data security: Smart Capture data and images are stored securely in an agency’s Axon Evidence government cloud to meet the highest standards of data security and CJIS compliance. Every action is audit-logged, access is permission-based, and the data extracted follows agency evidence retention policies.
Human in the loop: Smart Capture automatically extracts structured data, but officers must apply context and judgment before acting on it, keeping people at the center of every decision. As Dan Hecht emphasizes: “Officers are always in control. Smart Capture surfaces data quickly, but humans make the decisions to act on those insights.”
Continuous evolution with the AI Era Plan
Smart Capture is only at the beginning of its journey. Today it joins the Axon AI Era Plan to streamline license scans, but the roadmap goes much further. Future enhancements will extend Smart Capture to license plate scanning and beyond, giving officers more ways to capture and use structured data in the field. And it will not stop there. As Dan Hecht adds: “Smart Capture will not stand still. As part of the AI Era Plan, it is going to keep expanding in ways that give officers faster insights and agencies cleaner records.”
For Axon AI Era Plan customers, click here to start using Smart Capture today. Interested in learning more about the Axon AI Era Plan and its solutions like Smart Capture? Explore the Axon AI Era Plan today.