WZ-IT runs Paperless AI as a dedicated instance in German data centres, with updates, daily backups, 24/7 monitoring and a personal contact. On request, we also install Paperless AI in your cloud or on premises.
Paperless AI is an AI-powered extension for Paperless-NGX that enables automatic document classification, intelligent tagging, and semantic search using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
With local or external model providers, Paperless AI can add classification suggestions and semantic queries. Data flows, model choice and business approvals are defined for the document corpus.
Analyses new documents and suggests titles, tags, document types and correspondents. Review and approval steps are used for sensitive collections.
Multi-AI Model Support
Supports Ollama (Mistral, Llama, Phi-4, Gemma-2), OpenAI, DeepSeek, Azure OpenAI, Perplexity, Together.ai, LiteLLM, VLLM, Gemini and more.
RAG-Based Search
Retrieval-augmented generation can provide suitable document passages for semantic queries. Quality depends on OCR, indexing, retrieval and the model.
AI Document Chat
Ask questions in natural language: 'When did I sign my rental agreement?' or 'Which documents mention my health insurance?'
Intelligent Tagging
AI-assisted suggestions for tags, correspondents and document types based on extracted content.
Semantic Search
Search by meaning, not just keywords. Finds relevant documents even without exact matches.
Manual Processing
Web interface for manual AI-assisted document analysis. Useful for sensitive documents requiring individual review.
Tag Rules & Filters
Define rules for automatic processing. Disable prompts and apply tags automatically.
Privacy-First
Self-hosted with Ollama integration - your documents stay on your server. Or use OpenAI-compatible APIs according to your privacy requirements.
Infrastructure, integration and operations
Paperless AI as part of your infrastructure
We do more than provide an application. WZ-IT designs the technical architecture, integrates network and identity, operates the agreed scope and develops integrations when the standard product is not enough.
Architecture and migration
Sizing, target environment, data transfer, cutover and recovery are resolved before production operations.
On-Premise
In your data center: Installation on bare-metal, VM or Docker · Integration with existing Active Directory/LDAP
Cloud Installation
AWS, Azure, Hetzner & more: Installation on AWS, Azure, GCP, Hetzner · Terraform/IaC setup (optional) · Kubernetes or Docker Compose · Capacity and scaling design
Enterprise Setup
Advanced architecture after technical and licence assessment: HA and recovery design where supported by the application and edition · Logging according to feature set and edition · Custom security policies
Network and identity
SSO, secure access, internal systems and existing security components are integrated appropriately.
VPN Access
WireGuard, NetBird, Tailscale, Headscale, OpenVPN, Cloudflare Tunnel · Easy client setup for all devices
SSO Integration
Directly or through an upstream identity layer
Multi-Factor Auth
Depends on application, edition and identity provider
Firewall & Hardening
Fail2Ban, Rate Limiting, IP Whitelisting
Monitoring and service level
Updates, backups, technical monitoring and response paths follow a transparent operational scope.
24/7 proactive monitoring
Updates and patches
Regular updates, CVE monitoring and prioritised patches for critical vulnerabilities
Daily backup with 7-day retention
Personal technical contact
Integration and development
APIs, automation and custom extensions can be delivered beyond basic deployment.
Paperless-ngx API
Via the Paperless API we control the entire workflow: Document ingest, tag assignment, metadata extraction.
Processing Hooks
Custom hooks for post-processing: After AI analysis, further actions can be triggered (archiving, notification).
LLM Prompt Engineering
We optimize LLM prompts for your document types: Invoices, contracts, correspondence - each type needs specific prompting.
Full-service installation with no hidden costs
What the Paperless AI setup includes
Complete installation & configuration
SSL certificate & reverse proxy setup
Backup strategy & disaster recovery
Performance optimization & tuning
Security hardening following OWASP
Monitoring & logging setup
Documentation & best practices
Administrator training (remote)
30 days email support included
Dedicated contact person
Optional integration: LDAP/AD, SSO, MFA
Update strategy & patch management setup
The exact scope depends on the application, edition, infrastructure and criticality. Vendor licences and non-standard components are quoted separately.
Use Cases
Using Paperless AI in your organisation
Automated Document Processing
AI automatically analyzes and classifies documents with tags, types and correspondents
Privacy-Compliant AI
On-premise AI with Ollama - your sensitive documents never leave your infrastructure
Multi-Model Setup
Combine different AI models for optimal results with different document types
Semantic Search
Find documents through natural questions instead of keywords: "When did I sign my rental agreement?"
RAG-Based Document Chat
Chat with your document archive and receive precise answers with source references
Large Document Volumes
Perfect for companies with high document volumes and complex classification requirements
Concrete Use Cases
Paperless AI Development & Integration
Paperless-AI extends Paperless-ngx with LLM capabilities. We develop custom pipelines for your specific document types.
Invoice Data Extraction
Problem
Incoming invoices must be manually transferred to accounting. Error-prone and time-consuming.
Solution
LLM extracts structured data (amount, VAT, supplier, IBAN) and pushes to DATEV/SAP.
Contract Clause Analysis
Problem
Lawyers must check every new contract for critical clauses. Not feasible at volume.
Solution
AI analysis automatically marking risk clauses (liability, notice periods, jurisdiction) and flagging for review.
Correspondence Routing
Problem
Incoming mail (scanned) must be manually assigned to the right department.
Solution
AI classifies letters by content and routes automatically: Complaints to support, applications to HR, invoices to finance.
Managed Hosting & Operations
How much does Paperless AI hosting cost?
Compute, applications, storage and response are shown separately. You can see what ongoing operations include and which requirements need a technical assessment.
Integrate Paperless AI into your infrastructure with clear controls
AI applications need controlled model access, knowledge sources, permissions and observability in addition to the user interface. We design these data flows as one coherent stack.
Users and connected applications
Teams, business applications and API clients use defined interfaces and endpoints.
Secure access
TLS, firewall rules, reverse proxies or private network paths are designed around the platform's exposure.
Identity and permissions
Local accounts, SSO, directories, service accounts and emergency access are connected through clear roles.
Paperless AI platform
Application logic, model access, roles and approved capabilities run in a controlled environment.
Models and compute
Local or external models, GPU/CPU resources, routing, limits and cost controls.
Knowledge and data
Documents, databases, vector search and traceable data paths for RAG and search.
Tools and observability
Reviewed tools, APIs, logging, metrics and technical quality controls.
Models, extensions and data sources are not enabled indiscriminately. Permissions, data exposure, cost and professional oversight are assessed per use case.
Role in the overall system
Related services for Paperless AI
This page covers installation and the agreed platform operations for Paperless AI. Custom code, the access layer and special confidentiality requirements remain clearly separated responsibilities that can be added when needed.
Paperless AI Hosting with WZ-IT starts at €99.90 net per month. It includes a dedicated size XS instance (2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 40 GB NVMe SSD), updates, daily backups with 7 days of retention, 24/7 monitoring, 5 TB of outbound traffic and a first response to critical incidents by the end of the next business day. Larger instances and higher service levels cost extra; the configurator shows the total price.
The entry level is a dedicated size XS instance with 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 40 GB NVMe SSD for €99.90; it suits lightweight applications as well as test and development environments. Size S with 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe SSD costs €129.90. We check which size Paperless AI needs in production before provisioning. Size M (4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe SSD) costs an extra €29.90 excl. VAT, L (8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe SSD) an extra €89.90 excl. VAT and XL (16 vCPU, 32 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe SSD) an extra €199.90 excl. VAT, each per month. Additional storage costs €4.99 excl. VAT per 50 GB and month.
No. WZ-IT does not limit the number of users. How many users can work smoothly at the same time depends on usage and the chosen instance size XS to XL.
Paperless AI Hosting can be cancelled monthly, with no minimum term and 30 days' notice to the end of the month.
Germany and Switzerland are available at the same prices, in both cases without US clouds. The data centres are ISO 27001 certified; in Germany we additionally operate with a German provider whose data centres are BSI C5 attested. The Section 203 Managed Cloud for professional-secrecy holders is available in Germany only.
We typically provide a production instance within a few business days after signing. For a trial, we set up a test instance, usually on the next business day; it runs free of charge for 7 days and without payment details.
Yes. One .de domain is included with every hosting plan. Alternatively, connect your own domain or subdomain with a CNAME record.
Paperless-AI is an open-source extension for Paperless-NGX. It adds AI-powered functions to document management: automatic document analysis, intelligent tagging, semantic search, and question/answer functionality based on your documents.
Including: automatic detection of new documents, AI analysis of content, automatic assignment of metadata (title, tags, document type, correspondent), semantic search, chat/Q&A function across documents, manual and automatic processing modes, and support for many AI backends (local or cloud).
Paperless-AI can connect OpenAI-compatible endpoints as well as local models, for example through Ollama. Which document content leaves the environment depends on the selected model, embedding and integration services.
Yes - Paperless-AI extends Paperless-NGX. Without a running Paperless-NGX installation, Paperless-AI will not work.
Typically via Docker or Docker-Compose: You clone the Paperless-AI repository, configure the URL and API token of your Paperless-NGX instance, select an AI backend, and start the container. Once the system is running, automatic analysis and chat functions are available.
Yes - both newly imported documents and existing documents can be analyzed by Paperless-AI and provided with metadata.
Yes - in addition to auto mode, there is a manual mode via a web interface where you can specifically select and review documents.
Significantly less time spent on tagging and classification, better consistency in metadata, faster and more precise search, easy retrievability, and a higher degree of automation - ideal for large document volumes.
Paperless-AI can be configured for a fully local setup, for example with Ollama. Whether documents and metadata leave the environment still depends on every selected model, embedding and integration service. We document these data flows and align operations with your privacy requirements.
Paperless-AI can run on your own infrastructure, for example alongside a local model server. To keep the data flow local, models, embeddings and other integrations must also be configured locally or under equivalent controls; legal compliance still depends on the concrete use case.
Yes - Paperless-AI provides a modern web user interface where you can configure settings, manually process documents, and use the AI chat.
Yes - Paperless-AI can also be installed on a Synology NAS (if Docker is supported) and thus works in many home or small business environments.
When using cloud models, document contents are sent to external providers at least temporarily - this can be privacy-relevant. Local models are more privacy-friendly but require sufficient hardware resources. Our AI Cube provides the necessary GPU power for local AI inference. A backup before the first AI analysis is also recommended.
For companies, organizations, or individuals with large document collections who want to automate their processes - e.g., archives, law firms, accounting, insurance companies, or anyone who regularly processes documents.
Yes - with semantic search and the chat/Q&A function, you can ask questions to the document archive ('When was our last invoice from company X?', 'Which contracts expire next year?' etc.) - not just simple keyword search.
Very flexible - you can set rules for which documents are automatically analyzed, define output tags, choose the AI model, and select manual or automatic processing.
Paperless-NGX itself supports PDFs, images, texts, and Office documents; Paperless-AI takes over their content and analyzes it - allowing intelligent management of various document types.
WZ-IT moved our studio infrastructure from decentralised individual devices to a central platform: every site is securely connected via VPN, new devices are onboarded automatically and an entire site is provisioned from a template, without manual steps on location. What impressed me most is the breadth and depth of their knowledge: Timo and Robin are not a typical IT provider who sets up a server and leaves. The two of them think their way into highly complex infrastructure and software topics, work through every requirement we put in front of them, and build networking, provisioning and operations so that everything fits together in the end. WZ-IT is an excellent partner for complex software, network and architecture projects.
Steve KirchnerManaging Director, nextGYM GmbHView project
International
Built in Germany's Ruhr Valley. Running worldwide.
WZ-IT designs, develops and operates infrastructure and software for clients in Germany and internationally. We deliver projects remotely and continue supporting them in ongoing operations after go-live.
