Straight answers about how Manual.to turns video into multilingual work instructions, how it fits your systems, and what teams get out of it.
What is Manual.to?
Manual.to is a visual work instruction platform built by Binders Media, a software company based in Ghent, Belgium. Teams film a task on a phone, and AI turns the video into a step-by-step visual guide in about 60 seconds, translated into more than 100 languages and shared by QR code or link so anyone can follow the right procedure on any device. It is the upstream layer that captures operational know-how before it disappears, then feeds it into your ERP, MES, training and analytics systems.
How do I turn paper procedures or existing SOPs into digital work instructions?
You do not retype anything. Record the task once on a phone, tablet, smart glasses, body cam or existing CCTV footage, and AI structures it into steps with short clips and text. Existing photos and videos can be imported, so legacy procedures become living digital instructions instead of static documents nobody reads.
Can someone build a work instruction without technical skills?
Yes. Creating an instruction is as simple as recording a short video or taking photos, then adding step descriptions. There is no scripting, editing or special software to learn, and reading an instruction needs no training at all since operators just scan a QR code or tap a link.
How does Manual.to create work instructions so fast?
Manual.to removes manual writing and editing by capturing work as it happens. An employee records a task, AI converts the footage into a structured guide with clips and text translated into multiple languages, then routes it to an approver. A finished instruction takes roughly the same time as performing the task once.
How can I create and maintain SOPs that comply with ISO or FDA quality standards?
Every manual carries full version history, approval workflows, role-based access control and complete audit logging, so you can prove who created, approved, read and completed each procedure. This traceability supports ISO and FDA aligned quality processes, and instructions can be updated in minutes when a standard or a line changes.
Do operators need an app or an account to view instructions?
No. Manual.to is fully web based, so instructions open on any phone, tablet or desktop with no app install. A shared link or QR code at the workstation gives instant access, and viewing a shared instruction needs no account.
Does Manual.to support multiple languages?
Yes. Instructions are translated automatically and each reader sees the content in their own language, with text-to-speech available. More than 100 languages are supported, which is why multilingual and multi-site teams adopt it quickly.
Does Manual.to integrate with ERP, MES, IoT or training systems?
Yes. Manual.to connects through APIs to ERP, MES, IoT and competence management systems including SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, 24Flow, AG5 and SuccessFactors. For example when an MES detects a machine error it can surface the exact SOP to fix it, and usage data can be exported to Power BI or similar dashboards.
Is my data secure and is Manual.to GDPR compliant?
Yes. Content is fully isolated per organisation with encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access control and full audit logging. Manual.to is GDPR compliant, hosted on Azure in Amsterdam, and a Data Processing Agreement is available. AI processing is fire-and-forget, so your data is never stored or used to train models.
How do I know workers actually read and followed an instruction?
Manual.to tracks who read each instruction, for how long, whether they confirmed completion and whether checklists were filled in. Combined with full version history, this gives auditable proof of training and execution, and insights export via API to tools like Power BI, MES or competence management platforms.
How does Manual.to reduce errors and training time?
By giving every operator the exact procedure at the point of work, in their own language, Manual.to standardizes how tasks are done and cuts the guesswork that creates defects. Customers report measurable gains: Aperam recorded an 80% decrease in training time and Bekaert Deslee a 150% increase in training standardization, with knock-on improvements in OEE, downtime and onboarding speed.
Who is Manual.to for?
Manual.to is built for companies whose work depends on task-specific know-how, especially where there is high turnover, seasonal staffing or frequent role switching. It is widely used in manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals, food and materials for maintenance, onboarding, health and safety, quality control and knowledge retention.
What happens to my content if I stop using Manual.to?
You are never locked in. You can export all content, including instructions in PDF and XML with their videos, and the reader environment stays open so teams keep viewing existing instructions even if editing stops. Your knowledge stays with you.
How is Manual.to different from other work instruction or SOP tools?
Most tools expect you to write procedures by hand. Manual.to captures them in real time from video, translates them automatically and delivers them through your own branded platform, which is why adoption on the shop floor is high. It sits upstream as the knowledge capture layer and integrates with your ERP, MES and training systems rather than replacing them, and all content stays exportable.
How fast can we get started with Manual.to?
Most teams are live within days. A short onboarding session gets your champions up to speed, operators start capturing and reading instructions immediately, and the first real content is usually published within the first week.
