diff --git a/addons/activeblue_ai/models/ab_ai_bot.py b/addons/activeblue_ai/models/ab_ai_bot.py
index ebef265..879ecdc 100644
--- a/addons/activeblue_ai/models/ab_ai_bot.py
+++ b/addons/activeblue_ai/models/ab_ai_bot.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class AbAiBot(models.Model):
         if session_id:
             payload['session_id'] = session_id
         try:
-            resp = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=self._build_headers(), timeout=120)
+            resp = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=self._build_headers(), timeout=600)
             resp.raise_for_status()
             return resp.json()
         except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class AbAiBot(models.Model):
 
         try:
             resp = requests.post(url, data=form_data, files=files or [('files', ('empty', b'', 'text/plain'))],
-                                 headers=headers, timeout=120)
+                                 headers=headers, timeout=600)
             resp.raise_for_status()
             return resp.json()
         except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
diff --git a/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py b/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
index d106acc..07f6931 100644
--- a/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
+++ b/agent_service/agents/expenses_agent.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
+import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 from datetime import date as _date
@@ -133,12 +134,25 @@ class ExpensesAgent(BaseAgent):
                 seen_hashes.add(h)
             unique_receipts.append(r)
 
-        for receipt in unique_receipts:
-            parsed = await self._parse_receipt_text(
-                receipt.get('text', ''), receipt.get('filename', 'receipt'),
+        # Parse all receipts concurrently (bounded by Ollama semaphore)
+        parse_tasks = [
+            self._parse_receipt_text(
+                r.get('text', ''), r.get('filename', 'receipt'),
                 expense_products=expense_products,
-                date_hint=receipt.get('date_from_name'),
+                date_hint=r.get('date_from_name'),
             )
+            for r in unique_receipts
+        ]
+        parsed_list = await asyncio.gather(*parse_tasks, return_exceptions=True)
+
+        for receipt, parsed in zip(unique_receipts, parsed_list):
+            if isinstance(parsed, Exception):
+                logger.warning('expenses_agent: parse failed for %s: %s',
+                               receipt.get('filename'), parsed)
+                parsed = {'vendor': receipt.get('filename', 'Expense'), 'amount': 0.0,
+                          'date': receipt.get('date_from_name') or _date.today().isoformat(),
+                          'product_name': ''}
+
             # Pick product by name match returned from LLM, fall back to default
             product_id = default_product_id
             chosen_name = parsed.get('product_name', '')
diff --git a/agent_service/routers/upload.py b/agent_service/routers/upload.py
index d5300b2..5c22090 100644
--- a/agent_service/routers/upload.py
+++ b/agent_service/routers/upload.py
@@ -31,12 +31,18 @@ async def upload(
         raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
                             detail='Agent service not ready')
 
+    import asyncio
+    from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
+    _ocr_executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=2)
+
     receipts: list[dict] = []
+    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
     for f in files:
         data = await f.read()
         filename = f.filename or 'receipt'
         try:
-            parsed = parse_upload(filename, data)
+            # parse_upload may run OCR (CPU-bound) — offload to thread pool
+            parsed = await loop.run_in_executor(_ocr_executor, parse_upload, filename, data)
             receipts.extend(parsed)
             logger.info('upload: parsed %s → %d receipt(s)', filename, len(parsed))
         except Exception as exc: