Over the course of my career, I have spent a large amount of my time working with manufacturers. Starting in Chicago, I worked a territory that predominately was composed of various manufacturers. From television picture tubes, steel beams, circuit boards, and even those popcorn tins that you buy at the you local chain stores at Christmas, I’ve worked with them all.

What I noticed over 14 years in that market segment is that regardless of the product being made, the internal processes were very similar. Orders came in, materials were ordered, product was made, and then shipped, and invoices were sent out and received. This resulted in a large amount of paperwork created, managed, stored, and retrieved for each customer or transaction. 

The labor hours entailed in these activities can be huge, and the information is often stored in multiple locations. There were the sales files, the accounting records, the shipping records, and various communications that might remain in an employee’s inbox.

The problem that all of these companies faced was getting to the information that they needed, in a timely manner, and using that information. Customer service often was slower than desired, and lost or incomplete. Additionally, production could be slowed because the most current or pertinent information was not readily available.

The reality is that companies are looking for ways to streamline these processes. However the thought of tackling an entire organization is daunting and perceived to be expensive. What we see most often is that starting in one department can be easier to swallow, and have tremendous benefits.

Most often we see Accounts Payable Departments being the earliest adopters of this technology. It pays for itself quickly, and sets the platform for expansion.