Executive Summary
Manual, fragmented order processes cost distributors both time and orders. Customers expect speed, accuracy, and proactive service, but too often reps are bogged down with re-entering data, juggling channels, and reacting instead of selling.
Order automation transforms the counter into a growth engine. By centralizing communication, eliminating errors, and surfacing insights, distributors can serve faster, sell proactively, and capture more orders.
Key Takeaways:
- Order Automation consolidates channels into one hub, speeding response times.
- Automation reduces errors, protecting trust and revenue.
- AI insights and integrations empower reps to sell proactively.
- Scaling best practices turns every rep into a top performer.
Introduction: Why Order Automation Matters Now
Margins are shrinking, customer expectations are higher, and competitors are moving faster than ever. Slow responses, misplaced faxes, and disconnected systems aren’t just frustrating; they’re costing orders.
Distributors who thrive will be the ones who rethink the counter not as a service desk, but as a proactive sales driver. Order automation makes that possible by equipping distributors with the speed, visibility, and tools to capture more orders and strengthen customer relationships.
Understanding the Challenge: The Hidden Costs of Manual Work
- 45% of tasks employees are paid to do can be automated with current technology.
- In the US, these activities represent about $2 trillion in annual wages.
- Manual data entry has a generally accepted error rate of 1%. Even a 1% error rate can negatively impact a low-margin, high-competition business.
The takeaway: inefficiency isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a direct drain on revenue and a competitive liability.
Solution Overview: How Order Automation Transforms the Counter
Tip 1: Accelerate Every Order with Automation
Customers reward speed. With order automation, distributors can:
- Enable auto-acknowledgments so no customer feels ignored.
- Provide instant quotes with AI-powered tools.
- Deliver real-time status updates from ERP integrations.
The result: Faster responses that capture more orders before competitors do.
Tip 2: Eliminate Errors and Protect Revenue
Errors erode trust. Automation fixes the root causes by:
- Syncing ERPs with customer communication systems.
- Logging every order, quote, and update in one record.
- Using structured workflows to enforce accuracy.
The result: Consistency, reliability, and fewer callbacks.
Tip 3: Drive Proactive Sales, Not Just Reactive Service
Reps shouldn’t wait by the phone. With automation, they can:
- Re-engage dormant accounts with targeted campaigns.
- Upsell and cross-sell by using purchase history.
- Recapture quotes with automated reminders.
The result: Every conversation becomes a sales opportunity.
Benefits and Expected Outcomes: The Business Case For Order Automation
By adopting order automation, distributors can expect:
- Reduced costs through streamlined operations
- Higher rep productivity by minimizing admin work
- Improved accuracy and visibility across customer interactions
- Stronger customer loyalty through faster, more consistent service
- A scalable foundation for future growth with AI and insights