Case Study
Distributor Saves About $100k, Reduces Errors With CLA Accounts Payable AI
Black & Co. saved approximately $100K and boosted efficiency by automating accounts payable with CLA AI, handling 2,000+ invoices monthly with fewer errors.
Organization
Black & Company, a six-location industrial supplies distributor.
Need
A digital and automated AP tool to replace its manual paper-based system.
Outcome
Installing the CLA Accounts Payable AI is estimated to save $100,000.
Understanding the situation
In business since 1920, Black & Company offers 500,000 industrial supply products over six locations in Illinois and Indiana. While much has changed over the company’s 105-year history, its accounts payable (AP) process was outdated, relying on employees to manually match printed paper invoices to receipts.
The company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system was also outdated — a DOS system installed in 1991. While they were installing a new ERP system, they had the option to automate some of its AP process, but officials found the options offered as part of its new system unhelpful.
Exploring the challenge
Company officials shared their frustrations with their consulting CFO, an outsourced employee from CLA. The consulting CFO connected Black & Company with CLA digital, which has significant experience with many automation tools, including AP automation.
The CLA digital team got on a call with Black & Company President and COO Tommy Black to demonstrate CLA Accounts Payable AI. CLA ran three Black & Company invoices through the tool, which read them with 98% accuracy.
Black & Company was sold — the tool was exactly what the company had been looking to automate its AP process. It hired CLA digital to install CLA Accounts Payable AI, connect it with its new ERP system, and train its finance team on the new tool.
Achieving results
CLA Accounts Payable AI has been handling more than 2,000 invoices monthly for Black & Company. Significant time has been saved and the number of errors has been reduced.
The company has been able to centralize its AP operations, saving headaches and money in not needing hard-to-fill AP clerk positions. Existing accounting employees have been reassigned to more interesting work, and the company no longer must print and file thousands of invoices each month.
Tommy Black estimates the new tool will save the company $100,000. Black & Company plans to work with CLA digital on centralizing and automating its accounts receivables, as well.
Installing CLA Accounts Payable AI has saved us significant time and money, and made our AP process much smoother and more accurate. Our AP employees are now able to do higher-level work instead of manual invoice checking and filing.
