ARES Tool (NetSuite)

“One thing I really like about the SourceDay platform is that it’s really quick. All of a sudden, we had peace knowing where each PO stood and what needed action. With our suppliers now all using SourceDay, we have a better way of looking at things because we know where the pipeline is.”

Ian Hull

Supply Chain Manager

ARES is a family-owned hand-tool seller based in Seattle, WA. From wrenches and pry bars to sockets and screwdrivers, ARES offers specialty automotive tools built to last. The company takes pride in designing classic, strong, and functional tools that are tested and approved by professional mechanics and meant for DIYers and enthusiasts alike.

How the family-owned specialty automotive hand-tool seller increased on-time delivery by 70% and supplier engagement by 36% with SourceDay – gaining essential peace of mind and optimized PO management workflows in the process.

Regaining control of critical functions while scaling for growth

The ARES Tool team needed a solution that would help them regain control of inventory management, establish workflows that could scale with the company’s growth, enhance supplier communications, and deliver the real-time insights needed for improved business decisions. In evaluating various tools, the user experience of SourceDay’s platform proved simple and easy to use, which was particularly important for the ARES team. Additionally, finding a solution that ARES suppliers would adopt and regularly use, even if English wasn’t their native language, was crucial for increasing supplier communication and engagement.

Improved communications and greater visibility

Before

• Lack of PO status visibility once it was cut in the ERP, creating blind spots
• Manual PO tracking consumed majority of team’s time as the business scaled
• Inventory management challenges emerged due to growing process complexities and an expanded supplier base
• Low supplier engagement and acknowledgement rate due to rapid growth and lack of standardized onboarding

After

• A single PO management platform allowed for status visibility across the team on all open POs
• Automated PO tracking tracked all communications and activities, assuring no interactions were missed
• Improved inventory management from accurate ERP data and PO statuses reduced the risk of unnecessary costs
• 151% improved supplier acknowledgement rate from continual, automated engagement monitoring

“After a quick implementation, interaction with [our] suppliers was dramatically improved, achieving a 151% increase in supplier acknowledgment through automated workflows and a 36% increase in supplier engagement.”

Ian Hull

Supply Chain Manager

Meeting both buyer and supplier requirements

In evaluating various tools, the user experience of SourceDay’s platform proved simple and easy to use, which was particularly important for the ARES team. They were already stretched thin trying to update massive spreadsheets regularly and manage an increasing volume of POs and supplier emails. Additionally, finding a solution that ARES suppliers would adopt and regularly use, even if English wasn’t their native language, was crucial for increasing supplier communication and engagement. SourceDay met both the buyer and supplier requirements and delivered certainty that adopting a new software platform would drive increased efficiencies, not introduce new complexities.