Issue link: https://mastery.commandalkon.com/i/1440159
commandalkon.com | 36 Manual processes are too complicated to continue as ready mix and asphalt producers struggle to remain agile in an environment that demands it. Producers spend big money on technology for their outbound processes, yet they continue managing inbound processes with stacks of paper tickets, spreadsheets, and phone calls. Lauren Concrete is a leading provider of ready mix concrete in Austin, Texas. They have a large footprint with 23 plants spanning from Mason all the way to Waller. Their main market is in central Texas and Austin. Lauren Concrete covers many different projects, ranging from residential to commercial pours. One of their major pain points is dealing with paper in their business processes involving their materials suppliers, as well as improving invoicing and payables processes. Their ultimate goal is to completely digitize their paper transactions for their Austin, Texas market. Traditional paper processes deliver virtually zero visibility into the arrival time and order information of inbound deliveries. Having no insight into delivery status wreaks havoc if materials arrive at the plant and do not meet project specifications, or if they are running late and can potentially affect the producer"s ability to provide exceptional service to their customers. "We work within our four walls, our suppliers are over here and our customers over there, and yet we do not collaborate - except with tickets that we pass through by humans," said Ryan Bartholomew, CEO at Lauren Concrete. "I think our company generates probably close to a million or more paper tickets a year, either incoming or outgoing, and for years we have passed these tickets along manually through dozens of touchpoints."Right now, Lauren Concrete is utilizing Inbound Materials, powered by the CONNEX Platform. This solution enables them to focus on their inbound operations as much as their outbound operations and to eliminate tedious paperwork that comes in from their materials suppliers and haulers. CONNEX Inbound Materials takes the information found on paper tickets and digitizes it to automatically update inventory and reconcile material and haul tickets with invoices. Now, Lauren Concrete can ensure that they have enough materials to meet demand, improve their AP processes, and know that they are only paying for what they receive. Keep Inventory and Costs Under Control Successfully managing the inbound processes requires full visibility into shipment arrivals and inbound schedules. Trading partners benefit from knowing which truck is arriving, the exact time of the delivery, and what manpower is needed, if any, to help unload the truck. Sharing this information in real-time ensures that everyone that needs the information has it and can perform the work needed. When the coronavirus pandemic first started, the ability to handle paper in construction operations came to a screeching