Case Study
Applied Equipment Solutions replaced checks that took 7 to 10 days to arrive with Dill’s online payment portal, which connects to its Infor CloudSuite Distribution ERP.
The Challenge
Applied Equipment Solutions (AES), an HVAC distributor serving the commercial market on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, wanted to improve the customer experience and set itself apart from competitors. Mailed checks stood in the way. Even over short distances, checks took 7 to 10 days to arrive.
New customers had also started asking whether they could pay online.
“It’s terrible if a check goes from Delaware to Maryland, it’s a week. Sometimes 10 days,” says Kris Leffew, Vice President of AES.
The Solution
AES adopted Dill’s payment portal and payment reminders, connected to its Infor CloudSuite Distribution ERP. Customers can view what they owe and pay online instead of mailing a check.
The Results
Replaced checks that took 7 to 10 days to arrive with online payments by ACH
Moved customers who use the portal from checks to ACH, with payments coming in two to three times a week
Cut down on lost checks
Ended the wait for paper checks to arrive
Streamlined AR workflows and reduced manual data entry
Sped up invoice processing and approvals
Went live in 2 to 4 weeks
"Since going live, we've streamlined several [AR] workflows, reduced manual data entry, and improved the speed of invoice processing and approvals... Overall, [Dill] has delivered meaningful time savings for our team and customers."
Kris Leffew
Vice President Applied Equipment Solutions
Payments No Longer Wait on the Mail
A check mailed between Delaware and Maryland can take a week or more, and checks can get lost along the way. With the portal, customers pay online and AES no longer waits on the mail. “That is definitely a benefit, not having to wait for a paper check to come,” says Kris Leffew.
Customers Pay Without Hunting for a Check
Before the portal, a customer’s check could sit in a vehicle for days or get forgotten. Dale Wagner, Accounting Manager at AES, says paying through the portal removes that step.
Customers who use the portal now pay by ACH instead of by check, and payments arrive two to three times a week.
Less Manual AR Work
Since going live, AES has streamlined several AR workflows, reduced manual data entry, and sped up invoice processing and approvals. Kris Leffew says the change has saved time for both the AES team and its customers.
A More Current Experience for Customers
Online payment also changed how AES looks to its customers, and to new customers in particular. “It looks like we’re up to the new millennium,” says Dale Wagner.
Connected to Infor CloudSuite Distribution
The portal connects to Infor CloudSuite Distribution, the ERP AES runs on, and AES also uses Dill’s payment reminders. The implementation took 2 to 4 weeks. “The implementation process went very smoothly, and [the Dill] team was hands-on, responsive and helpful throughout,” says Kris Leffew.
Applied Equipment Solutions is an HVAC distributor serving the commercial market on Maryland's Eastern Shore since 2015, and a member of BLUE HAWK.
Firm Type
HVAC Distributor
Primary Industry
HVAC
ERP
Infor CloudSuite Distribution
Location
Salisbury, MD
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