Replace reconstructive
email orders — gradually.
You do not need to shut off email overnight. Start with accounts that submit repeat MRO lists and give them a portal that sends SKUs, quantities, and PO references together.
Example workflowExampleMeasure the work around email orders first
Before changing channels, note how long it takes to interpret a typical repeat order: identify SKUs, confirm account price, clarify pack size, enter lines. That baseline helps you decide whether portal ordering addresses the real bottleneck.
Pilot one industrial account with a familiar list
Choose a buyer whose monthly order is predictable. Configure their assortment, verify pricing, and walk through one complete submission together. Fix catalog gaps before inviting the next account.
Keep exceptions on existing channels during rollout
Engineered lists, emergency substitutions, and non-catalog items can stay with your sales desk while routine MRO moves online. Mixed channels are normal during adoption.
What SupplyDesk includes on public plans
- Private branded buyer portals with assigned catalogs
- Customer-specific pricing on every plan; tier pricing on Growth and Enterprise
- Structured orders with PO references and order status
- QuickBooks open invoice on confirm — Growth and Enterprise only
- Plans from US$79/month before applicable taxes; buyer access free
What we do not claim
- Real-time inventory or multi-warehouse availability displays
- Automated fulfillment, payment processing, or EDI intake
- QuickBooks sales orders (workflow creates open invoices)
- Replacement of supplier review or application engineering
Questions about order intake
Will SupplyDesk parse our inbound emails?
No. Buyers place orders through the portal. Email parsing is not described as a product capability.
Can we keep taking phone orders?
Yes. Many distributors run portal and phone channels in parallel during rollout.
Does the portal eliminate order desk headcount?
Your team still reviews orders. The goal is less reconstruction work on routine lines, not removing human oversight.
Request a workflow review
Walk through your catalog sample, buyer count, and ordering process with the SupplyDesk team. Mention Order intake in your request.
See SupplyDesk with your catalog
Bring one typical industrial or welding order to a personal demo. No automatic enrollment.