End-to-End ERP Autonomy: From Inbox to Dispatch
By combining Generative AI for order extraction with robust logistics automation, Slender Morris has achieved a 'Zero-Touch' workflow. We automated the entire lifecycle—from reading PDF purchase orders to printing shipping labels.
Background
Slender Morris is a premier wholesale furnishings supplier based in Australia. As volume grew, the company faced bottlenecks at both ends of their operation: getting orders into the system, and getting shipments out.
We partnered with them to architect a complete Order-to-Cash Automation Ecosystem. By deploying two synchronized AI agents, we transformed their workflow from a manual, paper-heavy process into a high-speed digital operation.
The Double Bottleneck: Inbound Entry & Outbound Logistics
The company was trapped in a cycle of manual data entry. Skilled staff spent hours decoding PDF purchase orders, while the warehouse team struggled with manual freight bookings. These manual touchpoints created distinct risks:
Unstructured Data Traps
Customer purchase orders arrived as PDFs via email in various layouts. Staff had to interpret "messy" data, often needing to guess which internal SKU matched a customer's vague description (e.g., "Custom Fabric").
The "Fat Finger" Factor
Inbox Latency
Fulfillment Bottlenecks
Unstructured Data Traps
Customer purchase orders arrived as PDFs via email in various layouts. Staff had to interpret "messy" data, often needing to guess which internal SKU matched a customer's vague description (e.g., "Custom Fabric").
The "Fat Finger" Factor
Retyping order details from PDFs into CIN7, and then from CIN7 into Machship, created two points of failure. Typos in addresses or SKUs led to costly returns and incorrect inventory allocation.
Inbox Latency
Orders received overnight or on weekends sat in email inboxes until the next shift. This delay in processing meant inventory wasn't allocated in real-time, leading to potential stock-outs.
Fulfillment Bottlenecks
Even after orders were entered, the physical act of booking freight and printing labels was manual. As volume surged, the warehouse couldn't print labels fast enough to keep up with picking.
The Solution: An End-to-End Autonomous Pipeline
We deployed a dual-agent architecture. Agent A handles cognitive tasks (reading and reasoning), while Agent B handles logistical execution (booking and printing).
Phase 1: Intelligent Order Ingestion (GenAI)
Using OpenAI's Large Language Models (LLMs), this agent acts as a 24/7 digital data entry clerk.
- Cognitive PDF Extraction: The agent monitors emails, extracts PDF invoices, and "reads" them like a human—understanding context, distinct billing/shipping addresses, and line-item notes without rigid templates.
- Semantic Product Mapping: Customers rarely use exact SKU codes. The AI uses fuzzy logic to translate descriptions like "Custom Fabric (Milan - Marble)" into the correct internal CIN7 SKU, handling variations in spelling automatically.
- Direct ERP Injection: Validated orders are pushed directly into CIN7 Core as Draft Sales Orders, populated with correct pricing, tax rules, and customer details, ready for approval.
Phase 2: Automated Logistics & Fulfillment
Once orders are approved, the second agent takes over to manage the physical logistics without human intervention.
- Machship Integration: The moment an order is "Ready to Pick," the agent pushes dimensions and weights to Machship to book the freight automatically.
- Hardware Orchestration: The agent routes PDF labels and picking slips directly to specific physical printers in the warehouse.
- Write-Back Synchronization: Tracking numbers and carrier details are scraped from Machship and written back into CIN7, triggering the customer notification email.
"We have moved from a manual, paper-based business to a digital-first operation. The AI doesn't just save time; it understands our products. It reads 'Velvet Blue' on a PDF and knows exactly which SKU to pick. It's transformed our scalability."
The Outcome: Operational Velocity
90% Faster Order Entry
The Generative AI agent processes complex PDF orders in seconds rather than minutes. What used to take a human team hours every morning is now completed before they even arrive at the office.
$150k+ Annual Impact
By automating both the administrative data entry and the logistics coordination, the system recovers hundreds of hours of labor monthly, equivalent to significant full-time headcount savings.
Semantic SKU Accuracy
The AI uses fuzzy matching to map customer descriptions to internal codes with near-perfect accuracy, virtually eliminating "wrong item sent" returns caused by data entry errors.
24/7 "Always On" Processing
The system monitors emails and processes orders continuously. Monday mornings no longer start with a backlog; the warehouse team walks in to find all orders already entered, printed, and ready to pick.
Single Source of Truth
CIN7 Core is now automatically updated by both agents. Sales teams see the order immediately, and operations teams see the tracking number instantly, without anyone touching a keyboard.