Fastener and industrial supply distributor Packer Fastener said Wednesday that it has developed a new system for automated quoting and ordering that is expected to save the company about 40 hours each month.
The company joined the TitletownTech and Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab in its native Green Bay, Wisconsin, where it partnered with technical experts to build the AI-powered software.
Packer officials expect the tool to automate up to three-quarters of quote transactions, which will lead to faster response times and streamlined internal processes. It will also reduce duplicate inventory, shorten employee onboarding timetables and, eventually, improve the reliability of system-generated recommendations. Company officials added that the software will be able to scale “seamlessly” as the distributor grows.
Packer, officials said, views the project as the first step of “an ongoing roadmap to integrate AI across the company.” The company expects to debut the tool before the end of the year.
“Working with TitletownTech and participating in the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab is a unique and exciting opportunity for us to explore AI in a meaningful way,” Bill Feck, Packer’s IT director, said in the statement.
