IDEA, Epicor, & Leviton:
How a strong partnership helped transform complicated EDI data into actionable information, exceeding customer expectations and driving results. 

Employee Autonomy Drives Efficiency

It took about six months to migrate the data and train the staff on EDI IX, and the difference was apparent immediately. 

Leviton’s employees were able to research and resolve claim issues by themselves using the archive, rather than having to wait or ask for assistance to view the purchase history of each client. Employees found the search tool easy to use, as they were even able to search based on a resource number. By empowering employees to take on these tasks immediately, rather than constantly having to call IT for assistance, the company not only streamlined processes, but made the most of its existing people resources while simultaneously helping customers faster.

“There are three things that we always discuss when it comes to getting things done: time, money and resources,” Pego explains. “And they all kind of go together in some way. And so for me, being able to have different areas within the company be self-sufficient and able to pull information that they need to be able to do their jobs, to satisfy the customer faster, that's a big deal--to have a tool that allows us to grab that information on our own. For me, it's huge because it helps with productivity. In some ways it helps with costs, just from a time standpoint.” 

EDI IX has been so successful for Leviton that the company is hoping to expand its use going forward, implementing it on the sourcing side along with its current place in sales. Pego acknowledges that although some elements will be new (the information will display differently than an actual invoice), “it will still be readable, still have the customer’s name, the part numbers, the prices, everything they need to approve it and not have a bottleneck where they need to say, ‘where is this, somebody needs to show me.’” 

Pego advises other companies on the fence about upgrading their EDI system to look at the big picture, rather than just focusing on the initial investment. “You might look like a hero saving $10,000. But you're not going to look like a hero when you're not delivering purchase orders into your system and through your supply chain.”  He adds that Leviton has also really appreciated the reliability of the new system. For his employees and for Leviton as whole, the ability to empower people to do more, do better, and do it efficiently has positioned them well for the future. One of IX’s strengths is its flexibility, making it adaptable to any ERP solutions that a business has in place.

“I have to think that I'm not the only one from a manufacturer standpoint, even from a distributor standpoint that has finite IT resources, and this isn't the type of thing you want them looking for. If you have the tools to be able to do it on your own, which we now do, you use it and you run with it,” he adds.

The way that Epicor, IDEA Exchange, and Leviton worked together to solve problems, improve results, and boost profits underscores the importance of collaborative, experienced support at every stage of the supply chain. 

“The greatest asset of our partnership with Epicor is their ability to turn things around very quickly.” - Chris Pego, Senior Manager, eCommerce │ Leviton