Problem Definition
SMB manufacturers still manage purchase orders via spreadsheets and messaging apps. Beyond 10 vendors, missed orders, pricing errors, and delivery delays become recurring issues, and staff turnover causes critical handoff failures.
Why Now
Vendor expansion causing 3-4 missed orders monthly. Estimated $5K monthly loss. Traditional ERP adoption is unrealistic due to cost ($300K+) and learning curve. A lightweight solution focused on the core ordering process is needed.
Market Context
Among ~120K domestic SMB manufacturers, less than 15% use a dedicated ordering system. 68% use spreadsheets, 12% manual records, 5% messaging apps — a clear market opportunity.