Chaos to Clarity: How Direct Commerce Empowered a Lockheed Supplier

Direct Commerce's innovative platform was gamechanging for Nationwide Consulting

When a small business works with global enterprises, visibility isn't a nice-to-have. It's vital. 

Robert Hanson knows this fact intimately. He also knows a thing or two about Accounts Payable – he's been working with clients (and their AP systems) since the 1990s. 

He also knows how damaging inefficiencies in the AP process can be – as every supplier inquiry, back and forth with a buyer, and delayed payments can cost time, effort, and resources. Not to mention, it creates headaches. 

Hanson's company, Nationwide Consulting, has partnered with Lockheed Martin – a Direct Commerce customer – since 1998. Lockheed Martin, one of the largest defense manufacturers in the world, manages tens of thousands of suppliers throughout its supply chain. 

"We do business all over the world," says Hanson. "So being able to accept a PO from anywhere in the world – and send an invoice from anywhere in the world – is critical for us."

That system hasn't always been seamless, however. 

From Fax Machines to 360-Degree Visibility

Before Direct Commerce started working with Lockheed, Hanson says it was difficult to understand the process and the status of your invoice. The entire workflow – from submission to payment – could feel like a black box with little visibility. 

"We had to fax our POs or scan them in," he says. "There was no visibility into anything…we had no idea if they received our invoice. We had no idea when we were going to get paid."

That resulted in his company having to fly blind, unable to plan ahead or forecast accurately. He did not know when he could expect critical payments that could help him better manage his business and working capital.

That all changed once Direct Commerce started working with Lockheed more than a decade ago. Suddenly, there was unprecedented visibility into the status of an invoice. He knows each and every stage the invoice is in, and when he can expect payment. The platform has "made our lives so much easier." 

It's done more than just helping him know when he'll be paid, though. It's also ensured that late payments are a thing of the past. "I get paid on time every time now. That did not happen [before]." 

In short, Direct Commerce created clarity from chaos for Hanson. And that's been transformative for Nationwide Consulting. 

"For a small business, it's a game changer. You don't need a whole bunch of people to do what you need to do to be able to manage your POs, submit invoices and do all the self certifications," Hanson says. 

Supplier Enablement: Looking Ahead

As the AP space continues to evolve, Direct Commerce is working nimbly to adapt to the needs of businesses of today – and tomorrow. The company is making huge investments into artificial intelligence to help provide even greater transparency, facilitate better collaboration between buyers and suppliers, and deliver true cost savings.

It's all in the name of creating a true Supplier-First™ system – one that is fairer, faster, and works for everyone. 

To learn more about Direct Commerce's work, get in touch with our sales team.