Touchless Orders Explained: A Guide for Operations Leaders

What Are “Touchless Orders,” Really?

In B2B, the term “touchless” refers to a fully automated process—one where a sales order flows from the customer to your ERP system without human intervention.

It’s not science fiction. It’s smart systems working together to capture, validate, and process order data automatically. No copy-paste. No data entry. No delays.

Touchless orders are faster, more accurate, and more scalable than traditional methods—and they’re quickly becoming the new benchmark for operational excellence in 2025.

Why the Shift to Touchless?

Let’s face it: B2B order processes have lagged behind. While other departments automate and modernize, order processing is often still manual—reliant on email inboxes, PDFs, Excel sheets, and overworked operations teams.

But three things are changing that:

1. Labor shortages and rising wages are pressuring operations to do more with less

2. Customer expectations are rising—speed and accuracy are now table stakes

3. Technology has caught up, making end-to-end automation finally viable

Touchless ordering is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a strategic imperative.

What a Touchless Order Looks Like

Let’s walk through the lifecycle of a touchless order using an example.

Traditional (Manual):

• Customer emails a PDF PO

• CSR opens email and downloads file

• Data is manually rekeyed into ERP

• Line items are validated one by one

• Exceptions are flagged for correction

• Order is submitted for fulfillment

Touchless (Automated):

• Customer emails a PDF PO

• System extracts, validates, and maps order data

• Data is pushed directly into ERP

• Only flagged exceptions are routed for review

• Order proceeds automatically to fulfillment

No delays. No errors. No bottlenecks. Just flow.

The Components of a Touchless Order System

For a truly touchless process, you need a few key capabilities in place:

1. Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)

Extracts structured data from PDFs, emails, and other unstructured formats with high accuracy.

2. Business Rule Validation

Verifies fields like pricing, SKUs, quantities, and account data against your systems in real-time.

3. ERP Integration

Pushes validated order data directly into your ERP or order management system.

4. Exception Handling Workflows

Reroutes problematic orders to the right person—without slowing down the entire system.

Benefits of Going Touchless

✅ Time Savings

Most Conexiom customers see 70–90% time reductions in order processing. What once took hours now happens in minutes.

✅ Error Reduction

Touchless systems eliminate keystroke mistakes, incorrect SKU entries, and formatting issues that plague manual processes.

✅ Lower Cost-to-Serve

With fewer manual tasks and less rework, your operational costs drop—freeing up resources for higher-value work.

✅ Better CX

Faster, more accurate orders mean better fulfillment, fewer escalations, and happier customers.

✅ Improved Data Integrity

Consistent data entry supports cleaner reporting, stronger forecasting, and better planning.

Common Misconceptions About Touchless Orders

“Our customers won’t change how they send orders.”

They don’t have to. Touchless systems work with emailed PDFs, spreadsheets, and standard order formats. No portal required.

“We’ll lose control if we automate.”

Actually, automation gives you more control. Every field is validated. Every exception is tracked. And visibility improves.

“This will replace people.”

No—this replaces busywork. Your teams get to shift from data entry to customer support, revenue enablement, and continuous improvement.

Use Cases: Where Touchless Works Best

• High-volume customers sending frequent repeat orders

• Distributors managing complex line items or SKUs

• Manufacturers processing global PO volumes

• Companies scaling operations without adding headcount

If your business processes 500+ orders/month, you’ll likely see meaningful ROI from automation in under 6 months.

Why Conexiom?

Conexiom specializes in turning non-standard orders (emailed PDFs, Excel files, even scanned documents) into fully automated ERP entries. Unlike OCR tools or simple RPA bots, Conexiom uses field-level validation and business logic to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Some highlights:

• Works with your existing ERP

• Handles exceptions intelligently

• Proven with global manufacturers and distributors

• No customer behavior change required

Getting Started: From Manual to Touchless

You don’t have to automate everything overnight. Here’s how most companies begin:

1. Audit your current order volumes – by customer, channel, and format

2. Identify high-volume, low-complexity accounts

3. Map your manual steps and where errors happen

4. Deploy automation for target customers

5. Measure improvements in processing time, accuracy, and costs

Over time, you expand to more order types and more customers—creating a scalable automation framework.

Final Word

Touchless orders aren’t a buzzword—they’re a better way to work.

In 2025, manufacturers and distributors that automate order processing aren’t just saving time—they’re enabling faster growth, stronger data integrity, and better customer outcomes.

The tools are here. The benefits are clear. The opportunity is yours.

Want to see how touchless orders could work in your business? Book a demo with Conexiom and get a free Ideal Order readiness assessment.