Industry:
Manufacturing
Nordson
Scaling Smarter: How Basware Enabled
Nordson to Grow Without Adding Headcount
Nordson gains control and efficiency with Basware AP Automation
Nordson Corporation, a multinational leader in precision technology, serves customers across diverse industries, including electronics, medical, packaging, and construction. Headquartered in the US, Nordson operates globally, with offices spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. With thousands of employees and billions in annual revenue, Nordson continuously seeks ways to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining its commitment to innovation and excellence.
Key Takeaways
4 days
average processing time
62%
on-time payment
89%
First Pass Match Rate
Why Nordson Chose Basware
Nordson conducted an extensive evaluation of Accounts Payable (AP) automation solutions before selecting Basware. The company relied on industry research, including the Gartner Magic Quadrant rankings of top providers, to make an informed decision.
“After six months of research, we chose Basware because it stood out in terms of efficiency, automation, and long-term value,”
Seth Linebrink, Financial Reporting Manager at Nordson explains. “It’s been a game-changer for us.”
The Challenge: A Chaotic and Manual AP Process
Before implementing Basware, Nordson’s accounts payable AP process was highly manual, time-consuming, and prone to inefficiencies. The company faced high turnover in its AP team, and the manual processing of invoices – including printing, scanning, and forwarding emails – was creating significant bottlenecks.
“We knew we needed a tool,” recalls Seth. “Our AP process was chaotic, and we needed a solution that could streamline our operations.”
The Solution: Automation and Efficiency with Basware
Since adopting Basware, Nordson has transformed its AP operations. The company has eliminated manual invoice handling, replacing it with an automated system where invoices are emailed directly into Basware. This has drastically improved processing speed and efficiency.
“We’re no longer printing off invoices, entering them manually, and then scanning them to save on a SharePoint site,” explains Seth. “That in itself was a huge time saver.”
With these efficiencies, Nordson’s AP team can now focus on higher-value tasks, such as statement reconciliations and strategic financial analysis. Additionally, the stability provided by Basware has allowed Nordson to absorb AP workloads from subsidiaries without needing to hire additional staff.
Seamless Integration and Workflow Optimization
One of the biggest successes of Nordson’s Basware implementation has been the automation of non-PO invoice approvals. Previously, this process was manual and labor-intensive, requiring constant updates to approval lists.
“We built an automated workflow in Basware that integrates with another system to pull in approver names and roles daily,” says Seth. “Now, there’s no manual setup, no need to reassign approval roles when someone leaves – it’s all done automatically.”
This automation has significantly reduced administrative burden, ensuring invoices are approved quickly and efficiently.
Remote Work Flexibility and Business Continuity
Basware has also played a key role in enabling remote work for Nordson’s AP team. The cloud-based system allows employees to process invoices from anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need for physical scanners and printers.
“When we had renovation work carried out in our office, we couldn’t be on-site for a month,” Seth recalls. “But with Basware, it wasn’t a problem. There was no scrambling to buy a printer or scanner – we just continued working remotely.”
Now, we have time to focus on higher-level work that supports the executive team and business goals.”
Seth Linebrink, Financial Reporting Manager, Nordson
The Future: Expanding Basware’s Reach
Currently, Nordson uses Basware primarily in the US and Canada, but expansion is on the horizon. The company is exploring implementation in Europe and other global offices to further enhance AP efficiency across its entire organization.
“Now that we’ve implemented Basware, the next step is seeing where else it makes sense,” says Seth.
“With Basware’s insights and analytics tools, we’re also identifying which vendors cause us the most issues and where we can create additional efficiencies.”
The Results: A More Efficient and Strategic AP Team
Thanks to Basware, Nordson’s AP team is no longer bogged down by manual processes. Instead, they can focus on strategic initiatives that add real value to the business. From workflow automation to remote work enablement, Basware has fundamentally transformed the way Nordson handles AP.
“Now, we have time to focus on higher-level work that supports the executive team and business goals,” Seth says. “Basware has truly helped us work smarter.”