Apr. 18, 2023
ERP

Stillwell Jacks accelerates order processing by 30% with Priority ERP

Country:

United States

Key results at a glance

30%

increase in order processing capacity

0

hours of system downtime during go-live

100%

real-time visibility

About Stillwell Jacks

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in the United States, Stillwell Jacks designs and manufactures heavy-duty hydraulic trailer jacks, cylinders, seals, and related parts for agriculture, earth-moving, automotive, and military applications. Known for fast, reliable products that perform in extreme environments, Stillwell backs every unit with a two-year warranty and continuous innovation.

The Challenge

The challenge

As a fast-growing business delivering products nationwide, the Stillwell team knew they could no longer rely on QuickBooks to manage their accounting. They needed an alternative to manage their entire operations, namely manufacturing and order tracking. “We worked based on memory and printed out customer orders that often got lost in a pile of paperwork,” said Zac Stillwell, VP of Operations. “We knew we couldn't handle our growth without a system to cover purchasing, manufacturing, sales, and customer service.”

Leading the team, Zac understood the advantages of ERP and how a single, company-wide, cross-functional platform could do the job. “Clearly, ERP was the next logical step,” said Zac. “In this industry, we're constantly creating new products to better serve our customers, but we're also developing new technologies to grow our brand and remain competitive.” After meeting with several ERP vendors and evaluating system demos, Stillwell Jacks chose Priority ERP.

The Solution

The solution

Stillwell Jacks conducted a comprehensive evaluation of ERP vendors and chose Priority ERP for its open architecture, scalability and out-of-the-box manufacturing modules. “We knew we needed an open, flexible, and scalable ERP system that could grow as our business grows. Priority quickly convinced us they were the right choice, and we agreed. Priority's modules and functionality were a perfect fit for our immediate needs,” says Zac Stillwell, VP of Operations.

Once the decision was made, the Priority and Stillwell teams launched a three-phase implementation:

  1. Process mapping & configuration
    Every workflow, from front-end order entry through shop-floor routing, purchasing triggers and financial posting, was documented and standardized.
  2. Onboarding & training
    “We were ready for a long and exhausting process, but the Priority implementation team was quick and professional, which meant little to no system downtime,” Zac recalls. Hands-on workshops and on-demand video tutorials ensured each user could practice key tasks before go-live.
  3. Go-live & Continuous improvement
    Core modules went live in manageable sprints to minimize risk. “Processes are really straightforward and are delivered in manageable size steps. Our employees, all new Priority users, adapted relatively quickly, too. The UI is super intuitive, and once you understand the basics, it's easy to become proficient—and that's a huge benefit,” Zac adds.

Throughout deployment, Priority's open APIs enabled integration with barcode scanners, quality-inspection stations and existing accounting data, delivering real-time synchronization across sales, production and finance. Custom dashboards and automated alerts were configured before day one, giving managers immediate visibility into order status, inventory levels and supplier lead times.

By combining a structured rollout with an intuitive user interface and seamless integrations, Stillwell Jacks achieved a smooth, zero-downtime transition and laid the groundwork for ongoing process optimization.

The Results

The results

Upon going live with Priority ERP, Stillwell Jacks experienced immediate, measurable improvements across every department. Manual tasks were automated, data silos were dissolved, and frontline teams gained real-time insights into orders, inventory, and production status. Below is a side-by-side comparison of key operational metrics before and after implementation:

Comparison Table: Before vs. After Priority ERP

Metric
Before Priority
After Priority

Order processing capacity

Before Priority
After Priority

Baseline

+30%

Paper-based order tracking

Before Priority
After Priority

100% of orders printed and filed

0% – fully digital order flow

System go-live downtime

Before Priority
After Priority

Unplanned delays and firefighting

0 hours

Implementation timeframe

Before Priority
After Priority

Months of planning and manual workarounds

Deployed in weeks with guided onboarding

Number of stand-alone tools

Before Priority
After Priority

QuickBooks, spreadsheets, clipboards, phone

1 unified ERP system

Cross-functional visibility

Before Priority
After Priority

None – data silos by department

100% real-time visibility across all teams

Go-live with Priority ERP delivered immediate, quantifiable improvements across every core process at Stillwell Jacks. By comparing key performance indicators before and after implementation, it's clear how the company transformed operations:

  • Order Capacity: With the same headcount and floor space, Stillwell now processes 30% more orders per month.
  • Paperless Workflow: Every order is entered once on screen eliminating lost tickets and manual re-keying.
  • Zero Downtime: A rapid, weeks-long deployment and thorough onboarding meant uninterrupted production and shipping.
  • Unified Platform: Five previously disconnected tools have been replaced by one open, scalable ERP system.
  • Instant Visibility: Sales, purchasing, manufacturing and customer-service teams all work from the same live data, reducing follow-up calls and email chains.

Since implementation, these gains have unlocked new capacity for product innovation and customer support. By removing paperwork and consolidating workflows, Stillwell Jacks has more time to focus on R&D, faster quote turnaround, and consistently meeting delivery windows, setting the stage for sustained growth.

“Priority has taken the manual management out of running the business, and today, we can do a lot more with less.”

Zac Stillwell, VP of Operations, Stillwell Jacks

See how Priority works for you