What is Pepper?

Pepper is a complete software solution designed specifically for independent food distributors. It streamlines the ordering process and communication between distributors and operators. Beyond its core functionality, one of Pepper's most transformative add-on features is its advanced payments system, which offers immense benefits in time-savings, reduced Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and increased collectability.

"I had never considered how the app could improve our cash flow.  But our payments have been coming in much faster from Pepper users, even from those customers that have historically been slow to pay. And yes, it brings me joy when I see the emails come through that show we've received a Pepper payment!" - Marshall Spain, Owner, Strickland Portion Pack

How do Payments with Pepper work?

Pepper's payment feature simplifies how food distributors process financial transactions by integrating seamlessly to your business operations. Instead of juggling multiple payment methods requiring manual input, businesses can now manage all their transactions within one unified system.

Here's how it works: 

• Integrated Solution: Pepper Payments starts by integrating with your existing systems. This includes your point of sale (POS) systems, customer management tools, or any other relevant operational software your business employs. This integration also allows for invoices that have been paid to be marked as such by syncing back to your ERP. 

• Customized Checkout Experience: Pepper Payments enables you to create a tailored checkout experience to fit the needs of your customers. Customers can pay directly within your app or on your website via credit card or ACH. This streamlined process reduces friction, improving customer satisfaction and increasing collection rates.

• Accelerated Funds Transfer: With Pepper Payments, funds are transferred directly into your bank account the next business day, reducing DSOs. This fast payment feature improves cash flow, to allow a reallocation of capital to higher value projects

• Automate Manual Processes: By putting invoice payments in the hands of your customers and utilizing features provided by Pepper Payments, such as automatic payments, bulk payments, and direct charging, you can both reduce the amount of time spent on manual tasks while also being more current on customer invoices. 

• Effortless Management: Pepper Payments provides a unified dashboard where you can easily track all transactions, access real-time analytics, and manage customer billing details. This comprehensive view ensures smooth operation and assists in data-driven decision making.

• Enhanced Security: Pepper Payments maintains rigorous security standards. Sensitive payment information is tokenized to ensure data remains safe, secure, and compliant with industry standards.

• Global Reach: Pepper Payments supports multiple currencies and payment methods, ensuring your business can cater to a global customer base, expanding your market reach.

Pepper eliminates the need for manual tracking and processing, reducing the risk of human error and improving efficiency for distributor finance teams while also delighting their customers. By adopting Pepper Payments, businesses can revolutionize their payment processes, transforming their efficiency, customer experience, and cash flow.

“Payments are faster and with the ability to pass along fees, the app doesn't cost me anything – it more than pays for itself.” - Raymond Murray, President, J. E. Hicks

What benefits can be expected from Payments with Pepper? 

Time Savings & Efficiency Improvements

• Pepper's payment process automations reduce time spent on manual invoicing and charging. Distributors have expressed an average time saving of 2080 hours annually and significant cost savings with upwards of $63k annually.  

Reduced DSO 

• Pepper's immediate invoicing and seamless payment system contribute to a notable reduction in DSO. A typical Pepper user will see a 2-day reduction in DSO which directly improves cash flow and business liquidity, freeing up valuable capital to be directed to higher value projects.

Increased Collectability 

• With Pepper's streamlined system, businesses have reported fewer chargebacks and write-offs. This not only ensures a smoother transaction process but also translates into substantial monetary savings. While the exact dollar value can vary, users have reported a noticeable decrease in chargeback-related losses since integrating Pepper into their operations.

Strengthened Payment Consistency and Flexibility

• Pepper customers have marked improvement in customers settling their dues timely and an upswing in the use of alternative payment methods to clear outstanding invoices when initial payments fall short – fostering a more dependable and consistent financial milieu.

Enhanced Customer Experience

• Pepper not only simplifies the process for distributors but also offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience for restaurant operators. It's a win-win situation that builds stronger, more effective business relationships.

Streamlined Reconciliation

• Pepper's integrated system means all transaction data is stored in one place and delivered in an easily legible way, making reconciliation a breeze for AR teams. This eliminates the hours spent matching payments with orders, resulting in more accurate financial reporting.

Improved Accuracy

• Instant matching of transactions to invoices, coupled with the elimination of lost physical payments in the mail, ensures each transaction is precisely accounted for. This shift to digital augments financial efficiency and amplifies the overall accuracy of the payment process.

Greater Security

• Utilizing advanced security protocols, Pepper ensures that every transaction made on the platform is safe and secure, thereby reducing the risk of fraud.

"After implementing Pepper's payment system, one of our reps who previously struggled with 45-50% of their accounts having overdue invoices, has seen a significant improvement. This rep is now one of our top performers, with a remarkable 95% of collections made on time." - Greg Garn, Vice President of Sales, McDonald Wholesale

In an industry where reliability, efficiency, and security matter most, Pepper's payment feature is a significant advancement. It simplifies the entire collections process, making it easier for food distributors and restaurants to conduct business. Not only does it improve workflows, but also creates real, measurable financial gains. This solution is ushering in a new wave of digital innovation in the industry.