# Our Agents **Desk Agent** End-to-end order desk automation **Voice Agent** Takes the call. Closes the order. **Predict Agent** Cart prediction & AOV lift **Chat Agent** Text & chat ordering --- # Knowledge Base ## Frequently Asked _Questions_ Everything you need to know about Ordana, AI for wholesale distribution, and automating your order desk. ### Browse by topic #### About Ordana What Ordana is, who it’s for, how it works, and how it differs from other approaches. **12 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/about-ordana/index.html) #### AI for Wholesale Distribution How AI is being used in distribution, what it can automate, and how to get started. **18 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/ai-for-distributors/index.html) #### Order Entry Automation How automated order entry works, what it saves, and how distributors get started. **8 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/order-entry-automation/index.html) #### Phone Order Automation AI voice agents, inbound calls, after-hours ordering, and handling complex phone orders. **7 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/phone-order-automation/index.html) #### ERP Integrations NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, SAP, Infor, Epicor, and custom ERP systems. **8 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/erp-integrations/index.html) #### Beverage Distribution AI automation for beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverage distributors. **8 questions** — [View all questions →](/content/faq/beverage-distribution/index.html) ## Deep dives Longer-form answers to the questions decision-makers ask when evaluating AI for distribution. - **[How to automate order entry](/content/faq/how-to-automate-order-entry/index.html)** A practical guide covering all channels, ERP integration, and implementation. - **[What is the ROI of AI for distributors?](/content/faq/roi-of-ai-for-distributors/index.html)** A calculation framework with real numbers for labor, capacity, and error reduction. - **[How much does manual order entry cost?](/content/faq/cost-of-manual-order-entry/index.html)** Direct labor, errors, missed calls, after-hours gaps, and opportunity cost. - **[AI ordering vs. B2B ecommerce portals](/content/faq/ai-ordering-vs-ecommerce/index.html)** What each solves, why portals haven’t replaced phone ordering, and how they coexist. - **[AI agents vs. RPA for order entry](/content/faq/ai-agents-vs-rpa-for-order-entry/index.html)** The key difference, when each works, and the failure modes to watch for. - **[What to look for in an AI vendor](/content/faq/what-to-look-for-in-an-ai-vendor/index.html)** An evaluation framework covering ERP integration, exceptions, experience, and pricing. - **[Best AI software for wholesale distributors](/content/faq/best-ai-software-for-wholesale-distributors/index.html)** An honest buyer’s guide to what the category covers and how to evaluate fit. - **[Should distributors build or buy AI automation?](/content/faq/build-vs-buy-ai-automation/index.html)** Real costs, timelines, and risks — and when building actually makes sense. - **[Biggest challenges implementing AI in distribution](/content/faq/challenges-implementing-ai-in-distribution/index.html)** ERP integration, catalog quality, team adoption — what to plan for. - **[AI order entry vs. traditional EDI](/content/faq/ai-order-entry-vs-edi/index.html)** How each works, who uses each, and why they’re complementary rather than competing. - **[Automating Phone & Email Orders](/content/faq/how-distributors-automate-phone-and-email-orders/index.html)** How AI handles calls, emails, faxes, texts, and PDFs without changing how your customers order. - **[AI Order Automation vs Ordering Platforms](/content/faq/ai-order-automation-vs-ordering-platforms/index.html)** Why routing orders through a platform intermediary is fundamentally different from automating your own order desk. ### Browse by industry - **[Beverage Distribution](/content/industries/beverage-distribution/index.html)** Liquor stores, bars, restaurants - **[Food & Produce](/content/industries/food-produce-distribution/index.html)** Grocers, restaurants, specialty - **[C-Store & Tobacco](/content/industries/convenience-store-distribution/index.html)** Convenience stores, gas stations - **[Beauty & Salon Supply](/content/industries/beauty-salon-supply-distribution/index.html)** Salons, spas, barbershops - **[Specialty Food & Coffee](/content/industries/specialty-food-coffee-distribution/index.html)** Cafés, hotels, corporate - **[Pet Supply](/content/industries/pet-supply-distribution/index.html)** Pet stores, groomers, vet clinics ## A few quick answers **What is Ordana?** Ordana is an AI agent platform built for wholesale distributors. It automates order intake and entry across every channel — phone, email, text, and chat — and processes those orders directly into your ERP. Ordana is built on four specialized agents: Desk, Voice, Predict, and Chat, each handling a specific part of the order workflow. **Does Ordana replace an ERP?** No. Ordana works alongside your existing ERP, not instead of it. Your ERP remains the system of record for inventory, pricing, and customer accounts. Ordana handles order intake from every channel and enters completed orders into the ERP — the same result as an order desk team processing the order manually, but without the manual effort. **How quickly can a distributor implement Ordana?** Most deployments are measured in weeks rather than months. Implementation focuses on connecting Ordana to your ERP, loading your product catalog and customer data, and configuring the channels you want to automate. Because nothing changes for your customers or your ERP, the footprint is relatively contained. Many distributors start with one channel and expand from there. **Who is Ordana built for?** Ordana is built for wholesale distributors — particularly those in beverage, food service, and specialty distribution — where high order volumes, multiple ordering channels, and customer relationships all need to work together. The typical Ordana customer has an established ERP and an established customer base, and is looking for a way to grow without proportionally growing their order desk team.