Case Study: SONIC Drive-IN achieves 97% e-invoicing and $160K annual savings with Basware AP Automation

Cruising to success with Basware

SONIC Drive‑IN, the largest drive‑in restaurant chain in the U.S. with over 3,500 locations, faced an inefficient, manual accounts payable process: 458 company restaurants mailed batches of invoices to headquarters, forcing staff to key in and route roughly 450,000 invoices a year, causing delays, lost invoices and late payments. Seeking greater control and efficiency, SONIC ran a technology selection and chose an automated AP solution.

SONIC implemented Basware AP Automation—including scan & capture, electronic workflow, autoflow approvals and seamless Infinium ERP integration—which went live smoothly and became a close partnership. Results include ~97% e‑invoice processing, a reduction in AP staff for invoice processing from 19 to 13 (>25%), elimination of $160K/year in offsite paper storage, fewer late payments, faster closes and improved supplier satisfaction.

Sonic

Karen Higdon

Director of Accounts Payable