Alternatives to Conexiom
10 minutes
Sep 26, 2025
Introduction
Search "order automation" and you'll find Conexiom. Search "sales order automation" and you'll find Conexiom. They've been in this space longer than almost anyone, which is why they dominate the search results.
But the order automation market has grown. If you've found Conexiom, evaluated Conexiom, or used Conexiom and want to understand what else exists, this guide breaks down the landscape honestly.
Full disclosure: we're Crew Capable, one of the companies in this space. We'll cover the landscape as fairly as we can, explain our own approach in detail, and give you a framework to evaluate anyone, including us.
A note on accuracy: information about other vendors is based on publicly available materials and may not reflect recent changes. We encourage you to verify details directly with any vendor you're evaluating.
Quick Answers
What does Conexiom do? Converts unstructured purchase orders (PDFs, emails, spreadsheets) into structured ERP data. Enterprise-focused, established player with over a decade in market.
Who are the main alternatives? Esker (order-to-cash suite), Workist (European AI-native), Rossum (document AI platform), ABBYY (document intelligence), and newer AI-native players like Crew Capable.
What's the biggest difference between options? Technology approach (template-based vs. AI-native) and target customer (enterprise vs. mid-market). These two factors shape everything else.
How is Crew Capable different from Conexiom? Conexiom is built for enterprise with thorough implementation processes. Crew Capable is built for mid-market with fast deployment (days, not months) and a modular AI architecture designed for transparency.
Who Are the Real Alternatives?
Here's an honest look at the actual players in this space.
Esker
What they do: Order-to-cash automation suite that includes sales order processing, AR automation, and collections management. European-headquartered, publicly traded, established enterprise player.
How they're different from Conexiom: Broader scope. Esker positions order automation as part of a larger order-to-cash workflow rather than a standalone solution. If you're looking to automate AR and AP alongside order processing, Esker bundles those together.
Best for: Companies wanting a comprehensive order-to-cash platform, especially those also looking at AP automation. Strong presence in Europe and North America.
Consider this: If you only need order automation, you may be buying more platform than you need. If you want the full order-to-cash suite, it's worth evaluating.
Workist
What they do: AI-powered order automation based in Germany. Focused on automating inbound order processing for European manufacturers and distributors.
How they're different from Conexiom: Newer, AI-native architecture. Stronger presence in European markets, built with EU operations in mind. Faster implementation timeline than traditional enterprise players.
Best for: European companies prioritizing regional solutions, or those wanting a more modern AI approach without the enterprise implementation process.
Consider this: Evaluate whether their support and integrations fit your specific geographic and ERP needs.
Rossum
What they do: Document AI platform that handles invoices, purchase orders, and other business documents. Czech-based company that has raised significant venture funding.
How they're different from Conexiom: Rossum is a broader document AI platform, not purpose-built for sales order automation. They're strong on the AI/ML side but approach order processing as one of several document types rather than their core focus.
Best for: Companies looking for a general document AI platform that can handle orders alongside invoices and other documents.
Consider this: This can be a jack-of-all-trades situation depending on your needs. If order automation is your primary focus, a purpose-built solution might fit better. If you're solving multiple document processing problems, Rossum's breadth could be valuable.
ABBYY
What they do: Document intelligence and OCR technology. Long-established player in the document processing space with enterprise-grade tools. Wondering how OCR fits into this? See our OCR vs AI comparison.
How they're different from Conexiom: ABBYY provides the underlying technology that powers document processing, not a turnkey order automation solution. More of a platform you build on than a finished product.
Best for: Companies with technical resources who want to build custom document processing workflows, or enterprises already using ABBYY for other document needs.
Consider this: Higher technical lift. You're buying capabilities, not a solution. If you want something that works out of the box, ABBYY requires more assembly.
EDI Platforms (SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, Cleo)
What they do: Electronic data interchange networks that standardize how trading partners exchange documents.
How they're different from Conexiom: EDI solves the format problem through standardization, not automation. Everyone sends orders the same structured way.
Best for: Companies whose customers primarily use EDI, especially in retail where EDI is mandatory.
Consider this: EDI only helps with customers who use EDI. If a significant portion of your orders come via email and PDF (common for most distributors), you still need a solution for those. EDI and AI-native order automation often work alongside each other.
AI-Native Order Automation (Including Crew Capable)
What this category does: Uses machine learning to identify patterns in your order data rather than relying on templates and rules. Learns your catalog, your customers' terminology, your variations.
How it's different from Conexiom: Faster implementation (days/weeks vs. longer enterprise timelines), adapts to format changes automatically, typically built for mid-market rather than enterprise.
Best for: Companies with format variety, limited IT resources, or need for fast deployment.
Consider this: Newer category with less market tenure than established players. You're evaluating companies with shorter track records but more modern technology.
Several companies are building in this space. We'll explain Crew Capable's approach since that's what we know best.
Conexiom vs. Crew Capable: What's Actually Different?
Who they're built for
Conexiom targets enterprise manufacturers processing high volumes with IT teams that can manage comprehensive implementations. Their sales process, implementation approach, and pricing all reflect this.
Crew Capable targets mid-market manufacturers and distributors (typically 50-500 employees) where operations teams need to own the solution without heavy IT involvement. Faster time to value, leaner process.
Technology approach
Conexiom uses a large model trained on extensive purchase order data. The advantage: broad format recognition from processing high volumes across many customers.
Crew Capable uses modular AI agents with software validation at each step. The advantage: transparency and control at each decision point. Different architectural philosophy.
Implementation reality
Conexiom: thorough implementation process with IT involvement typical for enterprise deployments. You're buying enterprise rigor.
Crew Capable: processing real orders in days. Operations can own it. No IT project to start. You're buying speed and simplicity.
Format handling
Both handle format variety. Conexiom's extensive training means broad format recognition. Crew Capable's approach learns your specific patterns, including the unusual stuff (handwritten notes, email body text, customer-specific quirks).
The honest tradeoff
Conexiom gives you market tenure, enterprise infrastructure, and comprehensive integration depth.
Crew Capable gives you speed, transparency, and mid-market fit. You're working with a newer company with a shorter track record but more modern technology.
Neither is wrong. They're built for different situations.
How Should You Evaluate Order Automation Options?
These questions work for any vendor, including us.
Understand your situation first
How many orders per day? What percentage are EDI versus email versus PDF? How many unique customer formats? How often do formats change? Do you have IT resources for implementation, or does operations need to own this?
Questions to ask every vendor
"How long until we're processing real orders?" Understand the timeline and what drives it.
"What happens when a customer changes their PO format?" Answers vary dramatically between template-based and AI systems.
"Can I see why the system made a specific decision?" Transparency matters for troubleshooting.
"What does implementation require from our team?" Surface any IT requirements or dependencies.
"Can I talk to a customer similar to us?" References matter more than demos.
Match solution to situation
High-volume enterprise with complex integrations and IT resources? Evaluate Conexiom, Esker, and enterprise document platforms.
European operations with regional requirements? Look at Workist and other EU-based options.
Mid-market with format chaos and a lean team? AI-native options like Crew Capable likely fit better.
Primarily EDI customers? An EDI platform might be sufficient, supplemented with something for non-EDI orders.
There's no universal "best." There's only best fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to see how Crew Capable handles your orders? Send us samples and we'll show you real output, not a generic demo.
