How LightSource is Helping Legacy Manufacturers Accelerate Sourcing and Boost Procurement Productivity

Watch on YouTube: Blue Bird x LightSource: 38% More RFQs Per Buyer, Zero New Hires (LightSource)

LightSource Helps Blue Bird Modernise Procurement

LightSource has helped Blue Bird, one of the largest school bus manufacturers in the US, modernise its procurement operations, increasing sourcing productivity and reducing administrative workloads.

The nearly century-old manufacturer has increased the average number of requests for quotation (RFQs) handled per buyer from 34.9 to 48.3, representing a 38 per cent improvement without additional headcount.

Average sourcing cycle times have also fallen from 16 to 14 days since Blue Bird adopted LightSource’s AI-native operating system for direct materials procurement.

Previously, the manufacturer’s sourcing activities relied heavily on spreadsheets, emails and disconnected supplier records, creating delays and limiting visibility across purchasing operations.

Jeff Vanassche, Vice President of Purchasing at Blue Bird, said: “It was all over the place. There was no good way to do it.”

Cutting Sourcing Times Through AI and Automation

Blue Bird introduced LightSource as a centralised platform connecting procurement teams, engineering functions and suppliers.

The system replaces fragmented workflows with standardised bid templates, supplier communications and a single repository for sourcing information.

Buyers can now take a sourcing project from creation to launch in under 20 minutes on average.

The manufacturer has processed 291 sourcing projects through LightSource in 2026, creating consistent records that can be accessed across its purchasing operations.

Tanamay Kothari, Supply Chain Category Specialist at Blue Bird, highlighted the challenges of the previous approach.

“There was no centralised data or database to look back into, so I had to dig through thousands of emails to find a specific document that I needed.”

By reducing time spent locating documents and preparing sourcing requests, the platform allows buyers to focus more closely on supplier relationships and strategic purchasing decisions.

Connecting 398 Suppliers Through a Single Platform

Supplier adoption has been another significant outcome of the implementation.

Blue Bird has onboarded 398 supplier companies onto LightSource, with 99.7 per cent activating their accounts.

The platform brings supplier quotations, communications and purchasing documentation into a shared system, improving visibility and accountability throughout the sourcing process.

It also provides a central repository for compliance documentation and audit records.

Mandy Miller, Purchasing Manager for Compliance Systems and Analytics at Blue Bird, said: “The biggest thing for me and for my role is the repository, the compliance piece of it, the controls, and making sure that we have everything that we need so that if we’re audited, we have those records to fall back on.”

Digital Procurement Supports Established Manufacturers

LightSource’s operating system is designed specifically for direct materials procurement, connecting engineering, purchasing and supplier activities.

Unlike traditional procurement platforms primarily focused on indirect spending, the technology is intended to support manufacturing sourcing requirements and new product introduction.

Spencer Penn, CEO and Co-Founder of LightSource, said: “Their buyers can now take a sourcing project from creation to launch in under 20 minutes, which means they get to market faster and spend less time on set up.”

“That frees them to leverage supplier relationships, grow strategic partnerships, and focus on the work that moves their business forward.”