For building materials suppliers, accuracy and efficiency in the yard, warehouse, and delivery process are non-negotiable. Manual data entry slows everything down and invites costly errors. That’s why barcode scanning—when integrated with your ERP—is one of the most effective tools you can implement to streamline operations, cut waste, and improve visibility across the supply chain.
But successful integration isn’t as simple as plugging in a scanner and calling it a day. It takes planning, the right tools, and a clear understanding of how your business operates.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to doing it right.
Step 1: Understand What You Want to Achieve
Before you invest in scanners or software, get clear on what you want to improve. Some common goals include:
Reducing manual entry errors
Accelerating inventory counts and cycle counts
Improving accuracy of picks, loads, and deliveries
Tracking materials across multiple yards or warehouses
Streamlining returns and damaged goods processing
The more focused your goals, the better your integration will be.
Step 2: Choose the Right ERP System (or Ensure Compatibility)
Not all ERP platforms are barcode-ready. You need to ensure your ERP:
Supports real-time inventory updates
Allows mapping of barcode data to item records, UOMs, bins, or locations
Offers mobile or warehouse modules compatible with scanning
Integrates with external scanning tools (or comes with native scanning support)
If you’re already using an ERP, check with your vendor to understand which scanning devices and formats are supported—and what’s required to integrate them.
Step 3: Select Barcode Scanners That Match Your Environment
Barcode scanning in a building materials environment is different from a retail store. Your hardware needs to handle:
Dust, dirt, weather, and rough handling
Long-range scanning (for tall stacks or wide aisles)
Wireless connectivity for real-time data updates
Hands-free or wearable options for forklift drivers
Look for rugged industrial-grade scanners or mobile computers, and match the form factor to the user—handheld for yard workers, mounted for warehouse stations, or tablets for drivers.
Step 4: Design Your Barcode Labeling Strategy
You need consistent, scannable labels that match the way your ERP tracks inventory. This includes:
Product codes (SKU, lot, serial, etc.)
Location labels for bins, shelves, or yard zones
Shipping labels for outbound orders
Return labels for damaged or restocked materials
If your suppliers don’t provide barcodes, you’ll need to generate your own. Many ERP platforms allow for internal label printing and barcode generation.
Step 5: Map Barcode Data to ERP Workflows
Integration means connecting the scan event to an action inside your ERP. For example:
Scanning a product during receiving updates on-hand inventory
Scanning an item at pick confirms the right product was pulled
Scanning during loading triggers order status updates
Scanning on delivery logs proof of drop-off and syncs to invoicing
Work with your ERP vendor or integrator to map scan events to key workflows and automate as much as possible.
Step 6: Train Your Team and Run a Pilot
Successful barcode integration depends on user adoption. Train your team thoroughly:
Show them how scanning ties into their daily work
Emphasize accuracy over speed (at first)
Start with a small pilot—one location, one team, one workflow—before going full scale
Collect feedback during the pilot and refine the system before rollout.
Step 7: Monitor, Support, and Improve
Once barcode scanning is live, the work isn’t over. You’ll want to:
Monitor scan success rates and data accuracy
Set up alerts for scan mismatches or workflow failures
Keep hardware updated and maintained
Continue training as new staff join
Over time, you can expand scanning to new use cases—returns, inventory audits, yard transfers, etc.
Final Thought
Barcode scanning can revolutionize how you run your operation—but only when it’s deeply integrated with your ERP system and aligned with your day-to-day workflows. The key is planning smart, starting small, and building a system that works in the real-world conditions your team faces every day.
Done right, you’ll save time, reduce costs, and gain confidence that your inventory and orders are exactly where they’re supposed to be—when they’re supposed to be there.
