💧 It’s not just about what you stock—it’s how you manage it.
Water-saving landscaping materials are essential in today’s drought-prone, sustainability-focused world. But offering drip kits or permeable pavers isn’t enough—distributors need clear internal policies that ensure consistent sourcing, storage, selling, and customer education.
In this blog, we’ll show how to create operational policies that support water-saving product lines, and how your ERP can enforce those policies across teams and yards.
🌱 Why Operational Policy Matters
Without clear policies, distributors often face:
Inconsistent product categorization
Inaccurate advice from sales staff
Missed rebate or incentive opportunities
Poor storage leading to damage or loss (e.g., controller electronics)
📋 Sustainable sales start with smart systems.
🧾 What Your Water-Saving Policies Should Cover
✅ 1. Sourcing & Vendor Alignment
Policy Example: Only source irrigation kits and turf alternatives from manufacturers with EPA WaterSense® or regional approval.
ERP Tip: Flag approved vendors and restrict PO creation for non-compliant sources.
✅ 2. Product Categorization & Labeling
Policy Example: Tag all qualifying products as “Water-Saving” in ERP, with subcategories (drip, pavers, controllers, mulch).
ERP Tip: Use filters to auto-populate sales quotes or reports.
✅ 3. Quoting & Sales Protocol
Policy Example: All irrigation quotes must include a water-saving alternative unless customer opts out.
ERP Tip: Automate prompts and include rebate eligibility forms in quote packets.
✅ 4. Warehouse Handling & Storage
Policy Example: Store smart irrigation components in indoor, climate-controlled zones and rotate stock quarterly.
ERP Tip: Assign SKUs to designated storage areas with condition-based alerts.
✅ 5. Customer Education
Policy Example: Every water-saving product should be linked to an ERP-hosted guide, rebate form, or case study.
ERP Tip: Trigger automated emails when a water-saving SKU is ordered.
📊 KPI Tracking to Measure Policy Impact
% of landscape orders including water-saving SKUs
Rebates facilitated per quarter
Storage losses by category
Product return rates (linked to handling issues)
🏁 Final Thoughts
Water-saving materials deserve operational support—not just shelf space. By building ERP-enforced policies into your sourcing, quoting, and handling workflows, you make water conservation part of how you do business—not just what you sell.
📞 Need help turning your ERP into a sustainability-driven operations tool? Let’s craft your policy playbook.
