In the building materials industry, yard employees are the frontline. They handle inventory, manage loading and unloading, and keep materials flowing efficiently to meet customer demand. As more companies implement ERP systems to streamline operations, upskilling yard employees on how to use these tools becomes a critical priority.
But training is only part of the equation. To make sure your efforts are actually working, you need to track the right KPIs—key performance indicators that reflect both system usage and real-world results.
Here’s what high-performing teams track when upskilling their yard teams for ERP success.
- Training Completion Rate
Start with the basics: how many of your yard employees have completed the ERP training modules assigned to them? Whether you’re using hands-on sessions, videos, or digital learning platforms, completion rates give you a clear view of participation.
Low completion may signal issues with accessibility, scheduling, or training relevance.
- Task Accuracy in the ERP System
One of the most telling KPIs is how accurately employees are entering or interacting with the system. Key yard-related functions to monitor include:
Inventory check-ins and stock adjustments
Order picking confirmations
Transfer entries between yard and warehouse
Tracking error rates or the need for corrections will help you identify who needs more support—and where your training may need adjustments.
- Time to Proficiency
How long does it take a yard employee to become fully capable of handling their ERP-related tasks independently? This KPI helps you evaluate the efficiency of your training process.
Shorter time to proficiency often means your content is clear, your systems are intuitive, and your support structure is strong.
- System Usage Frequency
Are your yard employees actively using the ERP for what it’s intended? Tracking logins, task completion, or system interactions over time will tell you if the training is translating into daily habits.
If you see drop-offs in usage after initial training, it could point to confusion, lack of confidence, or workarounds being used instead of the system.
- Inventory Accuracy
An indirect but powerful KPI, inventory accuracy shows how well the yard team is using the ERP system to track incoming and outgoing materials. After all, one of the ERP’s main benefits is real-time visibility.
If your system says you have 100 units of rebar and the yard only finds 70, there’s a gap somewhere—either in system use or process consistency.
- Loading and Fulfillment Times
Once ERP use is embedded into workflows, track how long it takes from order release to truck loading. Efficient ERP usage should help speed up this process by improving visibility and reducing communication delays.
If times improve post-training, it’s a clear indicator that the system is supporting faster, smarter decisions in the yard.
- User-Submitted Support Tickets or Errors
Are yard employees frequently asking for help or submitting the same support requests? Analyzing ticket types, frequency, and resolution time helps identify weak spots in training and system usability.
Use this insight to refine your learning materials or provide targeted coaching to individuals who need more guidance.
Final Thoughts
Yard employees play a vital role in your ERP’s success. If they can’t use the system effectively, it disrupts everything from inventory visibility to order fulfillment. That’s why upskilling isn’t just about delivering training—it’s about measuring impact.
Tracking the right KPIs gives you visibility into what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus next. With clear metrics and ongoing support, you can turn ERP usage into a strength—not a struggle—at the ground level of your operations.
