Adopting an ERP system is one of the most important operational upgrades a distribution business can make. But technology alone doesn’t drive results—people do. That’s why high-performing teams don’t just train users; they build a culture of excellence around ERP champions—the internal leaders who turn new systems into lasting success.
For building materials distributors, where inventory, logistics, and customer service must align seamlessly, empowering ERP champions can mean the difference between a system that’s used and a system that delivers.
Here’s how to create the kind of culture where ERP champions thrive—and raise the standard across your distribution team.
- Define the Role of an ERP Champion Clearly
Before you can build a culture around champions, you need to be clear about what they do. An ERP champion is more than a “super user.” They’re part problem-solver, part communicator, and part coach. Their role includes:
Helping teammates navigate the ERP system
Offering real-time feedback to system administrators or IT
Modeling best practices in data entry, workflow management, and inventory updates
Supporting training and onboarding of new team members
Making this role visible, respected, and intentional sets the tone for a culture that values leadership in technology adoption.
- Select Champions Based on Influence, Not Just Job Title
ERP champions don’t have to be supervisors or IT staff. In fact, some of the most effective champions are peer-level employees who others already turn to for help. Look for people who:
Are trusted and well-respected on the floor
Are curious and quick to learn
Can communicate clearly and patiently
Want to be part of improving how the team works
Recognizing informal leaders and empowering them as champions shows your team that excellence can come from any role.
- Provide Deep Training and Ongoing Learning
If you want champions to lead, they need more than basic training. Give them advanced hands-on sessions, scenario-based exercises, and access to system updates before they roll out broadly. The more confidence they have in the system, the more others will trust it too.
Consider offering internal certifications, ERP “labs,” or train-the-trainer programs that reinforce their expertise.
- Make Recognition Part of the Culture
Building a culture of excellence means celebrating the behaviors you want to see. Recognize ERP champions in front of their teams—during meetings, through company-wide updates, or with small rewards. Share success stories that highlight how champions helped resolve a system issue or made a process more efficient.
When employees see their peers being appreciated for technical leadership, it motivates others to step up.
- Create a Feedback Loop That Values Champion Input
Champions should have a direct channel to those managing the ERP system—whether that’s an internal IT team, a vendor, or operations leadership. High-performing teams make it clear that champion feedback is not only welcomed but expected.
Encourage champions to share what they’re hearing on the floor, what’s not working, and where workflows need refinement. That insight leads to better system design—and more buy-in across the board.
- Tie ERP Excellence to Career Growth
Want to keep your best people engaged? Connect the ERP champion role to tangible growth opportunities. Whether it’s a formal title, a leadership pathway, or eligibility for promotions, make sure champions know that their extra effort matters—and that it’s part of a broader strategy for talent development.
This positions ERP excellence as a stepping stone, not just a side responsibility.
Final Thoughts
ERP systems succeed when people take ownership—not just of the tool, but of the culture around it. By creating a structure where ERP champions are trained, empowered, and recognized, distribution teams can turn technical adoption into operational excellence.
For building materials companies, where accuracy, speed, and communication are everything, cultivating these champions ensures that the ERP becomes more than software—it becomes a foundation for smarter, stronger teamwork.
