Adopting an ERP system is a major milestone for any building materials business. But getting the system in place is only half the battle — the real challenge lies in making sure your team actually uses it effectively. That’s why some of the most successful companies invest in a specific strategy: building ERP champions from within their distribution teams.
This case study outlines how one regional distributor rolled out an ERP platform across its yards and warehouses — and how empowering frontline ERP champions led to faster adoption, fewer errors, and stronger team performance.
A mid-sized building materials supplier with five distribution yards and a fleet of delivery trucks across two states. The company was managing inventory, dispatch, and purchasing using disconnected spreadsheets and manual logs.
After selecting a cloud-based ERP system designed for the construction supply industry, leadership knew they needed more than just a software rollout — they needed internal ownership.
While the ERP platform promised real-time visibility, better inventory control, and integrated scheduling, initial training sessions revealed a gap:
Managers feared bottlenecks if only a few employees could use the system well
To close that gap, the company launched a focused initiative to identify, train, and empower ERP champions at every yard.
These weren’t necessarily managers — in fact, some were shift leads, forklift drivers, or inventory clerks who knew the flow of materials better than anyone.
ERP champions received hands-on, in-depth training that went beyond the basics. They were walked through:
The goal: make champions the first line of support inside the yard, reducing dependence on IT or corporate trainers.
This kept the implementation grounded in real operational needs — and gave employees a direct voice in shaping the system’s usage.
After just 60 days, the impact of the ERP champion program was clear:
Faster onboarding: New hires learned the ERP system faster by shadowing champions
Reduced downtime: Day-to-day questions were handled locally instead of waiting on IT
Higher adoption: Over 90% of yard and warehouse staff were using the ERP platform daily
Better accuracy: Inventory discrepancies dropped by 25% in the first quarter
Improved morale: Employees felt more confident and engaged in their work
Perhaps most importantly, the champions built a sense of ownership and pride among frontline teams. Rather than feeling like a system was forced on them, employees saw it as a tool they helped shape and master.
Champions drive culture, not just compliance: Peer leaders helped normalize ERP usage as part of everyday work — not a separate task.
Training is more effective when it’s role-based and local: Context matters. Champions provided real-time, relevant support tailored to each yard’s needs.
Involving frontline employees builds trust: Giving employees a stake in the system’s success created buy-in that top-down training alone couldn’t achieve.
The most successful ERP implementations don’t rely on software features alone — they rely on people. By investing in ERP champions, this distributor transformed its rollout from a technology project into a team-driven success story.
If you’re rolling out an ERP system across your yards, don’t underestimate the power of internal champions. They might just be the key to lasting adoption and operational excellence.
Certified Engineers
© 2026 www.buildingmaterial.ai | All rights reserved.
Statutory Legal Information
BUILDIX is the registered name of Prata Inc., an IT company located at 125 Maywood Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804.
All the personal information that you submit on the website (Name, Email, Phone, and Project Details) will not be sold, shared, or rented to others. Our sales team or the team of software developers will only use this information to send updates about our company and projects, or to contact you if requested or deemed necessary.
