Company Overview
Name: StoneBridge Supply
Industry: Building Materials Distribution
Locations: 4 regional yards + central warehouse
Focus: Masonry, rebar, aggregates, and hardscape materials
Challenge: Selecting a new ERP system to replace outdated software and unify operations across locations
The Challenge
StoneBridge Supply had outgrown its legacy ERP system. Inventory discrepancies, limited visibility across locations, and heavy manual processes were costing time and customer trust. The leadership team began evaluating new ERP platforms but quickly felt overwhelmed by flashy demos and vague sales promises.
“Every vendor said they could do what we needed—but we weren’t sure how to tell who actually could.”
—Operations Manager, StoneBridge Supply
The Turning Point: Creating a Demo Checklist
Instead of relying on sales pitches, StoneBridge created a detailed Demo Checklist—a list of critical features and real-world workflows tailored to their business.
Their checklist covered key areas like:
Multi-location inventory visibility
Picking and staging workflows
Mobile access for yard teams
Unit-of-measure flexibility
Customer pricing by job/project
Quote-to-order speed and accuracy
Support for contractor accounts
Real-time reporting and order tracking
Each vendor demo was scored against this checklist—not just on features, but on how well the system handled their most important use cases.
The Results
Using the checklist gave StoneBridge a clear framework to compare vendors side by side. It helped their team:
✅ Stay focused on needs, not bells and whistles
✅ Ask deeper questions during demos
✅ Involve yard managers, sales reps, and accounting staff in evaluation
✅ Identify hidden gaps early (like lack of bundle tracking or job-site routing)
✅ Confidently choose a system with the right mix of power and simplicity
“The checklist gave us clarity. It turned a chaotic process into something we could measure and trust.”
—IT Lead, StoneBridge Supply
Within six months of go-live, StoneBridge saw:
40% faster order staging times
Fewer fulfillment errors across locations
Better communication between yard and sales teams
More accurate customer pricing and faster quotes
Key Takeaway
ERP demos can be overwhelming, especially when every vendor sounds the same. A customized demo checklist helps you take control of the process, ask the right questions, and choose a system based on your business—not theirs.
If you’re evaluating ERP vendors now, don’t rely on gut instinct or a slick sales deck. Build a checklist that reflects how your teams work every day—and use it to find a solution that truly fits.
