Choosing an ERP system is a big decision—especially in the building materials industry, where every delay, miscommunication, or inventory mistake can impact your bottom line. Before you sign on the dotted line, it’s critical to dig deeper with your ERP vendor. Why? Because asking the right questions up front can save your team months of frustration, costly workarounds, and wasted resources.
Here’s how thoughtful pre-contract questions pay off:
- Uncover Hidden Costs
Ask: What costs are not included in the initial proposal?
Many ERP vendors provide a base price, but additional fees for training, integrations, upgrades, or support can sneak in later. Clarifying this upfront helps you avoid budget surprises.
- Ensure Industry Fit
Ask: Do you have experience working with building materials companies?
Not all ERP systems are built with your industry in mind. You need features like inventory by length or dimension, multi-location stock tracking, and delivery scheduling. A vendor with industry-specific expertise will offer a smoother implementation and more relevant features.
- Understand Implementation Timelines
Ask: What’s the estimated timeline for full implementation—and what could delay it?
Delays in ERP deployment can disrupt operations. Get a realistic timeline, understand who’s responsible for what, and clarify milestones to avoid bottlenecks.
- Evaluate Support Quality
Ask: What does your support look like after go-live?
Post-launch support is just as important as the implementation. Check if support is in-house or outsourced, their response time SLAs, and whether your team will have access to dedicated account managers.
- Check Customization Flexibility
Ask: Can the ERP be tailored to fit our workflows—or do we have to adapt to the system?
A rigid ERP can slow down your processes. Ensure the system can be customized to match how your team works, rather than the other way around.
- Verify Integration Capabilities
Ask: Can your ERP integrate with our existing tools (CRM, logistics, ecommerce, etc.)?
You don’t want siloed systems. Ask how well the ERP plays with your current tech stack to maintain efficiency across operations.
- Confirm Data Ownership and Security
Ask: Who owns our data—and how secure is it?
Make sure your data is protected, encrypted, and easy to export if you ever need to switch systems. Also confirm who has access to your information and how it’s managed.
Final Thoughts
Don’t treat the ERP buying process like a standard software purchase. It’s a long-term investment that affects every part of your operations—from quoting to delivery. By asking the right questions before you commit, you’ll avoid costly surprises, choose a system that truly fits your business, and empower your team with the tools they need to work smarter.
