A Checklist for Evaluating ERP Vendors
Choosing the right ERP system is a game-changer—especially in the building materials industry, where inventory, pricing, and logistics can get complex fast. But before you jump into product demos, it’s critical to ensure your business is truly ready. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you make the most of your ERP vendor evaluations:
✅ 1. Define Your Business Goals
Are you trying to reduce manual work?
Do you want better visibility into inventory or margins?
Are you planning to scale operations across locations?
➡️ Clarify what success looks like before viewing any demo.
✅ 2. Identify Key Pain Points
Is it hard to track deliveries or stock levels?
Are sales teams struggling with outdated pricing info?
Is reporting taking too much time?
➡️ List the real problems you expect the ERP to solve.
✅ 3. Map Out Your Current Processes
Purchase to pay
Order to cash
Inventory and warehousing
Delivery and logistics
Jobsite coordination
➡️ Understanding what you do today helps identify where ERP can add value.
✅ 4. Get Stakeholder Input
Have you involved teams from sales, purchasing, warehouse, and finance?
Are decision-makers aligned on goals?
➡️ Cross-department buy-in = smoother implementation and better outcomes.
✅ 5. List Must-Have Features
Real-time inventory tracking?
Pricing matrix for bulk or contract customers?
Mobile access for field teams?
Integration with existing accounting tools?
➡️ Go into demos with a list so you’re evaluating apples to apples.
✅ 6. Set a Realistic Budget & Timeline
What’s your budget range?
When do you need the system live?
➡️ Vendors can tailor demos and proposals more accurately if they know your constraints.
✅ 7. Prep Your Demo Team
Who’s attending?
What questions will they ask?
Who’s scoring vendors?
➡️ A clear internal process ensures you get meaningful insights from each demo.
✅ 8. Ask for Industry-Specific Examples
Do they have experience with building materials businesses?
Can they show scenarios like multi-location inventory or contractor pricing?
➡️ Generic ERP demos won’t cut it—ask for relevance!
Final Thought:
A demo isn’t just a product showcase—it’s a test drive. The more prepared you are, the better you can judge which ERP partner truly understands your business.
