— How to Use ERP Software to Optimize Stock, Safety, and Sales
🧱 Why Roofing & Siding Materials Need Special Attention
Roofing shingles, metal panels, vinyl siding, and fiber cement boards aren’t just big-ticket items—they’re bulky, fragile, and weather-sensitive. One cracked pallet or one mismatched order can set a jobsite back days (and cost you big in returns or rework).
By tracking the right warehouse and inventory metrics, you can stay ahead of demand, reduce breakage, and keep your ERP working smarter—not harder.
✅ 1. Inventory Turnover Rate
📊 What it measures:
How often your roofing/siding materials are sold and replaced in a given period.
Why it matters:
Identifies fast vs. slow movers
Prevents overstocking and frees up yard space
Helps forecast seasonal demand spikes (hello, peak roofing season!)
How ERP helps:
Automatically calculates turnover by SKU or category
Flags slow-moving SKUs for promotions or markdowns
Syncs with sales data for smarter reorder decisions
➡️ Turn inventory faster, not just store it longer.
✅ 2. Stock Aging by SKU
⏳ What it measures:
How long your roofing and siding materials sit in storage before being sold.
Why it matters:
Aged materials like shingles or fiber cement can degrade
Old inventory is more prone to damage and loss of color matching
Long shelf times lead to markdowns or waste
How ERP helps:
Tracks entry date per batch or pallet
Generates alerts for aging inventory
Supports FIFO (First-In, First-Out) rotation practices
➡️ Fresh stock = happy contractors.
✅ 3. Damage and Return Rate
📦 What it measures:
The percentage of siding or roofing materials returned or damaged during handling or delivery.
Why it matters:
High return rates = poor storage or transport practices
Impacts profitability and customer satisfaction
May point to supplier or handling issues
How ERP helps:
Logs return reasons by product
Analyzes returns by warehouse location or supplier
Helps refine storage zones or retrain staff
➡️ Less breakage = better margins.
✅ 4. On-Time Jobsite Delivery Rate
🚛 What it measures:
How often you deliver roofing/siding materials to the jobsite within the promised time window.
Why it matters:
Late deliveries can delay framing, siding, or roofing work
Impacts contractor trust and repeat business
May trigger fines or lost contracts in commercial projects
How ERP helps:
Tracks dispatch schedules by load and location
Integrates route optimization tools
Links POD (Proof of Delivery) with real-time delivery stats
➡️ When you say it’s coming, make sure it gets there.
✅ 5. Bin Location Accuracy
📍 What it measures:
The accuracy of your stored material locations vs. what’s shown in your ERP system.
Why it matters:
Prevents delays during picking
Reduces forklift risks from unnecessary movement
Saves labor hours and avoids misloads
How ERP helps:
Uses scanning tools to update real-time location tracking
Runs bin verification audits
Flags discrepancies instantly
➡️ Know where every panel, pallet, and bundle is.
✅ 6. Backorder and Fill Rate
🔄 What it measures:
Percentage of customer orders filled completely vs. partially/backordered.
Why it matters:
Incomplete orders hurt customer confidence
Triggers multiple deliveries = higher transport costs
Indicates poor forecasting or supplier issues
How ERP helps:
Tracks fill rates by product line or customer
Highlights chronic backordered items
Suggests alternate products if primary SKU is out of stock
➡️ Consistency = customer loyalty.
✅ 7. Pick Accuracy Rate
📦 What it measures:
The percentage of roofing/siding items picked and packed correctly per order.
Why it matters:
Prevents incorrect deliveries and returns
Reduces jobsite complaints and last-minute fixes
Saves time in dispatch and delivery
How ERP helps:
Scans barcodes at picking and packing stages
Matches order data to actual loaded items
Reports errors by user or product type
➡️ Pick it right the first time.
