Introduction: Quoting Isn’t Just About Pricing—It’s About Strategy
For building material suppliers, quoting isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. With fluctuating material costs, varied customer types, and complex specifications, quoting needs to be dynamic, responsive, and traceable. A great quoting process—especially when powered by ERP—creates trust and closes more deals.
Let’s walk through a step-by-step process that modern ERP systems should support.
Step 1: Gather Complete Material Requirements
Whether quoting for drywall, insulation, lumber, or concrete:
Start with exact quantities, specs, and delivery schedules
Use ERP forms or templates for each category (e.g., by R-value, length, or mix)
💡 Pro Tip: Use customer order history in your ERP to pre-fill common configurations and specs.
Step 2: Apply Real-Time Pricing Logic
ERP systems should:
Pull current vendor prices (including bulk tiers or discounts)
Factor in freight, fuel surcharge, or delivery zone pricing
Include labor if installation is offered
This ensures your quotes reflect up-to-date, margin-safe numbers.
Step 3: Add Customer-Specific Rules
Different customers get different terms. Your ERP should handle:
Contracted pricing
Markups or discounts by product category
Payment terms or credit status
Use pricing groups in ERP to automate these rules and avoid mistakes.
Step 4: Generate a Branded Quote with Optional Items
Quotes should be:
PDF/email-ready
Include itemized materials
Offer options for upgraded specs or value-engineered alternatives
Allow sales reps to send via CRM-linked ERP and track quote open status.
Step 5: Review, Approve, and Convert
Once reviewed:
Convert quote into a formal order or job package
Auto-link quote to inventory reservations
Update sales pipeline status
All of this should be one-click inside your ERP—no duplication.
Conclusion
A streamlined quoting process not only protects your margins—it boosts sales conversion and professionalism.
👉 Want better quoting tools for building materials? Let our ERP experts walk you through it.
