Choosing the right ERP software is a strategic decision that impacts every corner of your building materials business—from inventory control to jobsite deliveries. A product demo is your chance to look under the hood and ensure the system meets your operational needs. Use this checklist to guide your evaluation and make the most out of every ERP demo.
✅ 1. Industry-Specific Functionality
Does the ERP support building materials workflows (e.g., bulk orders, split deliveries, unit conversions)?
Are there features tailored to construction supply chains and distribution?
✅ 2. Inventory & Warehouse Management
Real-time inventory tracking across locations?
Barcode/RFID support and automated stock alerts?
Lot, bin, and batch tracking?
✅ 3. Order Management & Fulfillment
Can the system handle complex pricing, multi-line quotes, and backorders?
Is there support for pick, pack, ship workflows?
Integrated dispatching and delivery tracking?
✅ 4. Accounting & Financials
Does it offer full accounting capabilities (AR/AP/GL/Job Costing)?
Can you generate financial reports by branch, location, or division?
Support for tax compliance and multi-currency?
✅ 5. User Interface & Usability
Is the UI intuitive and customizable by role?
Can users personalize dashboards or workflows?
How steep is the learning curve for your team?
✅ 6. Mobile Access & Field Functionality
Does it offer mobile apps for sales reps or field staff?
Can field teams check inventory, place orders, or capture signatures on-site?
✅ 7. CRM & Customer Management
Built-in customer history, pricing, and communication tracking?
Integration with email, phone, or service tools?
Can you manage quotes, follow-ups, and customer service tickets?
✅ 8. Reporting & Analytics
Are dashboards and KPIs available out of the box?
Can reports be customized or automated?
Does it support real-time data insights?
✅ 9. Integration Capabilities
Can the ERP integrate with your existing tools (e.g., ecommerce, logistics, POS)?
Does it support APIs or third-party add-ons?
✅ 10. Scalability & Cloud Options
Is it cloud-based, on-prem, or hybrid?
Can the system grow with your business needs?
What’s the uptime and data security track record?
✅ 11. Vendor Support & Implementation
What’s the typical onboarding timeline?
Are training resources and live support included?
Is there a dedicated success manager or local partner?
Pro Tip: Bring this checklist to your ERP demo meetings and rate each feature based on your business priorities—critical, nice-to-have, or not needed.
