Published: October 7, 2021
By Neisy Pita-Rodriguez, Account Executive, CAVU ERP
A worldwide pandemic reminded us all how important the sanctity of home is. At the same time, this worldwide crisis launched mason supply businesses into a frenzy of supply and demand, reminding them of the critical role that their business software plays in their overall success. Events unfolding since 2020 emphasized as never before the fact that having accurate inventory controls and efficient order processing are synonymous with success.
What are you doing to meet customer demands and improve overall operations?
Your ERP Strategy: Is it Time to Hit the Reset Button?
Over the last several months, I’ve spoken to hundreds of owners and managers of mason supply yards throughout the US. The consensus among your industry peers is that having the right ERP system is crucial to remaining profitable when facing the rapidly fluctuating prices of today’s market, customer demands, and material procurement delays. The challenges of finding new and safer ways to flawlessly execute contactless order placement and fulfillment, driven by the “new normal” that is today’s reality, left many in the industry spiraling without the needed tools and support, due primarily to the limitations of their generic software solution.
A supplier in the northeast U.S. carrying several lines including both Nicolock and Cambridge acknowledged that he was able to seize the opportunity for increased volume, in part because they had already put a robust integrated, industry specific ERP system in place. The owner, who has over 30 years of industry experience said, “The visibility and transparency of tracking my purchasing needs during these certainly strange times has been our saving grace”. The question remains: What are you doing now to secure a more profitable, efficient future? To answer that question, you must honestly evaluate how your current software system has helped - or hindered - your business during the recent tumultuous business climate.
An Honest Evaluation of Your ERP System is Crucial
As the industry continues on its 2nd year of fast-track gains, there are key questions that every business should consider:
- Can your current system handle sudden volume spikes and continue to maintain control of profit margins? Or has it become clearly evident that you’ve outgrown your accounting software?
- Do you currently have 360-degree visibility of your inventory to provide accurate, on-the-spot product information to your customers? Managing back-order expectations for customers has become a large contributing factor to client retention. These seem to be some of the most common challenges faced by mason suppliers today.
- Can you prepare an order in seconds and allocate material accurately, or are you stuck in a cycle of over-committing and under-delivering due to inventory confusion from an antiquated solution? Are you left to grapple with the uncomfortable face-to-face of having to explain, “My system shows it in stock, but my guys sold it”?
Hard Decisions Drive Financial Success
Avoiding these embarrassing data gaps within your organization is possible when the right industry-specific software is implemented. The challenge of choosing the right ERP solution is not a task that any business owner eagerly assumes. However, during the last two years many mason and building supply companies have realized that they have no other choice if they want their businesses to thrive, even in challenging times. Are you finally ready to make the change from generic software to an all-inclusive industry specific mason supply software?
It may never feel like the right time to switch solutions, but we’ve persevered through a worldwide crisis that forced business leaders to navigate critical short-term issues. Now it’s time to reset business strategies and refocus on the longer-term agenda by building and strengthening company resilience. For many, learning from our changing reality has highlighted the fact that implementing the right industry-centric software solution is a key factor to success in any business climate. Make no mistake: The painstaking task of evaluating a new software solution can feel exhausting, almost impossible, especially during these busy times. However, the key to your company’s financial success lies with using a software solution that was created for mason suppliers and is supported by knowledgeable professionals that have first-hand industry experience.
The Right ERP: Setting Your Business Trajectory for Years to Come
A recent article in Forbes magazine by Paolo Gallo and Giuseppe Stigliano said this: "Companies need to strive for anti-fragility (the ability to prosper in the midst of chaos, rising above the fray to create a competitive advantage). "
Yes, any point-of-sale system should be able to handle counter sales, but only industry- specific software can bridge the gap between a mason supply business and their distinct customer demands, especially "in the midst of chaos" as presented through a worldwide pandemic.
Your customers, your staff and your business deserve to have the support that can only be offered by a targeted industry supply chain software that has kept up with evolving technology and the transformed business world. When it comes to ERP software, settling for average is proven to have a significant, negative impact on business success.
Are you prepared to improve the overall needs of your mason supply business or will you settle for average software with limited business visibility? It is definitely a question worth considering.
Can CAVU ERP Really Make a Difference for your Mason Supply Operation?
If you distribute, retail and/or produce mason supply products and want to explore ways to make your operation more cohesive and efficient across all departments, reach out to us. We can show you exactly why CAVU ERP for Mason Supply is the software of choice for leading mason suppliers across the U.S. and beyond. You'll quickly see that we understand your industry and can provide the software and the support you need, from implementation to ongoing client support. With multiple options for implementation and deployment and with expertise in the industry, our team will help find the right solution for your business.
Get in touch with our experts today to explore your options and let us help you achieve optimum business success.
