Parts and materials are the unsung heroes of every construction or service organization. They’re what keep your projects moving, your teams productive, and your customers satisfied. But here’s the hard truth: for many companies, the process that gets those parts where they need to go– the pick request process–is outdated, inefficient, and full of headaches.
It’s time to fix that. By upgrading your pick requests.
Why Materials Management Matters More Than You Think
If you want to improve operational efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, and increase customer satisfaction, start with how you manage your parts and materials. It’s one of the most underrated areas of improvement in the construction and service world. Ultimately, without a reliable flow of materials, everything slows down, projects stall, teams get frustrated, and costs climb. Perhaps, worst of all, your customers notice.
So What Is a Pick Request?
A pick request is simple in concept–someone on the project team needs materials to get a job done. So, they request them.
But in practice, this request could come in any form: an email, a phone call, a casual chat, a spreadsheet, a Post-it note–you name it. Sometimes items just get taken without any formal process at all. No tracking, no validation, no accountability.
And that’s where things break down.
What Happens Without a Proper Process?
- No validation = wrong materials sent out, wrong job impacted
- No allocation = items meant for Job A get used on Job B
- No prioritization = the loudest voice wins, not the most urgent project
- No tracking = no way to know who used what, when, or why
- No transparency = employees may be blamed for delays they didn’t cause
When your pick process is ad hoc and disorganized, chaos creeps in and costs rise fast.
Make Picking Simple
To get things running smoothly, you need a system that takes the guesswork (and the manual work) out of the equation. Imagine no more emails or spreadsheets, with a system that helps build the pick request for you and suggests what’s needed based on previous jobs or existing project material lists. If you have an empty box and need to reorder a part, instead of writing something down or tracking someone down, you just scan the box and send the request to the warehouse.
Smarter Picking and Faster Fulfillment
Once requests are in, your team can easily see who requested what, when, and for which job.
You’ll be able to know where every item is stored across multiple locations, scan items when they’re picked to instantly update inventory, and avoid stock-outs by automatically generating a purchase order when inventory is low
Even better? That purchase order can be tied to the job or work order automatically, and both the warehouse and the requester get notified as soon as the items are received so that everyone stays in the loop.
Don’t Forget Tracking
You also want clear proof that materials were delivered or picked up. Whether it’s an electronic signature, a photo, or another confirmation method, your system should verify who received what and when.
A Simple Fix with a Big Impact
This isn’t just about making warehouse life easier. A streamlined pick request and materials management process reduces costly delays, cuts down on excess inventory, boosts job satisfaction, helps retain skilled workers, and, most importantly, keeps your customers happy.
Because when your team always has what they need–when they need it– they can focus on doing great work instead of chasing down parts.
Parts and materials may seem like just another line item, but the way you manage them can make or break your operational efficiency. If you’re still relying on ad hoc pick requests and outdated tracking, now’s the time to upgrade. Simplify the process and start boosting your efficiency today.
