Job Shop ERP Vendor Demo Script Template
Vendor demos look the same when the vendor controls the story. A scripted brief makes each vendor, whether JobBOSS, E2 Shop System, Global Shop Solutions, ProShop or Fulcrum, show your scenarios on your sample part.
Fill in
Job Shop ERP Vendor Demo Script Template
Scripted Demo Brief for Vendor A
Prepared by: Lakeside Machine Works Demo date: 2026-11-10 Our attendees: Owner, estimator, production manager, bookkeeper, quality lead
Shop profile: 28 employees, 14 CNC machines, high mix low volume, AS9100 customers, about 350 open jobs, one shift.
Please use the sample part NH-20417 Rev C, 6061 bar, turn, mill, anodize for every scenario. Do not show canned slides in place of the live system.
Must-Have Capabilities
Quote to job conversion, finite scheduling, shop floor data collection, lot traceability, outside processing, QuickBooks or GL integration.
Scenarios to Demonstrate Live
| # | Scenario | Score 1-5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enter an RFQ, build a quote with routing and quantity breaks, send it | ||
| 2 | Convert the quote to a job and print a traveler | ||
| 3 | Load the schedule, move a job, show the effect on due dates | ||
| 4 | Operator clocks on and off at a terminal, records quantity and scrap | ||
| 5 | Send an operation out, create the PO, receive it back | ||
| 6 | Receive material with a heat lot and trace it to a shipped job | ||
| 7 | Ship, invoice and post to the general ledger or accounting package | ||
| 8 | Show estimated versus actual job cost report |
Commercial Questions
Ask for: total first-year cost including licenses, users, hosting, implementation days, training and data conversion; annual renewal terms; support response times; who does the data migration; and what is out of scope.
Evaluation
A starting point. Adjust scenarios to your shop. Send the brief to the vendor several days before the demo and score each vendor on the same scale.
Second opinion on your ERP shortlist
Optional: a short conversation about your shortlist and migration risks.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the script
Fill in your shop profile, a real sample part and your top must-have capabilities, then export and send it to each vendor a few days before the demo. During the demo, have each evaluator score every scenario from one to five and write notes. Keep the same scenarios and the same attendees across vendors so the scores are comparable afterwards.
Why scenarios beat feature lists
Every ERP claims quoting, scheduling and traceability. What matters is how many clicks and how much data entry it takes to do your daily work. A live scenario exposes the difference: a vendor that needs a consultant to build a custom routing on the fly is telling you something about day-to-day use.
- Insist on live system, not slides
- Use your own part and a messy real routing
- Include the shop floor view, not just the office
- Ask what is standard and what is customization
Scoring and comparing
After each demo, total the scores per scenario and weight them by what matters. For many small shops scheduling and shop floor data collection carry more weight than reporting depth. Combine the scores with a cost comparison covering licenses, implementation, training, data conversion and annual support, and with reference calls to shops similar to yours.
Common mistakes
Letting the vendor demo only the strongest module, skipping the shop floor terminal, and failing to ask who migrates the data are the common errors. Another is judging on price alone and ignoring implementation effort, which for a small shop often costs more than the first year of licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vendors does this cover?
It is vendor neutral. The scenarios apply to any job shop ERP, including JobBOSS, E2 Shop System, Global Shop Solutions, ProShop, Fulcrum and others. Change the vendor name in the template for each demo.
How many scenarios should I use?
Eight to ten is plenty for a 90 minute to two hour demo. More than that and vendors rush. Prioritize the scenarios where your current process hurts the most.
Should I share the sample part with vendors?
Yes, ahead of time, so they can set it up properly. Use a realistic part with a real routing, including an outside process, rather than a simple example.
Is this a full RFP?
No. It is a demo brief. For larger selections you may also want a written requirements list and a reference check process. This is the practical part for the demo day itself.
If you are weighing an ERP move and want a neutral second opinion on the shortlist or data migration, Netray can help.
Related Tools
Job Shop ERP Fit Assessment
Score how well your ERP handles high-mix, low-volume and make-to-order manufacturing across quoting, one-off routings, WIP visibility, subcontract tracking, and job-level cost variance.
Discrete ManufacturingJob Shop RFQ Intake Form Template
A one-page request for quote intake form so every RFQ reaches the estimator with the same information before anyone opens JobBOSS, E2 Shop System or Global Shop Solutions.
Costing & FinanceJob Shop Job Close-Out Variance Worksheet
Editable worksheet comparing quoted versus actual hours and material to show variance and margin per closed job.
Costing & FinanceJob Shop Machine Hour Rate Worksheet
Editable worksheet that converts machine price, life, hours, power draw and maintenance into a cost per run hour for each machine.
More ERP Migration & Selection tools
See all- ERP TCO Comparison Calculator (5-Year)
- ERP Migration Risk Assessment
- Data Migration Effort Calculator
- ERP Selection Scorecard for Manufacturers
- ERP Go-Live Readiness Checklist
- ERP Change Management Readiness Assessment
- ERP Integration Complexity Calculator
- Cloud vs On-Premise ERP Cost Calculator
- ERP Upgrade vs Replace Assessment