CONSIDERING YOUR OPTIONS

Which path?

Most dealers choose PATHwd after considering two other possible paths first: piecing together a stack of separate tools, or customizing an enterprise system. Let's take an honest look at all three options: DIY, PATHwd, ERP.

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Three paths, one decision

Every dealer ends up choosing one of these. Here's what each one actually looks like day to day.

Too Basic

Building it yourself

A CRM here, a scheduling app there, inventory in a third tool, and so many spreadsheets.

  • Nothing talks to anything else natively
  • Your staff has to upkeep a million disconnected pieces, forever
  • Cheap per tool, expensive in chaos and labor
Just Right

PATHwd

One system built for window and door dealers specifically, out of the box, from lead to install to service.

  • Sales, ordering, warehouse, installation, and service coordinated in one place
  • Purpose-built for window and door dealers specifically
  • Transparent, predictable pricing
See how it all connects →
Too Much

Enterprise ERP

Platforms like Epicor BisTrack, Salesforce, or NetSuite — powerful, comprehensive, and more generic.

  • Long, complex implementations
  • Often more than you need in many areas, and still not enough in others.
  • Six-figure+ licensing and consulting

The full comparison

Same questions, three answers. See where each option actually holds up.

Category
DIY Stack
PATHwd
Enterprise ERP
Built For
Generic — every tool configured from a blank slate.
Window and door dealers, out of the box.
BisTrack: broad building supply. Salesforce/NetSuite: fully generic, any industry.
Setup & Time to Value
Weeks of stitching tools together yourself or with a paid consultant helping to figure it out.
About 12 weeks to go live, plus another 3–6 months to fully ramp up and fine-tune your processes.
6–18 months, a paid implementation team, often a long-term paid consultant relationship.
Purchase Orders & Vendor Integration
Manual — no manufacturer Order Manager integration exists on this route.
Native Marvin Order Manager integration; PO tracking and order acknowledgment processing for all vendors built in.
BisTrack has broad procurement tools, not tuned to W&D manufacturer feeds. Salesforce/NetSuite need custom-built integration.
Warehouse & Inventory
A bolt-on inventory app, disconnected from the job.
Bin-level, barcode-scanned, tied to the job automatically.
BisTrack: strong for bulk/lumber, not unit-based window & door items. Others: separate WMS required.
Field & Crew Tools
Mobile access exists per tool, nothing purpose-built for crews.
On-site capture, customer sign-off, and job docs standard for every crew.
Usually a separate field-service module or add-on cost.
Accounting Integration
QuickBooks alone — no shared "job" concept, so entry is duplicated.
Native two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Enterprise.
Deep financial modules exist, but usually built for a bigger back office than a W&D dealer needs.
Cost Structure
Several monthly subscriptions, cheap individually — plus hidden integration and labor cost.
Transparent, metered pricing that grows with your business.
Custom quote. Licensing and implementation frequently into six figures, plus ongoing consultant fees.
Right-Sized For
Very small shops just getting off spreadsheets.
Window and door dealers roughly $2M–$60M in revenue.
Large, multi-location distributors with dedicated IT/admin staff to run a heavily customized platform.

What it actually costs to get there

Sticker price is only part of the story. Time, integration, and ongoing support affect the ROI too.

DIY Stack

$1,790–$10,820/mo

Range of fees across 6–9 separate tools, plus integration software or ongoing manual data re-entry. Your team figures out how to make it all more or less work.

PATHwd

$1,295–$2,695+/mo

A flat monthly license by plan, plus one-time implementation and a small metered fee on higher tiers — configured by a team that already knows window and door dealers.

See full pricing →

Enterprise ERP

$50K–$500K+

Custom pricing, 6–18 month implementation process starting with weeks of you teaching them about our industry.

Pricing for non-PATH options based on publicly available information and estimates; actual pricing varies.

Ready to see it for yourself?

Watch a walkthrough of PATH from the first quote to paid in full. No pressure, no pitch, no sales rep on the line.

Just five minutes to see how it works before you schedule a meeting with us.

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