Everything in Order: MBCI’s Online Ordering Assembly Feature

There’s no getting around it. Erecting any building involves thousands of parts. Different sizes, colors, lengths, types – you name it. Depending on the nature of the project, there could be numerous parts to be ordered and accounted for. Although MBCI simplifies the process, it can still be a lot to manage. Until now, everyone has come up with their own method – like the many long-timers who write it all out by hand. But for those newer to the process, it can be overwhelming. Now we’re taking the guesswork out of it and making the process considerably easier, with exciting new user-friendly features on our online ordering platform.

With the new addition of “Assemblies”, you can simply choose which area of a building you’re working on, fill in some details such as panel type, trim condition, attachment type, size, and color, and the system will do the rest of the work for you – making sure you have any necessary fasteners, accessories or other parts, adding everything to your order. No longer will you have to study construction drawings, note fastener types and add everything to your order by hand. No longer will you find yourself on-site without the needed materials. And, even if you do, the online ordering platform is available right from your phone to get whatever you need on the way ASAP.

As Director of Development Tyler Roose says, “We’ve heard testimonials from many, many customers and it’s the only way they like to order anymore. It’s a huge time saver.”

Ready to get started? Head to shop.mbci.com. If you are registered and an existing customer, you should have everything you need to log in. For new customers, simply fill in the requested information and provide your customer number to create an account. If you don’t have a customer number, reach out to your district sales manager or customer service rep.

1 Login

Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the dashboard, which has links to any existing orders, quotes or other information you may need.

2 Dashboard_cropped

To get started on a new quote, simply click the “Start New Quote” button, which will give you an option to name your new quote and use a template if desired (more on that later).

3 Start new quote button

4 Name quote

Once you’ve begun a new quote, you will land on the Products page, where you have the option to shop by category, such as accessories, fasteners, panels, structural and trim. However, for this purpose, let’s focus on the newest option: Assemblies.

5 Products

Choosing “Assemblies” will open a list of component types to choose from. For this example, we’re selecting PBR, but you’ll choose whichever is appropriate to your project. From the next list, select the area you’re working on, such as eaves, gutters, valleys, corners, bases, etc.

6 Assembly choices

7 PBR assembly choices

Once you’ve selected your assembly, the form will prompt you to choose details such as thickness, color, lineal footage of the assembly being used, and further options depending on the assembly and area you’re working on. Then, all the core trim items as well as necessary fasteners, sealants and accessories are automatically added to your material list for review. Notice the additional parts automatically added on the PBR form. If satisfied with your work, click “add to cart”, and a more formal review can now be completed once all parts from the project are accounted for.

8 Empty form 9 Filled in form

10 additional form

Now you can simply repeat this process for whatever other areas you need. You can save and share this quote with others who may need to review and approve. If you anticipate needing similar orders in the future, choose the “Save as Quote Template” option in the dropdown box. The next time you have a similar project, choose this option when you start a new quote, then simply make whatever changes are necessary – colors, lengths, quantities, etc. – and you’ll be done with your order in much less time than with previous methods.

11 Dropdown box

If for any reason you need to make changes to a quote, simply use the “Modify Quote” button at the bottom of the quote page.

13 Modify or checkout

Be sure to check out the other handy features on the online ordering site, such as related literature, documents and parts at the bottom of each product page and in catalogs. You can also search by keyword or use the navigation at the top for anything you might be looking for.

12 info at bottom of page

14 Catalogs

We hope you’ll take the time to learn the new system. It’s sure to save you innumerable hours in the long run. And if you get stuck or run into any problems, we’re here to help. Refer to the FAQ and don’t hesitate to get one of our sales individuals involved. We are all fully versed on online ordering and happy to help.

Quote Online. Order Online. Build Your Business.

The age of electronic commerce is firmly in place. It seems that just about anything can be ordered and paid for online then shipped directly to customers. Since this makes the process of buying and selling so much more convenient and efficient, it is exciting to see that this method can be used to order metal roof and wall panels, trim, accessories and even steel-curtain roll-up doors! MBCI is among one of the first metal building component manufacturers to offer an online ordering service to contractors, building owners and other customers. Here are some of the benefits to those who take advantage of this very timely e-commerce tool:

It's as simple as filling out your contact and company information to get started!
It’s as simple as filling out your contact and company information to get started!

Simple and Safe Account Set-Up

Getting started using an online ordering website is usually quick and easy and only requires that you provide little more than basic company and contact information. Once those details are provided, your account verification and activation generally takes a few business days. This may seem like a long time to some—particularly in comparison to those e-commerce businesses that allow almost immediate account activation and even ordering by guests without accounts. However, instantaneous account approval methods often don’t allow for the customization and specialized pricing that online ordering services like MBCI’s do, and that verification and customization does take some time.

For those who have already done business with their selected retailer offline, historical account information can typically be linked to their new online account, including any unique pricing agreements. And, of course, sensitive information held within online ordering accounts can be kept safe using appropriate online security methods and password protection to keep everyone’s mind at ease when doing business online.

Immediate and Accurate Product Pricing

The biggest benefit of online ordering tools is often the convenience of getting quick, accurate, pricing information anytime it is needed. When a quote is sought for a project of any size, customers can simply log into their online ordering account and view up-to-date information related to all of their quote queries and order transactions. Some online ordering platforms like MBCI’s even include a “Quick Price” tool that enables users to search for specific products and set customized attributes for them to get an accurate price for that item immediately, all based on either unique or general pricing agreements. An added bonus is that when changes are made to pricing agreements, quotes and preferences, their impact can be seen in real time.

Time-Saving Features

When working under a deadline, you don’t always have time to wait for a sales representative to process your order manually. And besides, who has time to wait even when there are no deadlines! Instead of relying on others to receive accurate quotes each time you need to find pricing or place an order, you can use an online ordering tool to save time by:

The Quick Price Tool allows for users to get immediate accurate pricing on any product (pricing subject to change).
The Quick Price Tool allows for users to get immediate accurate pricing on any product.(pricing subject to change)
  • creating as many custom quotes as you like and submitting orders anytime, anywhere and from any device—even when sales offices are closed
  • saving items as favorites for quick reference
  • creating custom quote templates for frequently-ordered product combinations

While online ordering is inherently faster than more traditional processes, these tools help speed up the process even further.

Intuitive Order Checkout Process

Once you’ve customized the products you need for your project(s) and added them to your cart, you are now ready to checkout. Online ordering makes this easy by providing fields that capture all necessary information like shipping address, delivery instructions, jobsite contact and more to help prevent delays in getting your material delivered. In addition, a variety of payment methods are often available, including purchase orders and even credit cards, allowing you to select the method you prefer best. An added benefit of ordering online is that once you’ve set your preferences, your account remembers them and helps you reduce the repeated entry of information that rarely changes.

Order Status Visibility 

Another benefit to doing business online is that anytime you need to know the status of an in-progress or already-completed order, a quick glance at your online account should provide all the information you need. In most cases, you can check an order status by simply clicking on it to view details like the order confirmation and shipping status, which can also be easily shared with colleagues.

Account Management

Using the eCommerce tool, you can manage spending limits and employee permissions with the click of a few buttons.
Using the eCommerce tool, you can manage spending limits and employee permissions with the click of a few buttons.

Most online ordering websites feature a robust suite of administrative tools that make it possible to easily:

  • manage employee access
  • designate which employees are allowed to purchase
  • set spending limits on those employees and
  • assign customers to specific employees within a sales team.

In addition, account management tools can make it very easy to view detailed reporting that shows order trends by product type, order time-frame and more. They also allow you to enable notifications to track updates and changes and build an integrated, company-wide address book to expedite order checkout.

With benefits like those listed above, it’s no wonder that businesses are transitioning to this digital means of operation. To find out more about how MBCI’s online ordering tool can help you quickly create quotes with accurate pricing, order the products you need to start building, and save time so you can focus on your business, visit http://www.mbci.com/shop/ or contact your local MBCI representative.

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