Neil Sheldon, chief operating officer at The Build Chain, discusses the many benefits for small businesses looking to reduce costs and save time when buying materials or hiring equipment.
While the term “digitalisation in construction” can be off-putting to some, but it is simply another way of talking about online solutions that are more effective and efficient with your time, and these can include help with sourcing building supplies or hiring essential equipment. It’s common to work within a project timeframe, or to a tight deadline, so the last thing you need is for the search for the next order of materials to be time-consuming.
A large part of our lives is now organised at the touch of a button – we regularly make online choices whether it’s booking a holiday, comparing insurance quotes or ordering the weekly shop. Transfer that process to running your own business – such as searching all supplier options on the market at once, requesting quotes and booking the most suitable option – and you could quickly transform the way you work for the better.
The benefits of going digital
Relying on word of mouth and using handwritten or quickly printed-off quotes is not only inefficient but can lead to issues, such as misplacing a paper record of any estimates. It’s frustrating having to repeat the process or feel restricted to using one supplier because there simply isn’t time to shop around.
More seriously, it can lead to a lack of compliance through poor record keeping. This can be easily avoided by using digital solutions with an online dashboard, meaning that no emails, phone calls, or paperwork are missed and that a virtual paper trail is automatically created.
Having an online profile that you can log into through a convenient app or dashboard is not only a better use of time, but also means you can run your ‘office’ from anywhere – from requesting quotes while in your van on site, accepting the best estimates at lunch on your phone and checking emails on the go.
Digital tools that can request estimates and allow contact from the best-suited suppliers, so you don’t have to do this manually, can be a blessing to small contractors. We know that many will return to the same merchants they have used before or decide to only gain one or two estimates simply based on location or word of mouth.
But this means the most suitable products or tool hire options, as well as the best estimates, can be easily missed. That could make it tougher to meet specific compliance requirements if you want to work on public sector projects which aim to use local supply chains to reduce carbon emissions or to support regional economies.
An online procurement tool effectively levels the playing field for smaller contractors who can approach merchants eager to reach a new customer base online and to offer deals that will secure their future loyalty – meaning better relationships, more sales and a stronger business proposition in the long-term
Suppliers can also make suggestions and recommend alternative materials or equipment options if a more open quote is requested. Or orders can easily be split online for the same amount of time and effort, which can make the difference when contractors are working to tackle material shortages and prevent site delays – this is crucial when reputation and a satisfied customer is central to securing future work.
The choice is yours
Convenience, speed, efficiency, and transparency are just some of the benefits of using an online platform for ordering supplies or hiring equipment. When reputation is everything for contractors who often rely on word of mouth for growth, a quicker and more reliable process for sourcing materials or hiring equipment can positively contribute to a job being completed on time and at a good profit margin.
By turning to a ready-made solution, contractors can experience the benefits that a digital approach can provide – and ensure they aren’t missing out on opportunities that are ripe for the taking.
To watch a demonstration video on The Build Chain for contractors visit Construction Procurement software for contractors – Hire or Purchase of Materials, Plant, Tools & Equipment (thebuildchain.co.uk)
