5 Builders’ merchant issues you can fix with the right software

Running a builders’ merchant isn’t exactly a quiet day at the office. Your drivers need instructions, you’ve got customers waiting, stock that never seems to be kept where it should be, and paperwork that somehow multiplies every time you turn your back. When things get hectic in the yard, it’s easy for the admin to slip – and that has a knock-on effect on everything else.

But the good news is that most of your daily headaches don’t have to be “just part of the job”. With purpose-built software for builders’ merchants, you can take back control of your yard and keep everything moving without constantly chasing up problems.

5 common builders’ yard problems and how software helps

Here are 5 common problems we hear about from builders’ merchants and the simple software fixes that help them level up.

1. Paperwork piling up everywhere

Delivery notes are getting lost, invoices are piling up, and quotes scribbled down at the trade counter aren’t getting logged. Staying late to catch up on the paperwork is all too familiar.
How software helps: A purpose-built EPOS system for builders’ merchants will allow you to track every aspect of the yard electronically (stock, deliveries, quotes, invoices) so everything is organised in one place. No more paperwork piling up on your desk.

2. Stock levels you can’t trust

Counting stock manually, chasing missing items, and guessing what’s available slows down orders and leads to mistakes.
How software helps: You get real-time visibility of your stock across the yard, so you always know what’s on hand. That means no more picking mistakes, and no stock shortages.

3. Customers waiting at the trade counter

Queues are building at the counter due to your team searching for an accurate price, dashing to the yard to check stock, or hunting for a misplaced order note.
How software helps: The team opens the system at the trade counter and has everything they need in front of them – stock levels, delivery plans, product details – so you can keep the queue moving even when the yard is busy.

4. Reporting that takes too long

If pulling reports involves spreadsheets, manual input or figuring out smudged handwriting, you’re losing time you’ll never get back.
How software helps: Good builders’ merchant software gives you instant sales, stock, and performance reports. There should never be any need to dig around and piece together your performance figures.

5. Too many systems that don’t talk to each other

Your yard’s running on scraps of paper and your online store runs separately. The more disconnected things get, the more manual work piles up.
How software helps: When your stock, and ecommerce all feed into the same place, you can stop manually inputting info and reduce mistakes. It’s smoother for your team and better for your customers.

Want to take back control of your yard with the right tech?

We’ve put together a practical guide to help you identify the biggest problem areas in your yard. 

Inside you’ll get:

  • A quick yard health check
  • A look inside a smarter yard
  • Tips for how to level up with purpose-built software for builders’ merchants

Download the free guide here: Take back control of your yard.