42 | Sector Focus: Software
SUMMARY
■Information needs to be easier and quicker to access
■Merchanter’s upgrade added more timber functionality on merchanting and processing
■Epicor Automation Studio is effectively an integration tool
■KCS is to launch apps to improve efficiencies in busy warehouses
DECISION MAKING DATA DRIVEN
The timber sector has embraced digitalisation during the pandemic years and software providers are continuing to innovate as new challenges arise. Sally Spencer reports
The last couple of years have seen the digital transformation of the timber industry move up not one but several gears as businesses increasingly looked to ecommerce to help them survive and thrive during the worst of the Covid pandemic. Similarly, software system providers have been in overdrive, supplying the necessary solutions and continuing to innovate to keep ahead of the curve.
Digitalisation of the timber industry is not complete, however, with some businesses still on the brink of making the move. “Digitalisation within the merchant sector is growing at the same pace as others sectors. All merchants are looking to have digital process and solutions,” said James Mitchell managing director UK and Ireland at Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS).
Above: Mark Hughes: “the way to survive is to be agile” TTJ | July/August 2022 |
www.ttjonline.com
“This is to be expected,” he continued. “Many customers will visit the branch when sourcing products and the relationships that have been built over the years are very solid. The combination of the two creates a ‘phytigal’ landscape and our solutions reflect this total demand.” He added, however, that the adoption of mobile and internet technologies continues to grow and that KCS expects this demand to increase as its customers continue to evolve and innovate. “Although, thankfully, the pandemic seems to be behind us, it has had a major impact on how people now buy goods. We are all seeing the significant growth in distribution centres across the country and changes in customer expectations regarding delivery.”
Mark Hughes, regional vice-president UK and Ireland at Epicor, agrees that buyers’ expectations have changed.
“Of all the industries we serve, merchants have been the slowest to adapt to the emerging technologies and for good reason – a lot of their business is transacted face-to- face and they have good relationships with customers,” he said. “But the buyers have completely changed and they want to be able to check stock before they go to the branch, they want click and collect and they want deliveries.
“There is a way to go and now that customers are able to get back in through the doors the pressure [to adopt ecommerce] has eased and some merchants are breathing a sigh of relief. But they are the ones who will be left behind and it is the ones who have embraced change that are now offering innovative solutions.”
As an example, Mr Hughes went on to cite one large merchant chain customer of Epicor that had now completely automated its credit application process to solve a genuine business problem.
“Its customers can get their trade accounts set up and their orders placed online without ever interacting with a person, enabling them to shop instantly. The merchant is seeing a big take up of this facility, which has accelerated the process not to mention the environmental benefits of going paperless – a game changer for the industry too.” While merchant’s software demands remain broadly similar, the current adverse economic conditions are encouraging them to see new
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