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Epicor I
n a bold step towards reshaping the future of the UK building materials supply chain, Epicor has joined Building Materials Digital Services Ltd (BMDS) as a founding shareholder, becoming one of
the first external investors in the newly launched Data Yard – a centralised Industry Data Pool (IDP) designed to elevate data quality, compliance, and sustainability across the construction ecosystem. Epicor’s investment places it alongside merchant giants Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd, Fortis Merchants Ltd, h&b Buying Group LLP, and National Buying Group LLP. Together, these shareholders represent a combined £5.6bn in annual turnover – a significant 21% of the UK merchant market – and have helped BMDS reach 50% of its funding target just four months post-launch. For Epicor, a global leader in industry-specific enterprise software, this move is more than financial. It’s a commitment to empowering the ‘make, move, sell’ industries with cutting-edge digital tools. Michael Kirkham, international product management director, at Epicor, who now sits on the BMDS Operational Board, commented: “By backing the Data Yard, we’re putting our cloud-first Cognitive ERP innovation to work for thousands of British manufacturers, merchants, and distributors who rely on accurate product data to trade safely, sustainably, and profitably.” The Data Yard will serve as a secure, centralised hub for suppliers to upload enriched product data – from safety credentials to embodied-carbon metrics – while enabling merchants and ERP systems to access this data in real time via open APIs. Epicor will embed seamless connectors into its Kinetic, Prophet 21, and BisTrack platforms, ensuring rapid time-to-value for customers with minimal custom development.
22 | TTJ | Awards Supplement 2025 TOp left
Gareth Thomas, Managing Director, Building Materials Digital Services
bottom left
Michael Kirkham, Product Director, Epicor
Gareth Thomas, managing director of BMDS,
welcomed Epicor’s involvement: “Epicor’s deep sector expertise and global cloud scale strengthen our ambition to create an IDP ‘by the industry, for the industry’. Their technology leadership and customer community will be invaluable as we onboard suppliers ahead of the Data Yard’s public launch at the BMF Members Conference on September 18.” With the Grenfell Tower inquiry and the incoming Building Safety Act intensifying demands for product provenance, and Net Zero targets driving carbon transparency, the Data Yard offers a timely solution. It promises to eliminate costly duplication and manual data entry, enabling every stakeholder – from timber merchants to HVAC suppliers – to meet regulatory and sustainability obligations with confidence. BMDS is actively enrolling suppliers throughout Q3.
Epicor customers interested in early integration should contact their account manager or email:
datayard@bmds-idp.com ■
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