IT: EPICOR CASE STUDY
MERCHANTS’ DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ACCELERATES
The builders’ merchant sector has never stood still, but in recent years the pace of digital change has accelerated. For many merchants, the challenge is delivering this without disrupting the ERP systems that sit at the heart of their operations.
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ishop’s Stortford-based eCommerce agency Ad Lab has been named a Preferred Partner for Epicor BisTrack, recognising the company’s expertise in integrating eCommerce platforms with the widely used merchant ERP system. For builders’ merchants already operating on BisTrack, the announcement raises an important question: what does this partnership mean in practice?
Digital focuse on merchants In recent years Ad Lab has built a strong presence within the builders’ merchant sector, delivering projects for merchants such as Harlow Timber Group and Skylander Holdings. Through this work, Ad Lab has developed a detailed understanding of how merchant businesses operate. Unlike traditional retail, builders’ merchants manage complex trade pricing structures, branch-based stock, customer credit accounts and large product catalogues – challenges that many standard eCommerce platforms struggle to support. Working closely with builders merchants and their teams, Ad Lab focuses on building digital platforms that reflect these operational realities while helping businesses increase online sales and generate new customer leads. Epicor’s decision to name Ad Lab as a Preferred Partner reflects the growing demand for deeper ERP integration within the builders’ merchant sector and the experience Ad Lab has developed working closely with BisTrack. Over several years, the agency has invested significant time understanding the platform — not only from a technical perspective, but also from the way merchants use it operationally day-to-day. Through projects with BisTrack merchants, Ad Lab has developed a detailed understanding of the system and how it can be extended to support modern eCommerce.
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This experience led to the development of a dedicated builders’ merchant eCommerce platform, built around the Epicor BisTrack API, enabling operational data to synchronise seamlessly between the ERP system and the website.
For Epicor, partnerships like this help strengthen the wider ecosystem around BisTrack, giving merchants access to specialist providers who understand both the ERP environment and the demands of digital commerce.
David Newman, managing director of Ad Lab, says: “It’s a real honour to be recognised as a Preferred Partner for Epicor BisTrack. We see BisTrack, particularly through the strength of its APIs, as one of the leading ERP platforms in the builders’ merchant sector. We’ve invested significant time and resources into developing our Builders’ Merchant Platform, which integrates seamlessly with BisTrack to give merchants, and their trade and retail customers, a better experience when finding and purchasing products online. We’re excited to see the partnership and platform continue to evolve.”
Ad Lab’s platform has been developed specifically around the BisTrack integration layer, allowing product information, pricing, stock levels and customer records to synchronise directly between the ERP and the website.
Orders placed online flow straight into BisTrack’s order management system, enabling merchants to manage digital transactions through the same processes used for branch and telephone orders while reducing manual administration and the risk of pricing or stock discrepancies.
One of the biggest challenges in merchant eCommerce is replicating the flexibility of the trade counter online.
Ad Lab’s Builders’ Merchant Platform supports both trade and retail customers while maintaining the commercial rules that merchants need to rely on. Trade customers can register online, automatically creating customer records within BisTrack. Once approved, account customers can log in to view their bespoke pricing, place orders using their agreed trade terms and access their account history.
Customers can also view live stock availability across branches, helping them decide whether to arrange delivery or collect materials locally. Delivery options can be configured according to branch delivery radiuses or postcode areas, ensuring that merchants retain full control over their logistics.
Orders placed online are inserted directly into BisTrack’s Order Monitor, while customers can access an online portal to review invoices, statements, orders and credits, giving them full visibility of their trading relationship on and offline with the merchant.
Supporting digital growth The builders’ merchant industry remains relationship-driven and branch-led, but digital platforms are increasingly becoming an important complement to those operations. Well-integrated eCommerce systems can reduce administrative workload, improve stock transparency and enable customers to place repeat orders quickly — whether from site, van or office.
For Ad Lab, becoming an Epicor BisTrack Preferred Partner recognises the work already being delivered within the sector. For builders’ merchants, it signals that the technology and expertise needed to build fully connected digital commerce platforms are now firmly in place. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2026
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