IT: ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE A
rtificial intelligence (AI) is now firmly on the agenda for UK builders’ merchants, yet for many the conversation can feel
over-technical, and, at times, more confusing than helpful. Headlines often focus on dramatic transformation, but the reality for most merchant businesses is far more straightforward.
AI doesn’t have to mean radical change, complex projects or replacing experienced people. When applied effectively, it can give merchants a clearer view of their business and the confidence to make better-informed decisions, without disrupting how teams already work.
Business challenge
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make with AI is treating it as a goal in its own right. Instead, the starting point should always be the day-to-day challenges merchants want to address: • Too much stock tied up in slow-moving lines • Limited visibility of true margins by product, supplier or branch • Reacting to trends after they have already affected profitability
Most merchants already hold a wealth of valuable information within their ERP system, from sales history and stock movements to pricing and supplier performance. The challenge is not a lack of data, but how effectively it is used.
Platforms such as Merlin ERP, designed specifically for merchant operations, provide a strong foundation for AI and intelligent insight by bringing data from across the business into one robust system. This consistency and context are far more important than having perfect data, allowing AI to identify patterns and exceptions over time.
A key consideration for merchants exploring AI is where that intelligence lives. Standalone or generic AI tools may promise quick answers, but they can introduce new problems, including disconnected data, security concerns, and insights that lack relevance. Embedded AI, delivered within ERP platforms, avoids many of these issues. For example, intelligence delivered through platforms such as AppCentral, Aptean’s purpose-built vertical AI platform, extends the value of Merlin ERP through industry-focused applications.
This approach can support more connected, efficient operations and ensure insights are grounded in how the business actually works. The real value of AI lies not in producing more data, but in highlighting what matters most. Tools such as Aptean Intelligence deliver
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TO AI OR NOT TO AI
The question for merchants is how they should get involved with AI in order to best help their businesses. BMJ gets the lowdown.
vertical AI capabilities that are built on domain expertise and designed to analyse operational data and present tailored insights that reflect the realities of merchant businesses. In practice, this can include:
• Flagging emerging stock risks before they impact availability or cash flow • Highlighting margin pressure in specific product categories, suppliers, or branches • Identifying unusual buying patterns that may indicate changing demand
A common concern is that AI will override human judgement or diminish the value of industry experience. In reality, it’s the opposite. AI is most effective as a decision-support tool. It helps experienced teams see the full picture faster, ensuring important details are not lost in day-to-day pressures. Final decisions still rest with people who understand their customers, suppliers, and local markets. By highlighting trends and exceptions early, AI gives merchants more time to apply their expertise where it matters most. Getting started with AI does not require a large-scale transformation project. Many merchants see benefits quickly by focusing on a small number of high-impact areas, such as stock optimisation or margin analysis, using
insight already available within their ERP environment.
Built on AppCentral 2.0, Aptean’s vertically focused AI platform, Aptean Intelligence as a Service gives businesses a clear, actionable roadmap - from identifying high-value opportunities to deploying agents that deliver measurable results.
It removes the technical burden, identifies where AI will create the greatest value, and empowers operations teams to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and improve decision-making with safe, governed, industry-trained AI agents.
Early successes help build confidence across the business and demonstrate that AI is not about complexity, but about clarity.
Choosing the right approach As interest in AI grows, merchants are faced with an increasing number of technology providers making bold claims. Asking the right questions can help separate meaningful solutions from marketing hype. Key considerations include:
• Is the AI designed specifically for merchanting? • Does it work with existing ERP data and workflows? • How quickly will it deliver visible, practical value? • Does it support decision-making rather than automate it blindly?
Solutions built on deep industry experience are far better placed to reflect the realities of merchant operations.
AI does not represent a leap into the unknown for builders’ merchants. When embedded within core systems such as Merlin ERP and delivered through platforms like AppCentral, intelligence becomes a practical tool that helps businesses operate with greater confidence and control.
For merchants feeling unsure about where to start, the key is to keep the focus on real business challenges and adopt AI in a way that fits naturally into existing ways of working .BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2026
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