E-Commerce Rise in the Construction Industry: What are the Benefits?

what are the benefits of ecommerce in the construction industry
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Why the Construction Industry Should Embrace E-Commerce

E-commerce may seem like an alien concept for the construction industry. Many retailers (non-construction) have adopted it as the best B2C business idea to increase sales. But e-commerce is still finding it hard to seep into the mainstream construction business. There are several reasons for this reluctance. And the biggest one is the comfort of doing business where you already know how to. E-commerce is not viable for every construction business though. Still, the rise of e-commerce in the construction industry is slowly gaining momentum, and there are many reasons why.

Here are a few factors to consider if you want to start an E-commerce site:

  • Do you think order processing can be fast and swift?
  • Do you often have a problem with the data and listing of your products? Keeping it up to date is a task!
  • Are you willing to serve your clients beyond your working hours?
  • Are your competitors already online with their products?
  • Is Amazon crushing the chances of your business?

If most of your answers to these questions are “YES,” then the time has come for your business to go online. The E-commerce website development process takes time and is an ever-evolving process. Doing e-commerce web development for a construction company is not easy. You need to do proper research on the best digital construction marketing agencies to handle your project. This will help you get you ready for future digital transformation. Which we assure you, is happening quite rapidly.

The leading five reasons for a construction company to go for e-commerce are:

1. Deliver orders quickly

Who doesn’t want fast delivery? The construction industry can benefit a lot from swift shipment management. Orders can be shipped out quickly and tracked in real-time. Your managers, who are hard-pressed for time, will also feel relieved as online sellers and distributors usually manage the logistics. Meanwhile, managers can concentrate on operations. The status of a delivery, order time, and other delivery logistics are also easily manageable with e-commerce technology.

Everything and anything is just a click away. Speedy delivery also means more satisfied customers and clients. E-commerce assures that customer demands are being met on time. The fast delivery of materials and other supplies are also instrumental in completing projects on time.

2. Equipment rentals and sales

The construction industry would not be able to operate without equipment. The equipment market is quite fragmented, with many small players serving big local companies. Another situation is that many mediators are between buyers and sellers and equipment rental companies. This scenario is perfect for an e-commerce intervention. The use of e-commerce would be excellent to shut out all the complications existing in the equipment market. With the use of e-commerce, it would be effortless for a customer to buy, sell, and rent equipment online. This step eliminates the loss of money in between and increases cost savings.

3. Low wastage & environment-friendly

The construction industry has long been at the receiving end of flak for not being environment-friendly. The use of e-commerce will help get rid of wasteful practices existing in the industry. If a project manager or general contractor wants to use high-end, environment-friendly material which he/she is not able to find locally, an e-commerce platform will help. Some forward thinkers in the industry have already started refurbishing scrapyard machinery and equipment and selling it online. The rise of E-commerce in the construction industry should be embraced so that the industry can minimize its carbon footprint and do its bit for the planet.

4. Budget and financial management

The use of e-commerce is all about simplification of the tedious process of selling products and services. It helps to budget and manage finances better and more effectively. To put this into context, a real contractor was able to erect a 1,000 wall feet of heavy sheet pile in a shoe-string budget. His proposal included the pricing of a new heavy sheet pile only. He used an e-commerce platform to connect with a supplier who was selling the same type of heavy sheet pile that he needed at a lower price. The contractor bought the used materials online to reduce the cost to the customer further. He saved the customer more than $400,000.

5. E-commerce through mobile

The use of mobile has increased rapidly. Most of us consume information, news, and making purchases through mobile-based internet searches. E-commerce website templates that are mobile friendly can help to simplify the website design process. For instance, take the example of HD Supply Construction & Industrial-White Cap, a provider of building supplies. The company has found ways to bring e-commerce to contractors. The company uses a mobile site to complement its main e-commerce website. And they have witnessed significant sales coming through mobile.

Let’s not take e-commerce in the construction industry as a mere trend. It is the future of selling, especially where equipment and building material supplies are concerned. An e-commerce construction website will also become a need for firms that produce elegant home interior accessories and furniture. The rise of e-commerce in the construction industry offers benefits like swift processing of orders, speedy delivery, ease of business, transparency, and of course a greener world.

If you are searching for e-commerce web development services for construction companies, we can help you design the perfect e-commerce website design. At CMGurus, digital marketing for construction companies is made easy and successful. We offer construction marketing services and provide digital solutions for all your needs.