The B2B eCommerce Solution for the Construction Industry
80% of Building Materials Sales Still Run Offline – Here’s Your Edge
Only 20% of building materials and construction companies have adopted construction eCommerce solutions, even as the wider digital transformation reshapes the construction industry. One reason is the perception that product complexity and layered account structures can’t be digitized.
The few platforms that attempt it often fall short on CPQ and project management, making it harder for construction companies to scale online sales efficiently. This leaves them choosing between expensive homegrown builds and generic eCommerce platforms that limit growth.
OroCommerce fills the gap others leave. You gain the tools to bring catalog, pricing, and customer accounts online in a way that drives both adoption and profit, helping your construction commerce operations evolve for the digital age while improving satisfaction and overall efficiency.
What Your Building Materials Business Unlocks with B2B eCommerce
The right eCommerce platform transforms the slow, offline parts of the construction materials business, like quotes, approvals, and stock checks, into a seamless digital landscape that operates at the speed your buyers expect. It’s a practical step in the broader digital transformation sweeping through the construction industry.
- A sales channel that works around the clock
- Operational Control That Scales with Your Business
- Projects that are easier to manage
- Self-service access: Customers can view the eCommerce offering and prices, check inventory levels, and reorder from your online store in just a few clicks, freeing reps from routine calls, improving customer satisfaction, and saving time for your sales team.
- Contractor storefronts: Allow large contractors to run branded portals with your catalog and pricing, so they serve their clients directly while you remain their trusted construction materials supplier in the background.
- Quotes that move faster: Manage RFQs, revisions, and approvals directly through your eCommerce platform, reducing manual follow-ups and keeping your sales channels active 24/7.
- Detailed product information:Centralize specs, safety documents, and attributes so your customers can confidently buy online, without calling Support or relying on offline channels.
- Procurement-ready: Integrate seamlessly with existing systems and procurement tools like Ariba or Coupa. This ensures smooth order processing and keeps your business a preferred and convenient one-stop shop for the construction industry.
- Account hierarchies that match reality: Manage multiple branches, field buyers, and corporate accounts in one centralized eCommerce platform. This structure mirrors how companies purchase construction materials, helping your team maintain efficiency and accuracy across complex eCommerce operations.
- Payments built for construction: Streamline payment processing with flexible credit limits, split payments, and invoicing terms tied directly to your ERP system. These integrated eCommerce solutions ensure your accounting and order processing stay consistent across all construction projects.
- Sales reps equipped, not sidelined: Empower your team with mobile tools that support field sales. Reps can co-browse, create carts, and assist customers in-store, staying involved in every project.
- Delivery and freight options: Simplify logistics with freight and LTL integrations that handle heavy shipments. This level of efficiency and visibility can help construction companies save money, improve customer service, and adapt to the digital transformation shaping today’s construction sector.
- Pricing and approvals by job: With a robust eCommerce platform built for the construction industry, contract terms and project budgets stay organized in one place. Large orders no longer wait for manual reviews, helping your business move faster in the age of construction e commerce revolution.
- Job carts and spend tracking: Customers build purchase orders by project, while your team monitors budgets and approvals for your online store, avoiding confusion across multiple jobs and creating a competitive edge.
- Configurable Units of Measure: Sell in board feet, pallets, or truckloads, not just SKUs. Conversions are handled automatically, so contractors order in the terms they use on the jobsite.
- Branch-level availability: Show what’s in stock at each location in real time, helping businesses source quickly and plan deliveries with certainty. Whether they’re buying online or coordinating in-store, customers should be able to find what they need quickly.
- Substitution and alternates: Suggests approved substitutes when items are out of stock, so projects don’t stall. It’s a simple way to retain customers and strengthen your market share in the construction commerce space.
How UFP Industries Brings Lumber Sales Online
UFP Industries is one of the world’s largest suppliers of lumber and wood products, serving construction, packaging, and industrial markets. Until recently, customers had to call or fax branches for prices and chase paperwork by email. In an industry where prices change weekly and jobs can’t wait, that back-and-forth slowed customers and sales teams alike.
With OroCommerce, UFPI put all of that into a single digital channel. Independent retailers and builders now log in to see current pricing, have the ability to place and track orders, and the convenience to pull invoices on their own.
Sales reps still stay close to customers by stepping into their view to answer questions, provide additional information, or place an order on their behalf. Challenges with mundane requests no longer eat up their time, leaving space for faster operations and service, and more meaningful conversations.
See more customer stories“Before, every invoice or price update meant another call or email. Now our customers just log in and find it themselves.”
Why Construction and Building Materials Leaders Choose OroCommerce
Run the sales flows construction depends on and
give buyers the speed they expect, all under one license.
Purpose-built for
complex B2B sales
CPQ, RFQs, project approvals, and account hierarchies aren’t add-ons. They come standard, so you don’t need custom builds to support the way you sell.
Expansion without
rebuilding
Add branches, brands, or even a new online store on the same e commerce platform. You expand online channels for customers without rebuilding systems each time.
Ready for attribute-rich catalogs
Detailed specs and attributes are built into the catalog model. You don’t hit a wall when your store grows more technical or when buyers demand more data for purchasing decisions.
One license with every capability included
Commerce, CRM, quoting, invoicing, and payments are part of the core license. You won’t face hidden modules or unpredictable costs later, which is important for future growth.
Integration-ready
API-first architecture connects with ERP systems like SAP and Oracle, as well as PIM solutions and procurement tools such as Ariba or Coupa, ensuring your e commerce platform fits smoothly with your existing website and back-end data workflows.
Innovation that moves
with the industry
AI-powered ordering, AI SmartAgent, and other artificial intelligence capabilities keep your online store competitive as the future of eCommerce continues to evolve.
FAQ
How can a construction company expand its sales channels with eCommerce?
By using a purpose-built eCommerce platform, construction companies can digitize offline processes, reach a higher number of customers, and expand their online commerce operations without rebuilding systems each time.
How does the platform improve the user interface for buyers?
OroCommerce’s user interface is designed for ease of use, letting customers browse catalogs, check inventory, and complete purchases quickly. A streamlined UI reduces friction, increases adoption, and boosts satisfaction for both field buyers and branch offices.
Can I track data and performance across multiple customer accounts?
Yes, the platform centralizes data such as order history, approvals, and project-specific purchases, providing actionable insights into trends and buyer behavior. This data helps your company optimize workflows, pricing, and account strategies.
Are there examples of other construction companies succeeding with OroCommerce?
Case studies like UFP Industries show how digitizing lumber processes improved speed, transparency, and overall satisfaction. By consolidating multiple offline channels into one digital platform, companies can be more efficient and focus on new revenue opportunities.