New ECI report urges builders’ merchants to invest in skills and digital to tackle mounting challenges in 2022
Price inflation, materials and labour shortages are some of the top concerns for the construction industry and cost pressures are already being felt across the supply chain.
According to the poll of builders’ merchants, investment in recruitment and digital capabilities are crucial to tackle upcoming challenges.
Younger talent
Stefano Lebban, director of Herts Tool Company, said firms would need to invest in recruitment and salaries:
“As construction workers reach retirement age, fewer people are entering the industry to replace them. The growing difficulty of sourcing labour and attracting younger talent is a pressing issue and may impact supply and demand in 2022. Businesses will need to increase their spending on recruitment as well as the salaries of existing staff to secure skills that are in short supply.”
Digital tools
Cass Heaphy, digital director at Paving Direct, said: “All businesses need to fully adopt digital strategies that allow them to provide consumers with the products and services they need remotely and in a joined-up omnichannel way.”
Andy Scothern, eCommonSense founder at ECI echoed his comments, saying:
“While there are always factors outside a business’ control, the past two years have clearly been challenging. However, there are plenty of examples of forward-thinking builders’ merchants who’ve used e-commerce to tap into high demand for materials from both the trade and public. Using e-commerce to develop robust back-office processes is also important since it helps businesses to reduce costs and uncertainty.”
