How AI is changing builders merchant software

Most of us already use AI without thinking about it - predicting what we type, mapping faster routes, suggesting what we might like next. But are you getting the same benefits in your business? 

• Right now, there is a lot of noise about AI in business management software, but what matters most is how it actually helps your day-to-day merchant operations. 
• Traditional builders merchant software runs on fixed rules and formulas to deliver information. AI takes this further - spotting patterns you might miss, flagging trends before they become problems, and giving your team the insights to act faster and smarter. 
• You’re not changing the way you work. You’re simply giving your system - and your people - more power to do what they do best. 

Where AI is making a difference in builders merchant 

AI is evolving quickly - which means new possibilities for builders merchant software. The latest business systems are now embedding AI features that actually make a difference to your day-to-day operations. 

Here are some practical ways you can see it in action: 

Making sense of all that information 

Your business holds an incredible amount of data - emails, orders, product details, customer history, buying patterns. AI can now help turn that tangled mess into clear, actionable insights: 

• Reminding you what a customer recently requested 

• Highlighting shifts in their buying behaviour 

• Showing which product lines have tapered off in the past 90 days 

Context like this used to take time to pull together. Now it's available in moments - making everyday decisions much easier. 

Smarter stock decisions 

Stock forecasting once relied on formulas and gut instinct. Now, AI can look at your sales trends, supplier lead times, and seasonal patterns. It can give you better suggestions before you even ask. 

It helps your team stay one step ahead - avoiding stockouts, cutting excess, and keeping customers happy. 

Understanding vague customer requests 

In the building materials world, you've probably seen emails like, "Can you send the next part of my order?" Or received a handwritten note passed across the counter. 

Today's AI tools can manage these vague customer requests. They can identify the sender, understand the message, and import details directly into a quote or order. Even from a photo of that note. 

That means less time deciphering and more time helping customers. 

Product suggestions that learn from your customers 

Most software can suggest related products - but those suggestions don't always feel relevant. 

AI takes a smarter approach. It analyses your actual customer buying patterns and identifies which products customers often purchase together. Then it uses those insights to suggest genuinely useful add-ons as you build a quote or order. 

A simple change that can boost sales - without adding extra work for your team. 

Smart automation in Accounts Payable 

When setting up a new supplier, a system, like GenetiQ, now creates invoice templates automatically - replacing what used to be a manual process of mapping out key invoice details. It’s a small change that removes setup delays and gives finance teams more time to focus on other tasks. 

Built-in AI for builders merchants 

You shouldn't have to dig through reports to get insights. With the right builders merchant software, you get the insights you need - so you can make smarter decisions, faster. AI included. 

If your system can't deliver this today, it's worth questioning whether it was built with AI in mind. With AI evolving so quickly, software that struggles with today's basics will only fall further behind. 

AI is not about replacing people 

AI isn't here to do your team's job. It helps with repetitive tasks - flagging issues, suggesting next steps, and speeding up daily work. This way, your team can focus on what they do best. 

In the builders merchant sector,  relationships still count. Customers still value knowledgeable conversations, trusted advice, and service that goes beyond the sale. AI simply works behind the scenes - giving your people more time to do what matters most. 

"AI will never replace the people at the heart of this industry. But done right, it can free up their time - so they can focus on the work that really matters."  - Gary Brookshaw, Product Director, GenetiQ 

Getting started shouldn't mean starting over 

You don't have to reinvent your business to start benefiting from AI. You should be able to infiltrate AI into how you operate now. The problem you may have is whether your current system has the capabilities to enable you to make use of AI.  

It's always a good idea to find out if your current software supplier has AI initiatives on the horizon. Will they be included or will you require a new module? 

The right system doesn't bolt AI on as an afterthought. It builds it in - so you get faster answers, better insights, and more headspace to focus on growing your business. 

Have you got the right foundations for AI-ready builders merchant software? 

Before you start thinking about AI, it's worth checking whether your current system can even support it. 

If your software struggles with the core capabilities your team depends on - like automated workflows, fast and reliable EPOS, real-time access to key data, built-in financials, or flexible integrations - AI won't solve the problem. It will only highlight what's missing. 

Essential foundations for an AI-ready system: 

• Does your system show the information your staff need, as they work - not buried in your system or in reports? 

• Does it support automated alerts, smart workflows, and fast, reliable EPOS counter performance? 

• Does it help your team make smarter stock decisions, based on real trends and real-time data? 

• Can it adapt easily as your business changes and scale as you grow? 

• Does it offer built-in modules for scheduling, transport, mobile warehouse, and other operational needs? 

• Does it have a modern API - so it can connect seamlessly with third-party platforms? 

• Does it provide key business insights throughout the system - not just after the fact? 

• AI-driven functionality to look for: 

• Can it spot changes in customer buying habits quickly? 

• Can it handle vague or incomplete customer requests with ease? 

• Does it suggest useful product add-ons, based on how your customers actually buy? 

• Is AI built in - not just added on? 

 
If you're unsure on any of these, it's time to take a fresh look at what your software can do - and where it may be holding your business back. 

If your current system can't keep up, or isn't moving forward fast enough, it could be time to make a change - before your business gets left behind. 

"As ERP providers, we must consider how AI can help your daily building materials business. Our goal with GenetiQ is to maximise AI benefits and reduce risks."   -  Gary Brookshaw, Product Director, GenetiQ