EDI For European DIY And Home Improvement Retailers

DIY and home improvement stores are often seen as worlds apart from traditional grocery retailers. They offer different stock, can attract a different clientele, and, usually have different experiences of the festive period. Whilst traditional retailers experience a stampede of customers, DIY and home improvement stores are generally much quieter.

However, if we fast forward the calendar half a year then the tables (in part), are reversed, this is because DIY and home improvement retailers see an upsurge in the summer months as consumers try to capitalise on the warmer months. Although their products and peak seasons may be different, one technology, EDI, is tantamount to both and plays a pivotal role in ensuring businesses operating within these markets can supply products to the right place, at the right time. Kingfisher PLC recently announced that ecommerce will play a central part in their 5 year plan to grow sales by £500m by 2021 and this push from one of the major DIY retailers to improve ecommerce and EDI capabilities resonates the importance of trading electronically across the market. Retailers across all industries mandate the use of EDI to automate their supply chains and accelerate their order to cash cycles, but, whilst many industries are faltering under the festive storm, this period could offer the perfect opportunity for some companies to explore their compliance.

TrueCommerce is widely regarded as a leading provider of EDI and e-invoicing solutions to the UK building sector. Many of the leading building and plumbing merchants and DIY retailers, including Screwfix (Kingfisher), Travis Perkins and SGBD UK trade electronically with their suppliers via TrueCommerce’s Fully Managed EDI managed service.