Video Transcript
It’s time to down tools for a bit. Welcome to the Tool Shed, the influential podcast for anyone and everyone involved in the building industry. Here’s your host, Mick Hawes.
Hey folks, welcome to another episode of the Tool Shed podcast. If this is your first time here, let me give you a quick overview. If you’ve been with us before, you’ll know that we’re always on the lookout for tools, platforms, philosophies, software—essentially anything that can help builders enjoy their business more, make it more profitable, and give them more time freedom. We’re all about removing unnecessary pain from a builder’s experience. Running a building business is tough enough, especially in challenging environments and economies, without adding pressure by not being aware of helpful resources. That’s the core purpose of this podcast.
In this episode, I’m speaking with Toby Loft from BuiltGrid. I’ll let Toby share the story, but in essence, they’ve created a process—a platform, really—that connects builders and suppliers to streamline the ordering of materials, saving both time and money. If you haven’t heard of BuiltGrid before, you’re in for a treat. Toby, it’s great to have you on the podcast. Before we dive into BuiltGrid, I’d love to hear more about your journey. How did you end up in the building industry, and what led you to be involved in BuiltGrid?
Toby: Thanks for having me. My journey started in a family-owned business—my father is an electrician, and he still picks and chooses the work he wants to do for his valued clients. Growing up, I was surrounded by builders, and I’d often see electrical layouts being done on our dinner table. This environment instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the industry. From there, I moved into sales, working in various fields like fastening, power tools, and even Bakelite. Eventually, I found myself working for one of Australia’s largest hardware retailers, where I met my now-business partner, John Murphy. I spent seven years running trade for over 400 independent hardware stores across Australia, which gave me a solid grounding in the industry and a deep understanding of what’s required from the supply chain. It was during conversations with John that the concept of BuiltGrid began to form. We saw a way to help both builders and the residential construction market by streamlining processes and improving efficiency.
Mick: You were selling Bakelite? That takes me back. I remember working with that material before we had circuit breakers. We’d build fuse boards and drill holes in that black material. I can still recall nights spent with my father in the shed, building switchboards.
Toby: Yes, Bakelite was my first sales job, so it was a natural progression from being in an electrical family business. BuiltGrid, though, is all about connecting builders to their supply network to help them complete projects on time and under budget. It provides visibility over supplier requirements, and importantly, it gives suppliers visibility over builder needs, ensuring they’re ready to help when needed.
Mick: What were the problems you noticed that led to the creation of BuiltGrid? What were builders and suppliers experiencing that BuiltGrid addresses?
Toby: The main issue was around supply and demand. For example, during quiet times, you might get a frame and truss order fulfilled in four weeks. But suddenly, when demand spikes, that timeline could blow out to 16 weeks, which disrupts the entire project. Builders lose time that they can never get back, and it can be very hard to make up time on a job site. BuiltGrid helps prevent these delays by providing a connected supply chain where builders are notified of changes in real-time, allowing them to keep their projects on track.
Mick: That’s a significant time and money saver for builders. What about suppliers? What issues were they facing that BuiltGrid helps to resolve?
Toby: Suppliers were dealing with a variety of systems and processes that were often disconnected from each other. For instance, a supplier might receive a large order via email, but there was no structured system in place to manage and track these orders efficiently. BuiltGrid provides that structure, offering suppliers visibility into builder schedules and automating many of the tasks that builders would normally have to manage manually. This integration saves time and money for both parties.
Mick: How does a builder’s experience differ between using BuiltGrid and not using it?
Toby: Builders using BuiltGrid are experiencing, on average, a 9.5% saving in both operational costs and time. They’re also saving about four weeks per project compared to those who aren’t using the platform. This time saving has a huge impact on cash flow and overall project efficiency.
Mick: That’s impressive. So what does it cost for a builder to be a part of BuiltGrid? How does it work for suppliers?
Toby: We decided early on that we didn’t want to add another cost burden to builders, so our product is free for them to use. Builders can manage their projects from estimate through to completion at no cost. The way we monetize is through suppliers. If they want more work and want to be visible to builders using our platform, they can pay a subscription. This model allows suppliers to get more opportunities while builders get to use the platform without any financial barrier.
Mick: That’s a smart approach. Walk me through the process of using BuiltGrid from a builder’s perspective. How does it start?
Toby: It starts with setting up templates. Builders can customize the system to fit how they operate—whether it’s managing foundations, ordering materials, or coordinating trades. Once they receive plans and input basic project details, they can share it with their network or a wider range of trades and suppliers. From receiving plans to getting them into the system and out to a network of over 9,000 suppliers, it can all be done in just 25 minutes.
Mick: Wow, that’s efficient.
Toby: Yes, it really streamlines the entire process.
