How leading suppliers are winning more builder work
Winning consistent work from builders isn’t just about having the right products. Across Australia, supplier challenges are growing — from price pressures and admin overload to low visibility and digital disconnects. Builders expect faster quotes, better communication, and systems that integrate seamlessly with their own.
In this article, we unpack the biggest supplier challenges affecting Australian businesses and explore what forward-thinking suppliers are doing to stay competitive and win more builder work.
1. Supplier Visibility Challenges: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
One of the biggest supplier challenges is visibility. Builders are overwhelmed with projects, quotes, and deadlines. If your products or pricing aren’t easy to access or compare, they’ll move on quickly.
BuiltGrid Founder, Toby Loft explains:
“Builders aren’t ignoring suppliers — they’re just overloaded. If it takes more than a few clicks or a call to get what they need, they’ll go with whoever makes it easiest.”
Supplier visibility is now a competitive advantage. Builders want to see who’s available, what’s in stock, and how quickly it can be delivered — in real time. But many suppliers are still buried under outdated systems and manual processes. Without digital visibility, you’re invisible.
➡️ Read more: Supplier & Trade Visibility: Why It’s the Future of Custom Building
2. Price Pressure and Margin Erosion — The Financial Side of Supplier Challenges
Rising material costs and tighter builder margins have created constant financial pressure. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) reports that material prices have increased more than 30% in recent years, while builder margins have thinned dramatically.
That puts suppliers in a squeeze: forced to keep prices sharp while facing unpredictable input costs and freight variations. The temptation is to compete purely on price — but that’s not sustainable.
The solution? Value-based differentiation.
Fast quotes, reliable delivery, and transparent communication matter as much as price. According to McKinsey & Company, suppliers using digital quoting and order tracking achieve up to 20% higher customer retention.
➡️ External link: McKinsey – How digital transformation drives supplier performance
3. Communication Breakdowns: The Hidden Supplier Challenge
Lost emails, slow responses, and unclear quoting processes cost suppliers countless opportunities. Builders expect clarity and speed — and too many suppliers still rely on spreadsheets or inboxes.
“Builders want suppliers who make life easier,” says Toby. “If they have to chase quotes or double-handle information, it costs them time — and they’ll remember that next time.”
Smart suppliers are closing this gap with integrated communication tools that let builders request, compare, and confirm quotes instantly. Less friction means more work.
➡️ Explore solutions: How BuiltGrid Helps Suppliers Connect with Builders
4. Digital Disconnect: Playing Offline in an Online World
Another major supplier challenge is the digital lag. Builders increasingly expect an online experience: searchable products, real-time pricing, transparent delivery, and connected procurement.
But many suppliers are still operating offline. The PwC Australia Future of Construction Report found that over 60% of builders now expect digital quoting and procurement as standard practice. Suppliers who can’t meet that expectation risk being left out.
➡️ External link: PwC Australia – Future of Construction 2024 Report
5. Reaching the Right Builders — A Key Supplier Challenge
Suppliers often struggle not because their offer is weak, but because they can’t reach the right builders. Smaller suppliers in particular find it hard to access live projects or new regional opportunities.
Traditional outreach — cold calls, trade shows, and word of mouth — is expensive and inefficient. Digital connection platforms like BuiltGrid change that, giving suppliers direct access to live builder projects and real quoting opportunities.
➡️ See how suppliers connect directly with builders: builtgrid.com/suppliers
6. Time and Resource Pressures on Suppliers
Admin, quoting, chasing payments, and managing logistics eat into valuable time — especially for smaller suppliers. These operational bottlenecks are one of the most underestimated supplier challenges in the industry.
“The average supplier spends up to a third of their week just managing paperwork and follow-ups,” Toby notes. “That’s time that could be spent building relationships or improving service.”
Automation and connected procurement platforms eliminate manual tasks, freeing suppliers to focus on sales and service.
➡️ External link: Construction Supply Chain Digital Transformation – Deloitte Insights
7. Trust and Relationship Fatigue in the Supply Chain
Trust has always been the backbone of the builder–supplier relationship. But after years of shortages, cost hikes, and delays, relationships have been strained.
Rebuilding that trust takes more than words. Suppliers need to be transparent, proactive, and consistent — even when the news isn’t good.
As Toby sums it up:
“Trust isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest, reliable, and easy to deal with. Builders remember who shows up when it counts.”
Strong relationships don’t happen by chance — they’re built on reliable communication and shared visibility.
The Way Forward: Overcoming Supplier Challenges
The future belongs to suppliers who tackle these supplier challenges head-on — combining digital visibility, proactive communication, and trust-building. Builders want efficiency and transparency, and suppliers who deliver both will win more consistent, profitable work.
If you’re ready to reduce admin, improve visibility, and connect with builders actively looking for suppliers like you — BuiltGrid can help.
➡️ Start here: How BuiltGrid Helps Suppliers Win More Builder Work