Data Yard achieves supplier milestone

Data Yard, the industry-owned data pool established by BMF and NMBS, has reached another milestone with the next wave of 30 suppliers signed up to share their product data on the new platform.

The latest cohort of suppliers includes household names such as Etex Building Performance, Marshalls Plc, Unilin Insulation, Velux, and Wavin UK. They join suppliers across the broad range of building materials categories supplies through builders’ merchants. Sharing their product data on the new, secure platform will not only make the exchange of product information between suppliers and merchants more efficient but also improve data completeness and minimise duplication of effort.

Keith Brophy, National Trading Director for Marshalls Landscaping, one of the latest suppliers to join Data Yard, explained why it makes good business sense for his organisation:

“Making it easy for customers to make informed product choices starts with giving them access to the right product information. I’m pleased to add Marshalls Landscaping to the list of early adopters of the Data Yard and look forward to strengthening customer and industry relationships through this initiative.”

Ian Stokes, Managing Director of Knauf, one of the earliest adopters, added:

“Data Yard marks a real step forward in how the building materials industry works together on product data. As technology and regulation continue to evolve, a consistent, high-quality approach to data is critical to keeping pace with change, improving supply chain efficiency, and ensuring customers have the right information to make confident decisions.”

Gareth Thomas, Managing Director of Data Yard, said:

“Early engagement is essential for developing an industry-led data pool. The suppliers already involved with Data Yard not only recognise the opportunity that high-quality, consistent product data offer for the industry, but they will also play an important role in helping set the direction for what comes next.”

During the current phase of Data Yard, supplier going live are inviting merchants to access their data, with wider industry access expected by the end of Q1.

Paul Beaman, Group Commercial Director of Travis Perkins, said:

“The focus of Data Yard is standardising supplier product data to establish one version of the truth, helping the industry adapt to upcoming changes such as Construction Product Reform, digital transformation, and Punchout integration. This is a non-commercial initiative that benefits suppliers, merchants, contractors, and clients alike, with no commercial gain or loss for any individual business. Data Yard is formed of a collective of independents, buying groups, and nationals, all striving for the same goal.”

To register your interest in joining Data Yard or accessing data, please email gareth.thomas@bmds-idp.com