A mobile-based billing, invoicing and quotation application for the trade, Powered Now is designed to help SMEs make their businesses easier to manage. It has recently worked with Graham to integrate its customer catalogues into a bespoke version of the app, and is keen to work with other merchants to deliver more collaborative solutions throughout the supply chain. PBM reports.
It is perhaps indicative of the transformed landscape we have seen since March that increasing numbers of firms across the wider building materials supply chain are turning to technological solutions to ensure closer collaboration and more streamlined ways of working, especially in these ‘socially distanced’ times.
Initially developed as a business management tool focused on SME trade firms, earlier in the year Powered Now worked with Graham the Plumbers’ Merchant to create a bespoke version of its award-winning app to deliver a number of additional features to the merchant’s customers. For example, customers could browse and order from Graham’s catalogues, requesting delivery direct to site, to their office or to collect from their local branch.
From the merchant’s perspective, Marketing Director Ian Kenny commented: “I think that providing our Always Available and Trade Saver catalogues right on our customer’s smartphones really adds value. As well as raising purchase orders with Graham, the app also comes with an upgrade path to run their entire business. Post Covid-19, we need to be flexible and this facility means our branches are effectively open 24/7.”
For Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, the partnership is indicative of the wider potential of technology in narrowing some of the gaps in the supply chain. He said: “It has always been our goal to be the operating system of the UK trade industry. We started with the end user as the pain of admin and burden of paperwork is the most obvious issue. However larger suppliers, merchants and industry associations have similar issues. We can help solve this with a common platform.”
Beyond its partnership with Graham, Ben explained that Powered Now is currently in discussion with a number of other merchant businesses (of all sizes) so they can offer a similar service to their own customers. He explained: “The trade purchase materials from various merchants and we know that providing a wider set of suppliers is important. We are very interested in offering both our White Label and catalogue service to other merchants.
“For example, our White Label offering enables forward-thinking merchants to offer their customers something to help support their business while increasing their own Purchase Order volumes — which is vitally important in a post- COVID world.
“Merchants can take advantage of our award-winning software quickly and easily. We can get a branded product up and running within a few weeks, depending on the size and complexity, whilst there is also a “half-way house” option available for smaller merchants that allows them to have a branded mobile solution for their customers without the commitment of a larger White Label deal.”
For more information, including product demos and customer testimonial videos, go to https://www.powerednow.com/
