In a feature from PBM’s January edition, Intact’s Catherine Cane outlines the advantages of the company’s next generation GenetiQ ERP solution, exploring the decision-making process behind Coomers Timber & Building Supplies’ selection of the platform ahead of the merchant’s forthcoming 70th anniversary.
As Coomers Timber & Building Supplies approaches its 70th anniversary in 2026, the independent merchant is “making its boldest technology move in almost two decades,” selecting Intact’s cloud-native GenetiQ solution to power its next stage of competitive growth.
After 18 years with its previous ERP system, Coomers “recognised the superiority of Intact’s GenetiQ product,” finding that it “outperformed its current application in multiple key areas,” according to the merchant’s Operations Manager Charlie Stuart.
Inevitably, those gaps began to show. Development was said to move slowly, partner integrations were deemed to be limited, and the system’s architecture wasn’t meeting Coomers’ needs. Operating three branches across southern England (in Bordon, Haslemere and Alton), whilst also deeply rooted in the complex network of buying groups, suppliers and networks typical of the UK market, for a business managing multiple sites and focused on sustainable growth, these constraints were “holding back its competitive edge.”
Charlie explained: “We needed a partner who truly understood the UK merchant model. And we found that right from the start, it was a one-horse race.” With Coomers a founder member of the National Buying Group, he added: “With so many NBG merchants already using Intact’s systems, we could see it was proven technology that understood businesses like ours.”
Indeed, the consistent positive feedback from fellow merchants reinforced that instinct. “What gives you trust in a long-term partnership is how industry partners and other merchants talk about it,” Charlie continued. “When everyone’s on the same page and no one has anything negative to say, that sense of community speaks volumes.
“Knowing that Intact has made that commitment to independent merchants like us, meant we knew exactly who we wanted beside us for the next chapter of our growth.”
However, the decision wasn’t only about alignment. Coomers will maintain significant transaction cost savings secured through a Clover NMBS deal, and the business will also be able to enhance its customer payment journey with GenetiQ’s integrated Clover payment solution — which reduces counter clutter and increases the functionality of Clover devices, making the payment process seamless for customers.
But the benefits don’t end with cost reductions. After three e-commerce systems over five years, the business found GenetiQ’s ecommerce solution “balances essential features with real-world usability,” while the Toolbank integration allows the team to expand its lightside catalogue without additional warehousing or inventory risk.
Furthermore, the operational advantages reach across all three branches. Staff will gain enhanced visibility into purchasing metrics and can review orders before they reach suppliers, enabling “smarter negotiations.” The built-in CRM opens more personal customer communication, whilst automation handles manual back-office tasks that previously consumed valuable time. At the counter, the difference will be immediately felt.
“Accessing what we need will be so much faster than before,” notes Charlie. “The ability to customise views so staff don’t see irrelevant clutter is extremely important.”
The cloud-based platform also eliminates the complexity of remote desktop solutions, delivering direct access with better performance across the business.
For Coomers, this isn’t just a system swap. After 18 years with the same platform, the business is positioning itself for the next chapter, where “efficiency, margin discipline and service define the winners in a competitive market.”
“We’re excited to work with businesses like Coomers who truly understand the value of community and collaboration,” says Simon Barber, Head of Merchant Sales UK. “It saw immediately how being part of a strong merchant network on GenetiQ would be of benefit, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it leverages the platform to strengthen its competitive position in the years ahead.”
Click here for more information about GenetiQ from Intact.
Launched in April 2025, Intact’s GenetiQ is billed as “the next evolution of ERP software” and is said to offer “a level of personalisation and flexibility previously unavailable in the cloud.” The cloud-native, browser-based ERP solution features “personalisation, automation and intelligence at its core” and has been designed to adapt to the unique needs of every business with configurable screens, workflows, menus and commands.
Built on the same proven framework as Intact iQ, users can adapt features such as business rules, alerts and next-best actions to streamline operations and reduce manual effort, whilst the platform also delivers “built-in business intelligence across all areas of the software,” allowing users to go beyond standard reporting to “uncover powerful insights and drive real action.”
