PBM speaks with James Mitchell, CEO Europe at Klipboard (the new brand identity for Kerridge Commercial Systems).
Q: James, to kick things off, how would you summarise the changes to the world of business management solutions in recent years?
A: The industry has really come a long way. If I think back to 2003, when I was at Kerridge Computer Systems, we were working on developing on-prem solutions and moving toward data services. Fast forward to 2025, and now we can just buy data services straight from the public cloud — it’s been an incredible journey.
First, it was the growth of network bandwidth. Back in the day, a business-grade line would cost around £120K. Now, you can get 50 to 100 Mbps at home without blinking an eye. That’s a huge shift.
The second big catalyst was virtualised computing. It allowed us to securely share data, memory and processing power across multiple customers. This shift is really what helped build the SaaS industry, and we’ve been right there, growing with it.
Today, everything’s more centralised and that brings major benefits. For example, customers can now check stock across stores, from Aberdeen to Eastbourne, all securely. And while we still offer on-prem and data centre cloud options, we don’t usually recommend them. With our expertise, we can provide much better data protection through cloud solutions.
Q: What would you say are the current challenges facing your merchant sector customers?
A: Right now, there’s definitely some caution about what the next few years could bring. But honestly? I’m still feeling optimistic about the future. We’ve weathered a lot already, and there’s plenty of potential for growth moving forward.
One of our main priorities is making sure we keep our customers happy, but we must ensure there’s a clear roadmap for them. Specifically, we need to help them transition from their current ERP ecosystem to something more modern and integrated, which can be a big task.
Securing new business is always tough, so we put a lot of effort into maintaining strong relationships with the ones we already have.
“We must ensure there’s a clear roadmap for our customers. Specifically, we need to help them transition from their current ERP ecosystem to something more modern and integrated.”
Q: You’ve previously spoken about the sustainability benefits that come into play with digitisation. What are the advantages?
A: Sustainability is becoming a huge focus for us, and we really see it tied to digitisation and profitability. The merchant industry is still pretty paper-heavy — think invoices, dispatch notes, picking lists — and each A4 page we print produces about 6 grams of carbon and costs around 7p.
It’s a small, hidden expense, but when you add it up, it becomes significant — the average builders’ merchant prints something like 85,000 pages a year, so digitisation presents a massive opportunity to cut that down.
By moving to iOS or Android devices, we can streamline workflows. Invoices can be sent via email or EDI, and delivery notes can be shared electronically through a POD tool. Drivers can instantly capture and send images of any damage or issues via 4G/5G, which not only boosts efficiency but also helps with sustainability.
And then there’s accurate cataloguing, which has legal and fiscal benefits too. When we get it right, the right products reach the customers the first time, which helps both the supply chain and boosts customer satisfaction.
Q: What has been the highlight of your career to date?
A: Honestly, the highlight of my career has to be my current role. I’m really fortunate to be doing so many things I love—leading a team, managing a P&L, and working with incredible people to grow the business while delivering top-notch solutions to our customers. I also get to collaborate with teams and customers across different markets and industries, which keeps things exciting.
On top of that, being involved in bringing new companies into the Klipboard family has been an amazing experience. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and that’s exactly what I thrive on.
Q: And where do you see yourself – and Klipboard – in five years’ time?
A: We’ll keep growing in sectors where we’re not as strong in supply chain management yet. We’re pushing into food and beverage and flooring, and we’ll continue expanding our presence in electrical and general distribution too.
Our business will keep evolving on a global scale, offering even more integrated solutions based on K8 to help our customers improve efficiency. We’re already in eight markets, but we’ve got plans to grow into more over time.
A big part of that will be supporting our customers as the UK merchant sector consolidates and private equity gets more involved. Efficiency in delivery and supply chains will be absolutely crucial, and our platforms are in the perfect position to help with that.
On the people side of things, staff retention is strong, which is great for both our customers and our employees. We’re putting a lot of focus on graduate schemes—training the next generation of leaders and giving them opportunities to work abroad, which is exciting. We’re also going to keep focusing on apprenticeships for all ages.
Like many companies in the STEM space, we’re committed to diversifying—bringing in more women and making sure we’re cross-training talent across different products and areas.
Q: Finally, and on a related point, what words of advice would you offer those considering a career in the building materials sector?
A: Come and join us! It is a great sector to work in. To date, the sector as a career choice has been a little hidden, however the BMF ‘Making a Material Difference’ campaign will change this and shine a light on this industry.
What is clear is that, when they are in this sector, people love it and enjoy their roles.
Click here for more information on Klipboard.
Klipboard, the new name for Kerridge Commercial Systems, offers ERP and business management solutions designed to exceed expectations and “provide the digital tools to help you grow your business with confidence.”
With real-time stock visibility, fast quoting and integrations with NMBS OnePlace, its solutions are created to address the unique needs of the industry by offering a “future-proof and robust platform” that enables merchants to integrate their operations, increase market opportunities and boost profitability “for a smarter and more synchronised way of doing business.”
