The problem nobody talks about
We speak with merchants every week. The market is tough, and the list of problems is long. Yet one area almost never comes up. Transport. Most see it as solved, fixed, done. But we see hidden waste that drains margin every day.
In recent conversations with builders’ merchants across the UK, a clear pattern has emerged. Everyone is feeling the pressure of a difficult market. Margins are thin, operations are complex, and the daily list of problems seems endless.
We hear about the constant struggle with compliance paperwork, the worry over yard safety, and the common issue of theft. Some merchants are exploring new verticals just to stay profitable. Others are dealing with drivers not showing up for work, workforce shortages, and regulations. It’s a battle on multiple fronts, and everyone is rightly focused on fighting the fires they can see.
But there's a surprising blind spot.
In all these discussions about daily struggles and operational headaches, one area is consistently overlooked and treated as a fixed cost rather than a source of untapped profit and efficiency: deliveries.
The Assumption That's Costing You
Here's what we keep hearing: "Our delivery operation has to be like this because of the uniqueness of the business." “We need the big fleet to be ready when the market returns”. But when we sit down with teams and map a single day of deliveries, the real picture usually tells a different story.
Half-empty trucks all over the roads. Last-minute orders triggering emergency deliveries instead of being added to existing routes. Materials loaded for convenience rather than consolidation. Routes decided on habit, not data. None of these issues attract attention on their own, but together they drain margin every single day.
What Transport Intelligence Actually Gives You
When you move from outdated ways of working to getting digital, gaining control, starting to collaborate, using data and getting the whole picture from supplier to branch to driver to customer. Then the benefits compound fast:
- Cut costs immediately. Smarter routing slashes fuel spend. Proper load consolidation means fewer trucks on the road. Those "emergency" runs? Most can be absorbed into planned routes with the right visibility.
- Release capital. Get a clear view of fleet performance and you'll likely find vehicles sitting idle more than you thought. Sell what you don't need. Redirect drivers to higher-value work. Put that capital back into the business where it actually drives growth.
- Turn delivery into a competitive advantage. With real-time visibility and spare capacity, you can say yes to last-minute, high-margin orders that competitors can't handle. Your team stops chasing drivers and starts serving customers.
The interesting part? Once you take control over transport, operational sustainability and transport sustainability follow naturally. You're not running extra miles, burning excess fuel, or wearing out your fleet unnecessarily. Efficiency and sustainability aren't separate goals—they're the same thing.
Alrik × BMF
Over the last month, Alrik's founder, Nici Sundén-Cullberg, and team attended both the Transport & Distribution and Sustainability Forum, as well as the London & South, Anglia, North, and North West regional meetings. As ever, we're humbled by the sense of community and willingness to share knowledge within the BMF network.
These conversations reinforced our belief and certainty: the upside of Transport Intelligence for operational efficiency and sustainability in this sector is enormous. And we're not the only ones who think so. The message resonated strongly at the Sustainability Forum:
"Nici Sundén-Cullberg, stand out presentation: thank you. What you said about focus on building a better business and sustainability follows automatically: is exactly right!"
— Giles Bradford, Bradfords Building Supplies, at the BMF Sustainability Forum
Here's the Challenge
For the next 30 days, ask yourself one question: where is the hidden waste in our daily deliveries?
Track it. Map it. Quantify it. You'll be surprised at what you find. Or ask us and we’ll find it.
When you're ready to turn that waste into margin, we'll show you how. It’s not as hard as it may seem. Transport doesn't have to be a cost centre you tolerate—it can be the control layer that solves problems across your entire operation.
Talk to us. We'll show you how.
