Lumber dealer designs its own app

fr's Nor UNUSUAL for building material manufacturers to Idevelop their own apps, to help mobile device-toting consumers or contractors quickly access product specs and images in customizable settings.

Lumber dealers typically don't develop their own apps, however. Yet US LBM Holdings has just released its fourth app, for its Schenectady, N.Y.-based Bellevue Builders Supply division.

US LBM, whose 13 divisions operate a combined 80+ locations in 11 states, introduced its first app six months ago for Chicago, Il., dealer Hines Supply. Apps followed for Wisconsin Building Supply and John H. Myers & Son of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Two more divisions will release their versions of the app by mid-fourth quarter.

Like its sister companies' apps before it, the Bellevue Mobile App allows users to:

. Check orders and track deliveries with real-time GPS updates,

. Message deliveries' status to general contractors or subs,

. View photos of the delivered order,

. Access recent deliveries and search delivery history, Check account information anytime, anywhere, View open invoices, upcoming bills, and billing history for a specific job using quick filters,

Check the latest promotions and upcoming events,

. Share via email, print or save on their phone,

. Choose an event and be automatically registered.

To market the app, Bellevue is running "a very elaborate marketing campaign," which includes a feature video, statement stuffers, in-store banners, email blast, and popup banners for trade shows and events. In addition, all store sales personnel have been trained in the app to help customers with it.

"We created the Mobile App specifically for the professional remodeler, commercial and custom builder. We know and understand their business and the tools they need at their fingertips," said Bellevue president Greg Gaskell. "This investment in technology is part of our continued commitment to customer service excellence."

The roll out has been over two years in the making, dating back to US LBM's installation of an advanced delivery system that would "serve as the backbone for the app," said Senthil Arumugam, the US LBM v.p. who spearheaded the project. "We set a long-term vision for our logistics needs in euly 2012. Part of that vision was to provide customers with the ability to access their delivery information without having to call or email. We also built other useful features into the app around this crux."

The apps typically are released first in an iOS version for iPhones and iPads, with an Android version following about a month later.

The app is integrated with US LBM's ERP and delivery management systems, and is serviced internally. The app currently cannot be used to purchase products, but that may be a possibility in the future.

By f essica Arant and fared Plucknett, DMSi