Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
MRA and Pimberly have published their latest research exploring the state of product data in the construction industry.
The state of Product Data in UK Construction 2026 report gathers insights from merchants and manufacturers across the industry to understand how product data is being managed and how prepared the sector is for the evolving digital landscape.
Respondents reported an average of 26 hours per week spent managing product data, and a direct link between poor data and commercial results.
In the foreword of the report, Founder and CEO of Pimberly, Martin Balaam, commented: “The question this report answers is a simple one: if everyone can see the change coming and wants to be part of it, what’s stopping them?
“The barriers people actually name are proving the return, finding the expertise, and the fear of how long it all takes. Those are solvable problems, and the businesses solving them are already pulling ahead.
“The direction the results point in is clear: the businesses that get product data right will be the ones that grow. The rest of this report shows what’s getting in the way, and what the early movers are doing about it.”
The full report is available from Pimberly’s website.
