B2B Portal for DIY & hardware distributors — customers order complete projects, not just SKUs
Self-service B2B software for distributors of building materials, tools, paints and DIY accessories. Catalog with tool-consumable compatibility, live stock per dimension and color, project-based ordering with phased delivery, HazMat management (ADR), contracted prices for builders and DIY stores. Native ERP and WMS integration.
Why "order by email with Excel attachment" no longer works in DIY
DIY and hardware distribution has a unique characteristic: a single customer — whether a DIY store, construction company or carpentry workshop — orders hundreds of different SKUs in one project. From screws and dowels to angle grinders and scaffolding, from wall paint to construction adhesives. Each SKU comes in different units of measure: piece, box, pack, pallet, linear meter, square meter.
The classic model: the customer sends a list on Excel or WhatsApp with "100 items". The office receives it, searches each code in the ERP, discovers 15 items are out of stock, calls the customer with alternatives, manually adjusts the order, then enters it into the ERP. For a 100-line order, the process takes 2-3 hours. Transcription errors exceed 10%. And the builder can't see in real-time what's available and what's not — they only find out when the office calls back.
The Azuvio B2B portal for DIY moves the entire flow to the customer: the catalog with all SKUs (including per-dimension and color variants), live stock per warehouse, tool-consumable compatibility (e.g. "what grinding disc fits model X?"), project-structured orders with phased delivery (foundation → structure → finishes), contracted prices per customer, automatic HazMat management (paints, solvents with ADR codes). The builder places their own order at 9 PM, after leaving the construction site.
What the B2B portal does for a DIY & hardware distributor
Features that matter when you have 5,000+ heterogeneous SKUs and customers ordering by project.
- Catalog with dimension + color + material variants — Each main SKU (e.g. OSB board) unfolds into all variants: thickness (6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, 22mm), size (1250×2500, 1250×2800), grade (interior/exterior/moisture-resistant). The customer selects exactly what they need without calling the office. Plus real photos per variant.
- Tool ↔ consumable compatibility — The customer searches for "Dewalt angle grinder DWE4157" and the portal automatically shows compatible discs, carbon brushes, carrying case, protection — all manufacturer-validated. Increases average order value by 15-25% through intelligent cross-sell.
- Live stock per dimension and color — Availability per variant in real-time. Wall paint: RAL color, quantity available per size (2.5L / 5L / 10L / 15L), with reservation at cart addition. Zero orders on exhausted variants. Plus automatic alert when back in stock.
- Project orders with phased delivery — The builder creates "Project: Popescu House Str. X" and adds items in 3 phases: structure (cement, bricks, rebar), installations (pipes, cables, junction boxes), finishes (tiles, parquet, paint). Each phase has separate delivery, on different dates, to different addresses (site vs own warehouse).
- Multi-UoM & automatic conversion — The customer can order in any unit: piece, box, pack, pallet, linear meter, square meter, kilogram. The portal automatically converts to the sales UoM and calculates the correct price. E.g. 150 sqm tiles → 75 boxes (2 sqm/box) → 3 pallets (25 boxes/pallet).
- HazMat & ADR code management — Dangerous products (solvent-based paints, thinners, polyurethane adhesives, expanding foams) are automatically marked with ADR codes and transport/handling instructions. Orders with HazMat generate an alert to the own fleet or specialized courier. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) documents attached automatically.
- Contracted prices & project volume discount — Each builder / DIY store has their own price list. Plus escalated discount on total project value (not just per order): 3% at €10,000, 5% at €25,000, 7% at €50,000. The customer sees real-time progress on the project.
- Mobile app for construction sites — Android + iOS. Key features: barcode scanning on remaining materials for quick reordering, photo + notes on projects (e.g. "missing 12 pieces of model X on 2nd floor"), offline access for cached catalog. The builder scans the empty packaging and orders refill in 30 seconds.
Email/phone order vs Azuvio B2B Portal (DIY)
1 DIY distributor, 800 active customers, ~400 orders/day, average 45 lines/order.
| Aspect | Email / phone / Excel | Azuvio B2B Portal |
|---|
| Order processing time (45 lines) | 2-3 hours (SKU search, stock validation, phone confirmation) | 5-10 min (self-service, automatic validation) |
| Transcription errors | 10-15% (wrong code, wrong quantity, UoM confusion) | <1% (source validation + SKU photo) |
| Variant search (dimension/color) | Phone to office — "Do you have OSB 18mm 1250×2500?" | Self-service: all variants visible, stock per variant |
| Tool-consumable compatibility | Doesn't exist — customer knows or doesn't | Automatic cross-sell: "For grinder X you need disc Y and brush Z" |
| Project-based phased ordering | 3 separate orders, 3 invoices, 3 deliveries | 1 project, 3 phases, separate delivery per phase, consolidated invoicing |
| HazMat management (paints, solvents) | Manual check, ADR misrouting risk | Automatic marking, SDS docs, specialized courier routing |
| Volume discount per project | Manual calculation at month end | Visible live: "€3,200 more to reach 5% discount" |
| On-site reordering | Call / WhatsApp office, describe what's needed | Barcode scan on empty packaging → refill order in 30 sec |
| Operational cost per order | €6-12 (office + corrections) | €0.3-0.6 (infrastructure) |
| Night/weekend orders | No — office closed | Yes — builder orders at 9 PM after site |
B2B portal implementation for DIY distributor — 7 weeks
From kickoff to go-live with first 30 pilot customers.
- Week 1 — Catalog & variant audit — We map the entire catalog: main SKUs, variants (dimension, color, material, grade), multiple UoMs, ADR codes for HazMat, tool-consumable compatibilities. Output: structured catalog with all variants and display rules.
- Week 2 — ERP & WMS integration — ERP integration for customers, accounts, balances, credit limits, price lists. WMS integration for live stock per variant, per warehouse. Testing with real anonymized data.
- Week 3 — Project & phased delivery configuration — Project workflow: creation, adding items by phase, setting delivery dates per phase, address per phase. Truck configuration for heavy materials (tonnage, volume, site access).
- Week 4 — Portal branding & mobile app — Portal customization with your identity. Mobile app build (Android + iOS) with barcode scanner, project photos, offline access. Store publishing.
- Week 5 — Onboarding 30 pilot customers — Selection of 30 representative customers (builders, DIY stores, workshops), account creation, 45 min training per customer (live + video), dedicated WhatsApp support for 2 weeks.
- Week 6 — UX & business rules tuning — Adjustments based on feedback: order flow, search, filters (category, brand, price, immediate stock), business rules (low stock alerts, seasonal promotions).
- Week 7 — Rollout & adoption — Communication to rest of customer base (email, agent, materials with QR), adoption incentives (discount on first portal order, free delivery on first project). Target: 55% orders via portal in first 3 months.
Real problems in DIY distribution — and how the portal solves them
- Problem: A 45-line order takes 2-3 hours of office processing. 4 full-time people just on order entry. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: Self-service portal: customer searches and adds directly. Processing time: 5-10 min. Office intervenes only on exceptions. Staff reduction from 4 to 1 FTE.
- Problem: 10-15% of orders have transcription errors (wrong code, wrong dimension, UoM confusion). Corrections cost €80-200/incident. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: Source validation: customer sees SKU photo, dimension, color, UoM. Clicks exactly what they need. Errors under 1%.
- Problem: The customer doesn't know what consumables fit the tool they have. Missing accessory sales. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: Automatic compatibility cross-sell: "For your Dewalt DWE4157 grinder, you need 125mm grit 60 disc, carbon brush set, carrying case." Increases average order value by 15-25%.
- Problem: The builder orders in 3 separate phases (structure, installations, finishes) — 3 orders, 3 invoices, 3 deliveries, 3 office processes. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: 1 project in portal, 3 configured phases, separate delivery per phase on different dates, consolidated or per-phase invoicing. Zero effort duplication.
- Problem: Paints and solvents with ADR codes are processed manually — risk of non-compliant transport and fines. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: Automatic HazMat marking in portal, SDS documents attached, routing to ADR fleet or specialized courier. 100% compliance without manual effort.
- Problem: The builder can't reorder remaining materials on site at 9 PM — the office is closed. Azuvio B2B Portal solution: Mobile app with barcode scanning: scan empty packaging, order refill in 30 sec. Order placed at 9 PM enters picking the next morning.
Built for DIY distributors with 500+ active SKUs
Representative scenarios — exact numbers in any specific deal depend on your product mix, region and current digitalization level.
- DIY distributor Bucharest — 1,400 active customers — Portal adoption: 61% orders via portal/app at 4 months. Office order processing staff reduced from 5 to 1.5 FTE. Average order value +22% thanks to tool-consumable compatibility cross-sell.
- Building materials distributor Cluj — 320 builders — Project orders: 78% of customers use phased project feature in first 3 months. Delivery preparation time drops from 4 hours/order to 45 min (everything pre-validated in portal).
- Tools & equipment distributor Timișoara — 280 workshops — Reorder via mobile app (scanning empty packaging): represents 34% of volume at 3 months post-launch. Average reorder time: 30 seconds. Error rate: under 0.8%.
Technical & commercial details
Catalog with complex variants
Support for multiple variants per SKU: dimension, color, material, grade, finish. Each variant has its own code, own stock, own photo. Filtering in portal: customer selects RAL color, then sees only available sizes for that color. Plus bundles (e.g. "painting kit" = paint + primer + brush + roller) with special pricing.
Tool-consumable compatibility (intelligent cross-sell)
Compatibility database: tool (model + manufacturer) → list of validated consumables, accessories and spare parts. Prioritization algorithm: original brand > premium alternative > generic (at price parity). Customer can add the entire package with one click or choose individually.
Multi-UoM & conversion
Support for: piece, box, pack, pallet, kg, linear meter, square meter, cubic meter. Automatic conversion with round-up to higher packaging unit (e.g. 150 sqm tiles → 75 boxes → 3 pallets). Customer orders in any UoM, portal converts and shows exactly what they receive.
HazMat & ADR management
Dangerous products (solvent-based paints, thinners, polyurethane adhesives, expanding foams, anti-corrosion primers) are automatically marked with ADR classification (e.g. UN 1263 — paint), hazard code, warning labels. At checkout, the portal generates: carrier declaration, SDS documents, handling instructions. Automatic routing to ADR fleet or specialized courier.
Project orders
Customer creates projects with name, site address, estimated start date. Adds items in phases (structure / installations / finishes / furniture / exterior). Per phase: sets desired delivery date, truck type (van / dump truck / TIR), access instructions (e.g. "narrow street, no TIR"). WMS receives picking list per phase, per date.
Pricing & project discount
Price list per customer/segment. Escalated discount on total project value (not per individual order): configurable thresholds. Customer sees in real-time: "Project value: €21,800. €3,200 more to reach 5% discount." Transparent incentive that increases basket value.
Mobile app for construction sites
Native iOS + Android with your branding. Features: barcode scanning on remaining materials for instant reordering, photo + notes on project (shareable with team), cached offline catalog for sites without signal, push notifications for seasonal promotions (e.g. "-15% on paints until June 30").
API & integrations
Documented REST API (Postman) for: catalog (including variants and compatibilities), stock, orders, projects. Webhooks on key events. Native integration with common ERPs (SAP, Charisma, Senior, WinMentor) and WMS. SSO for enterprise customers (SAML/OAuth).
FAQ
- Does it work for small DIY stores (2-3 employees)?
- Yes. The portal is optimized for simplicity: 3-5 clicks for a recurring order, barcode scan for new products, WhatsApp support for questions. Typical pilot: 80-90% of customers can order independently after one 20-min training session.
- Does it integrate with our existing ERP?
- Yes, native connectors for SAP, Charisma, Senior, WinMentor, WizCount. Plus REST API for any custom ERP. Bidirectional sync: customers, prices, stock, orders, invoices.
- How are paints with ADR codes managed?
- Automatically: product is marked HazMat in catalog, at checkout the portal generates all necessary documents (carrier declaration, SDS), and the order is routed to the courier with ADR license. No manual intervention.
- Does it support project orders with phased delivery?
- Yes. The customer creates the project, adds items by phase, sets delivery date per phase. You receive in WMS one picking list per phase, per date. Invoicing: consolidated at the end or per phase, as preferred.
- How does compatibility cross-sell work?
- Compatibility database of tool-consumable (manufacturer-validated). When the customer adds a tool, the portal automatically suggests compatible consumables, accessories and spare parts. The customer can add the entire package with one click.
- How much does it cost?
- SaaS per internal user (agents, office) + activity (active portal customers + processed orders). B2B customers (builders, stores) have FREE access to portal and app. See /pricing.
- How long is implementation?
- Standard 7 weeks from kickoff to 30 pilot customers. Full rollout: 3-4 months.
- We already have an online store — is this duplicated?
- No. The online store is B2C (end consumers, card payment, courier delivery). The B2B portal is for business customers (builders, DIY stores) with contracted prices, project orders, term invoicing, truck delivery. They are complementary channels, not competing.
- Does it work for power tool importers too?
- Yes, identical scenario. Plus support for warranty registration per serial number, warranty returns directly in portal, service center locator.
The Azuvio stack for DIY & hardware distributors
B2B Portal + OMS + WMS + EDI — in one platform.
Want to move DIY orders to the customer?
2-minute B2B portal demo for DIY & hardware distributors. See catalog with variants, tool-consumable compatibility, project orders, mobile app for construction sites.