LMC reveals fresh tech updates
HOUSTON, Texas - LMC Vice President of Technology, Jack Phipps, provided dealer members and suppliers with the latest tech updates from the cooperative and what’s on the horizon.
Phipps delivered the info at the LMC Annual in Houston during the LBM buying group’s Technology Update presentation.
At LMC’s 2023 Expo, held last November in Philadelphia, CEO Paul Ryan promised members that the organization was looking to improve its tech offerings to “reduce friction” while creating greater efficiency.
According to Phipps, who joined LMC in April 2023, the latest updates will keep business operations “front and center” while allowing members to free up time for customers, buying, and business relationships.
“We want to make the rest of what we do easier, such as simplifying administrative work,” Phipps said.
“Workbench” is a pilot program that is launching in May and is expected to receive a full release in the third quarter. The platform will allow for faster, more consistent quotes; better reporting for LMC and members; and faster onboarding of new LMC buyers and traders in addition to other improvements in efficiency.
E-commerce is another angle that LMC has promised to deliver. The co-op is looking to create its first-ever e-commerce platform. The end result is expected to offer a product catalog that centralizes and maintains product data, which can be manually edited by dealers.
Additionally, the site will be useable with other ERP and e-commerce platforms while not being limited to LMC-sourced products. Phipps said dealer members are not being forced to jump on board the new system.
“But we want to take this headache off your plate,” he said.
Other updates include replacing LMC legacy billing systems with a new, single platform designed to improve accuracy and reporting, downsize manual work, and create a faster claims process among other features. Implementation will begin in the second quarter with a full launch expected in early 2025.
Phipps noted that customer credit management and takeoff/estimation software are also in the works. But the door isn’t closed for future tech updates.
“We are open to requests—areas that members are struggling with,” Phipps said. “We are eager to have these conversations with you.”
The 2024 LMC Annual takes place at the George R. Brown Convention Center from March 5 through March 7.
