Custom timber merchant software development
Appfront builds custom software for timber merchants and building materials suppliers: from item and stock management with units such as m3, m1, pieces and packages, to orders and quotes with tiered pricing, made-to-measure sawing and processing orders, purchasing, delivery and counter sales. Everything in one system, with the correct unit for each item, customer pricing agreements applied automatically, and integrations with your webshop and accounting software. Tailored to your range, your timber species and grades, and the way your team works at the counter, in the workshop and on the road.
What is timber merchant software?
Timber merchant software supports the complete trading process of a timber or building materials merchant: from product and stock management with different units and wood species, through quotes and orders with tiered pricing and custom processing, to purchasing, delivery, counter sales and invoicing. Everything comes together in one system, so the counter, the workshop, delivery and the back office all work from the same up-to-date picture.
Off-the-shelf packages are rarely designed for the quirks of the timber trade. Think of products sold per running metre in one situation and per cubic metre or per pack in another, processing such as sawing and planing that is part of the order, and customer price agreements with contractors that differ per customer. Custom software fits your range and way of working rather than the other way round, and can grow as your business changes. That avoids separate spreadsheets alongside the system and keeps stock and order administration reliable.
Because stock, price and margin change every day, we set up the software so that data is entered only once and is correct everywhere. You can also read more about our wider approach to custom software development and warehouse management software.
One system for the entire trade
Stock, quotes, orders, processing, purchasing, delivery and invoicing in one coherent system. Everyone works from the same up-to-date picture, with no need to copy data across from separate lists, folders or spreadsheets.
The right unit for every item
Beams per linear metre or cubic metre, sheets per piece, items per bundle, pack or pallet. The software works with a base unit and conversion factors, so stock, orders, delivery notes and invoices are always correct in the right unit.
Pricing agreements that apply automatically
Tiered prices and customer-specific agreements are recorded and applied automatically, both at the counter and in the webshop. Staff don't need to remember prices, and agreements with contractors are applied consistently.
If you hold an FSC or PEFC certificate, a second record runs alongside your stock: which incoming batch sits in which outgoing batch. See chain-of-custody software and, for unloading on site, the batch traceability app.
How we build your timber trade software
We work step by step and involve your people from the counter, the workshop, purchasing and administration early in the process. From a thorough review of your range, pricing agreements and working practices through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at software your team understands, trusts and is happy to use every day.
We map out your business: range and timber species, units and conversions, quote and order flow, made-to-measure processing, purchasing, delivery, and integrations with your webshop and accounting software. Together we decide which functionality will deliver the most value.
We design the data model for items, units, grades and pricing agreements, along with the screens for the counter, workshop and delivery. The whole thing is logical and quick to use, including during a busy moment at the counter.
We build in short iterations with automated testing and monitoring. You see working versions along the way and help set priorities and ensure the software fits the daily practice of your trade.
A controlled go-live with migration of your item and customer data and a safety net, followed by ongoing management, monitoring and further development as your range or working practices change.
What timber trade software actually does
We tailor every application specifically to your range, pricing agreements and working practices. Below are the features we most often deliver for timber merchants and building materials suppliers.
Item and stock management
An item file with timber species, grade, dimensions and units such as cubic metres, linear metres, pieces and packs, with conversion factors per item. Stock is updated with every order, processing job and purchase, with alerts for low stock and visibility of what is on its way.
Quotes, orders and tiered pricing
Create a quote quickly and convert it to an order with one click. Tiered prices per item or item group and customer-specific pricing agreements are applied automatically, so the correct price and margin are calculated without manual work or relying on memory.
Sawing and processing orders
Sawing, planing, cutting to length or custom sizing is recorded as part of the order, with dimensions, quantity and processing costs. The workshop receives a clear job ticket, the source material is correctly deducted from stock, and the processing appears on the quote, delivery note and invoice.
Procurement & suppliers
Purchase orders to your suppliers, with purchase prices, lead times and stock updates on receipt. You keep track of what has been ordered and what is on its way, link goods received to customer orders, and keep purchasing as clear as sales.
Delivery and routes
Prepare orders for delivery, group them by day and route, and have them signed off digitally on arrival. The planner keeps track of what goes on the lorry, and the customer knows when the delivery is due. See also our route planning software.
Counter, till & invoicing
Fast counter sales with barcode scanning, card payments and an immediate receipt, plus invoicing for business customers with payment terms and customer pricing agreements. Invoices and general ledger data flow through the accounting integration into your books, so duplicate data entry disappears.
Who we build timber merchant software for
The timber and building materials trade comes in many forms, each with its own range and way of working. For each of these we build software that suits their trade, their customers and the processing services they offer.
Timber merchants
Trade in beams, battens, boards, offcuts and sawn timber, often with sawing and planing to size as a regular service. The software keeps units, timber species and processing services in order and links the counter, workshop and delivery in one workflow.
Building materials merchants
Merchants with a broad range alongside timber, from insulation and sheet materials to ironmongery and finishing products. The software handles varying units and packaging and keeps pricing agreements with contractors and self-employed tradespeople consistent at the counter and online.
Sheet material and hardwood merchants
Specialist trade in sheet material, plywood, MDF and hardwood, where dimensions, grades and cutting to size are central. The software records sizing and cutting orders accurately and books off-cuts and waste correctly.
Suppliers to joinery workshops
Merchants that supply joinery workshops and window frame makers, often with standard items, recurring orders and processing to specification. The software supports repeat orders, project-based pricing agreements and tight deliveries that align with the customer's production schedule.
Test your idea first: a working prototype in 1 day
With OneDayBuild, we turn your idea into something tangible in one day for €1,150, so you can see whether further development is worth the investment. Decide to go ahead with the full build? Then we credit the full cost.
Explore OneDayBuild →Technology and integrations
We build with a modern, maintainable web stack and connect the software to the systems you already use. For timber merchants, the most relevant are: an integration with your webshop so that range, stock and prices stay in sync; an integration with your accounting package such as Exact Online or Twinfield for invoices and the general ledger; and card payments and barcode scanning at the counter. Which integrations make sense we determine together, based on your existing systems and suppliers.
If you cut sheet material to size for customers and want to reduce waste per sheet, take a look at our sheet material cutting optimisation app.
For the balance of exchange and deposit pallets per customer and carrier, there is our pallet administration app.
For pricing agreements per building project with contractors and manufacturers, we have a separate page on our project discount software for the building materials trade.
Why choose Appfront for your timber merchant software?
Appfront builds custom software and always begins with a thorough analysis of your range, pricing agreements and way of working. Software for a timber merchant must not only be technically sound, but also work quickly and logically at a busy counter and in the workshop, where there is no time for cumbersome screens.
We write clear documentation and transparent code, so that your own team or a future supplier can understand and manage the software. No black box, but clear agreements on integrations, data and management, and no vendor lock-in that ties you to a single party.
You work with a fixed point of contact who understands both the technology and the trade. That keeps lines short, prevents miscommunication and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during the build.
Take a look at our wider services: custom software development, custom software development for your sector, warehouse management software and route planning software. Do you have any questions? Get in touch with us.
- Custom software for timber and building materials merchants
- Units such as m3, m1, pieces and packs, with conversion factors per item
- Record timber species, grades and certifications such as FSC and PEFC
- Tiered pricing and customer-specific price agreements that are applied automatically
- Sawing and processing orders linked to stock and workshop
- Integrations with webshop and accounting software such as Exact Online
- A fast counter and till function with barcode scanning and card payments
- Clear documentation and transparent code, with no vendor lock-in
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing management and further development as your business changes
Security and privacy in timber merchant software
Your software in the trade also processes valuable and personal data: customer and contact details, price agreements, margins and payment information. That is why we build security in from the architecture up. We set up access based on role, so a counter employee has different rights from someone in administration or purchasing, and sensitive data such as margins and purchase prices is visible only to those who need it.
We work in line with the GDPR, with encryption in transit and at rest, reliable backups and logging of important actions. We set up payment and accounting integrations carefully, so that data is exchanged securely and your books remain reliable. That way you stay in control of your data and of who can access it.
Read more about our security approach: information security policy and vulnerability disclosure policy. Discuss your situation without obligation via our contact form.
- GDPR-compliant processing of customer and payment data
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Margins and purchase prices protected by role
- Reliable backups and recovery procedures
- Logging of important actions and changes
- Secure integrations with webshop, accounting and payment providers
- Ongoing monitoring and updates
Frequently asked questions about timber merchant software
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about custom software for timber merchants.
Timber trade software supports the complete sales process of a timber or building materials merchant: article and stock management with different units and timber types, quotes and orders with tiered pricing, custom sawing and processing orders, purchasing from suppliers, delivery and route planning, counter and till, invoicing, and integration with your webshop and accounting. Custom software lets you set this up around your own range, pricing agreements and way of working, rather than forcing your business into an off-the-shelf package designed for another sector.
Timber and sheet material are rarely traded in a single unit. You often measure beams and battens in linear metres (m1) or cubic metres (m3), panels and boards per piece or per sheet, and many items arrive in bundles, packs or on pallets. Custom software records the base unit and conversion factors for each item, so stock, orders, delivery notes and invoices are always correct in the right unit. This prevents calculation errors at the counter and during invoicing, and keeps your stock records reliable.
Yes. Processing operations such as sawing, planing, cutting to length or custom sizing are recorded as part of the order, with the required dimensions, quantity and any processing charges. The order links the source material to the processing job, so the workshop receives a clear job ticket and the stock of the source material is correctly deducted. The customer sees the processing on the quote, delivery note and invoice.
Yes. You can set volume prices per item or item group, so the price adjusts to the quantity purchased. The software also records customer-specific pricing and discount agreements, for example for building contractors and regular business customers. The correct price is calculated automatically at the counter and in the webshop, so staff don't need to memorise prices and agreements are applied consistently.
Yes. We integrate the software with your webshop so that range, stock and prices stay in sync, and online orders enter the same system as counter and telephone orders. For financial administration, we build an integration with your accounting package, such as Exact Online or Twinfield, so that invoices and ledger data are passed on automatically and duplicate entry is eliminated. We determine together which integrations make sense, based on your existing systems.
We build custom software. Every timber merchant has its own range, its own price agreements and its own way of working at the counter, in the workshop and on the delivery route. Custom software fits your actual process and can grow as your range, customer base or way of working changes. After an intake meeting, we decide together which functionality matters most and in what order to develop it, without promising a fixed lead time or price that we cannot yet substantiate.
Yes. For each product, attributes such as wood species, quality and a sustainability certification like FSC or PEFC can be recorded. That lets a counter employee or the web shop filter by certification, and the origin can be shown on quotes and delivery notes. We set up these attributes as your administration and certification require; we tailor the exact chain of custody requirements to your situation.
Yes. We regularly take over existing applications, including those built by another party. We review the architecture, integrations, data model and security, document the current setup and propose improvements. From that point on, we can handle changes, integrations and monitoring, or modernise the software step by step into a maintainable state.
Ready to build your timber trade software?
Tell us how your business is set up and where you run into problems, from units and tiered pricing to sawing orders, delivery and integration with your webshop and accounting. We are happy to help you think through range, process and integrations. In a no-obligation first conversation, you will get a clear picture of the custom software options that suit your timber business.