There are now over 40 construction supply chain platforms promising real-time material tracking, supplier visibility, and procurement automation. Most contractors are using zero of them — and for legitimate reasons.
The core problem is fragmentation. A Tier 1 contractor might work with 300 subcontractors across a portfolio. Getting 300 independent businesses to adopt, maintain, and accurately update a shared platform requires change management that no SaaS subscription fee covers. Platforms that mandate supplier onboarding see 60-70% data dropout within 90 days. The platforms gaining real traction share one characteristic: they reduce work for the supplier, not just the contractor. Combining automated PO generation, payment acceleration, and compliance documentation in one supplier-facing interface creates enough value on both sides to sustain adoption.