2025 Trends and Predictions for eCommerce in Construction Procurement
When you think of highways and infrastructure, eCommerce might not immediately spring to mind. This sector has long been defined by large-scale procurement frameworks, public tenders, and long-standing supplier relationships. But, as projects grow more complex and demands for efficiency and sustainability increase, the industry is being compelled to rethink its approaches to procurement.
Increasingly, eCommerce, a mainstay in consumer goods, is proving its value in reshaping even the most intricate of supply chains. It is becoming an indispensable tool for streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and improving customer engagement.
As we look ahead to 2025, the influence of eCommerce on highways and infrastructure continues to grow, driven by advancements in technology, changing customer expectations, and an industry-wide push toward sustainability.
Meeting the challenges of infrastructure procurement
Highways projects involve managing vast amounts of materials and components, ranging from aggregates and asphalt to prefabricated bridge sections. Traditionally, procurement for such projects relied on siloed systems and manual processes, often resulting in inefficiencies, delays, and increased costs.
Modern eCommerce platforms are addressing these challenges head-on. By integrating supplier catalogues, order management systems, and real-time tracking into a single system, they streamline the entire procurement process. This ensures that project managers can source, order, and receive materials with minimal disruption.
Take delivery optimisation as an example. In a sector where delays can lead to spiralling costs, eCommerce systems use real-time data to coordinate material deliveries precisely when needed, reducing downtime and storage costs on-site. These systems offer a lifeline, helping project managers navigate the complexity of infrastructure procurement with greater agility.
Technology driving efficiency
Advances in eCommerce technology are also reshaping how materials are sourced and transported for infrastructure projects.
One of the most significant advancements in 2024 has been the integration of AI into inventory management systems. This intelligent technology can analyse historical data, project schedules, and market trends to predict supply needs with remarkable accuracy. In practical terms, this ensures that essential materials are available on time, preventing costly shortages or overstocking.
Mobile-first eCommerce is another effective tool. Engineers on-site can now use smartphones or tablets to place urgent orders for replacement parts or materials, bypassing traditional approval bottlenecks. These platforms are now designed with user-friendly interfaces tailored for on-the-go procurement, allowing teams to avoid downtime, keeping projects moving forward without unnecessary delays.
By integrating these mobile systems with supplier databases and logistics providers, highways projects can reduce the time between identifying a need and receiving a solution. As mobile connectivity improves on remote construction sites, this trend will continue to shape eCommerce in the sector.
Transportation logistics, a critical component of any highways project, also benefits from eCommerce. Platforms now integrate route optimisation and delivery tracking tools, enabling suppliers to reduce fuel consumption, avoid delays, and improve the reliability of material deliveries. Such features directly support infrastructure projects striving to meet tight deadlines.
In 2025, we expect to see broader adoption of AI and automation for just-in-time delivery systems. By analysing real-time project data, traffic conditions, and supplier inventory levels, AI will help ensure that materials arrive precisely when needed. Automation will further enhance this efficiency, with autonomous delivery vehicles or drones increasingly being used to transport materials to sites. This not only reduces delays but also the carbon footprint associated with traditional logistics.
Sustainability goals at the forefront
As the UK works toward its Net Zero goals, sustainability is becoming a central focus for highways and infrastructure procurement. eCommerce platforms are uniquely positioned to help contractors meet these goals as they are evolving to include features that support environmentally-friendly procurement.
One key innovation is the inclusion of sustainability metrics and filters in online supplier catalogues. Buyers can now assess materials based on embodied carbon, recycling potential, or energy efficiency, making it easier for contractors to align purchases with sustainability goals.
Additionally, platforms are incorporating lifecycle analysis tools, helping project managers to assess the environmental impact of their choices over time.
As governments and industry bodies tighten regulations on emissions and material waste, compelling suppliers to adopt greener practices, these platforms offer essential capabilities.
Furthermore, eCommerce platforms facilitate better demand forecasting, reducing waste by ensuring only the necessary quantities of materials are ordered. Combined with optimised logistics that reduce transport emissions, these platforms can make a significant contribution to lowering the carbon footprint of highways projects.
Overcoming barriers to adoption
Despite its clear benefits, eCommerce adoption in highways and infrastructure still faces resistance. Some organisations are hesitant to replace familiar processes with digital alternatives, fearing disruption or loss of control.
However, these concerns are being addressed by platforms that prioritise integration. Today’s solutions can work alongside legacy systems, ensuring a smooth transition without requiring organisations to overhaul their existing workflows entirely.
Connectivity issues, particularly on remote or rural sites, have historically been a challenge but are being mitigated by advances in mobile networks and satellite technology. As these solutions become more widespread, even isolated construction sites will be able to leverage digital procurement tools effectively.
In 2025, digital literacy to ensure that all stakeholders, including on-site teams, are comfortable using digital tools will be key to help overcome resistance and build confidence. Addressing these challenges will require collaboration between suppliers, contractors, and technology providers.
Most importantly, the perception of eCommerce as a retail-focused tool is fading. Suppliers and contractors are increasingly recognising its potential to streamline operations, improve transparency, and reduce costs in even the most complex industries.
The road ahead
From predictive analytics to real-time tracking and sustainability metrics, digital procurement platforms will empower contractors to make smarter, faster, and greener decisions.
As the sector faces growing pressures to deliver on time, on budget, and in line with environmental commitments, those who embrace eCommerce will gain a distinct competitive advantage. For highways professionals, the question is no longer whether eCommerce has a role to play, but how quickly its benefits can be realised.
Article by Simon Wharton, Business Strategy Director of eCommerce consultancy PushON.
