Building Materials Industry Consulting

Industrial Goods

Companies across the building materials industry are reorienting go-to-market strategies and adopting next-generation ways of working. BCG has the experience, experts, and global presence to help them succeed.

The building materials industry has long been concerned with cost and the bottom line. Although companies throughout the materials sector are still focused on costs, they’re now prioritizing their go-to-market strategies. Manufacturers, wholesalers, and suppliers are creating plans to reach customers with a value proposition that sets them apart from the competition, and to deliver products and services in a way that transcends shifting economic and market conditions.

Companies throughout the materials sector, for example, are using digital and next-generation sales practices, including remote go-to-market models. For producers, this new focus is reflected in the shift to building materials manufacturing methods that meet higher environmental, social, and governance standards.

BCG has a deep bench of building materials consulting experts who understand the industry players and their customers in construction and related businesses.

BCG Solutions in the Building Materials Industry

Our building materials industry work covers top business priorities such as commercial excellence, growth strategies, operational excellence, and organizational restructuring. We help companies that make or sell heavy building materials and light building materials unlock profitable growth through the digital transformation of their sales and building materials distribution capabilities.

BCG’s Center for Digital in Industrials

Experts in BCG’s Center for Digital in Industrials use new digital technologies, advanced analytics, and new ways of working to create transformative business improvements. Clients have access to:

A cadre of experienced, multidisciplinary experts on digital transformation in industrials
Proprietary, integrated business solutions that incorporate digital and structural considerations
The latest insights on technology trends, the building materials intellectual property landscape, and venture capital developments
A knowledge-sharing platform for transformation and digital trends in industrials

BCG’s AI and New Business Opportunities for Building Materials

BCG building materials industry consultants collaborate with BCG GAMMA on projects that involve advanced analytics and AI, and with BCG Digital Ventures for projects that involve launching or investing in a new business.

Our Client Work in Building Materials

BCG helped a building products manufacturer implement a lean manufacturing program that derived $100 million of value in just two years.

BCG helped a European building materials manufacturer roll out an integrated environmental, social, and corporate governance strategy that increased its value by $120 million; the company subsequently earned the top ESG rating in its industry subcategory, and saw a 1% lift in EBITDA margin.

BCG helped a building materials distributor implement a data analytics hub with an AI-based module that predicted potential “churners,” allowing sales reps to actively address clients at high risk of leaving and increasing recovered sales by 15%; improving retention also led to a 1% margin increase.

Meet the rest of our building materials experts

Our Latest Thinking on the Building Materials Industry

Advanced Logistics for the Factory of the Future Hero Rectangle

Advanced Logistics in the Factory of the Future

Higher levels of automation and flexibility help manufacturers offset labor shortages while boosting service and safety.

BCG-WEF Project: Mission Possible | Rectangle

BCG-WEF Project: Mission Possible Partnership

Concrete, steel, aluminum, and chemicals are building blocks of the global economy. But these sectors are also responsible for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In order to drive change in these sectors, BCG has partnered with the World Economic Forum to deliver a series of decarbonization strategies.

What’s Holding Back Aluminum Recycling in the US?

Understanding the challenges can help other players in the circular economy.

Helping Oikos Construct a Leading Sustainability Strategy

BCG partnered with a fast-growing builder of prefabricated homes to help the company set ambitious yet realistic ESG targets—and action plans for achieving them.

Explore more of our latest thinking on the building materials sector