Building Materials Digital Services Ltd (BMDS), the joint venture between the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) and NMBS, has appointed Omiteo (formerly ProPlanet) as the official technology provider for the Industry Data Pool (IDP) platform.

The IDP is being developed as a centralised, scalable, and secure platform to improve data quality, reduce duplication, and simplify how suppliers and merchants exchange product information. 

The IDP platform will be powered by Omiteo’s Product Information Management (PIM) solution, Etimix. Formerly known as ProPlanet PIM and widely used in seven European countries, Etimix, will power the core technology behind the BMDS IDP platform, supporting the standardisation, management, and seamless sharing of product data across the construction supply chain.

Omiteo has been the solution provider for the Electrical Distributors’ Association’s (EDA) industry data pool for the past five years.

Gareth Thomas, Managing Director at BMDS, said: “Omiteo’s extensive experience in Product Information Management, along with their successful delivery of the platform behind the EDA’s EDATA data pool, demonstrates their capability to provide a robust solution tailored to the UK market.  

"This makes them the ideal technology partner for our IDP. With support already in place for the Product Data Standardisation template and classification standards such as ETIM, this partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to drive digital transformation across the building materials industry.”

Wayne Jarvis, Director of Operations at Omiteo said: “We are incredibly honoured to be selected as the IDP partner for the BMDS programme. At a time when high-quality data and digital collaboration are more important than ever, this partnership reflects our shared commitment to delivering transparent, consistent, and structured product information.”