Home Depot has launched a new project planning tool designed to help contractors manage complex renovation and construction projects from start to finish through a single platform. The digital system consolidates material lists, order tracking, delivery logistics and team collaboration. It also signals a broader shift in how the retailer is positioning itself with professional customers.
“Our project planning tool makes it easier than ever for our Pro customers to plan, purchase and monitor the status of their complex projects and all backed by The Home Depot’s product assortment and expertise,” said Mike Rowe, executive vice president of Pro at The Home Depot. “The average Pro works with 10 or more suppliers on a single job. We’re in a unique position to simplify this process and will continue to expand our digital tools to meet the evolving needs of Pros.”
The platform allows contractors to create and save material lists by project phase, room, or category, with the ability to reuse templates across jobs. Pros can check pricing and inventory in advance, set delivery preferences down to jobsite details, and track orders in real time. Multi-user access lets crews and subcontractors stay aligned, while Home Depot associates can provide direct support within the tool.
The new offer builds on initiatives the company highlighted during its second-quarter earnings call, where executives detailed how digital investments are transforming their professional business. Ann-Marie Campbell, senior executive vice president, pointed to trade credit and order management upgrades as central to that strategy.
“Today we have several thousand Pros with a trade credit account, and we’ve seen a double-digit lift in their spend across channels once these Pros started using trade credit,” Campbell said. “Later this year, we anticipate that all trade credit customers will be able to seamlessly use trade credit for in-store purchases.”
She added that Home Depot’s upgraded order management system is already providing new flexibility: in some markets, pros can now reserve inventory, modify orders before fulfillment, and invoice upon delivery. “For example, today we can quickly and easily change an order from will call in a store to delivery to the jobsite,” Campbell said.
Together, the rollout of the project planning tool, expanded trade credit and enhanced order management underscores Home Depot’s strategy to embed itself deeper in contractors’ daily workflows. By reducing the complexity of juggling multiple suppliers and streamlining procurement, the retailer is aiming to capture a larger share of professional spending.
For wholesale distributors, the stakes are rising. Many still rely on branch relationships and localized inventory as their competitive edge. But as pros grow accustomed to seamless digital tools, credit integration, and flexible logistics from Home Depot, they are likely to expect the same from other suppliers. Distributors without comparable capabilities could find themselves at a disadvantage as professional buyers consolidate business with those who make project management easier.
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