Do Electrical And Plumbing Distributors Need Ecommerce?

Summary: Summary: Electrical and plumbing distributors should invest in ecommerce as more buyers—especially younger contractors—expect to check inventory, see pricing, and order online anytime, including from job sites. B2B ecommerce is growing quickly, and digital channels help distributors stay competitive, improve efficiency, and better serve customers without replacing in-person relationships.

If you spend time near the sales counter, you know the rhythm of your business better than anyone. Contractors walk in, phones ring, and your team scrambles to check inventory, verify pricing, and get orders out the door. This hands-on approach built your business. But the people buying from you are changing how they work, and the way they buy materials is shifting right along with them. 

Independent research backs up these trends. Analysts at McKinsey note that distributors embracing ecommerce are adapting faster and gaining ground, even as industry leaders rethink their digital strategies to stay competitive. Forrester market forecasts show that B2B ecommerce continues to grow at a double-digit pace, underscoring the importance of online channels in driving efficiency and meeting changing buyer expectations. In plumbing, too, digital tools are reshaping how companies handle customer interactions and manage operations. Distributors who build out their ecommerce capabilities can meet buyers where they are, provide a better experience, and keep pace as the market shifts. 

You might be wondering if setting up a digital storefront is really necessary for your operation. You want technology that makes your workday smoother without complicating your business or draining your resources. 

Let's look at what’s actually going on in the market. We will walk through your buyers' changing expectations, the moves your competitors are making, and the practical reasons why adding an online sales channel makes sense for your business right now. 

New-gen buyers expect digital options 

The demographics of the trades are shifting. As experienced professionals retire, a younger generation of electricians and plumbers is stepping into leadership and purchasing roles. Recent data from ADP Research shows that 45 percent of professionals in these trades are now under 40, and this number isn’t going down. 

These younger contractors grew up with smartphones in their hands. They are digital natives who prefer to handle business online whenever possible. In 2025, 62 percent of buyers in this market made an online purchase for their business. Even more revealing is where they place those orders: 74 percent order from the office, and 48 percent order directly from their vehicles or job sites.  

When a plumber realizes they are short on copper fittings at six o'clock in the evening, they do not want to wait until your branch opens the next morning to call it in. They want to pull out their phone, check your stock, and place the order right then and there. If your business does not offer that self-service option, these buyers will simply find a supplier who does. 

As the market continues to evolve, electrical and plumbing distributors who embrace ecommerce are better positioned to meet the needs of today’s buyers and protect their customer relationships. Competing with large distributors and online marketplaces is possible when you equip your business with digital tools that make the ordering process easier for your customers while giving your team back valuable time.  

Adopting ecommerce is a practical step toward staying relevant and competitive in a changing distribution landscape. If you are looking to strengthen your business for the next generation, now is the time to put ecommerce to work for you.  Download ECI’s B2B Ecommerce Trend report to see how adding a B2B ecommerce platform gives your customers a seamless way to access what you offer. Visit EvolutionX and learn how a storefront can integrate with your current systems to save you time.