What is Bulk Exchange?
Bulk Exchange is the construction industry’s trusted platform for sourcing bulk materials. From aggregates to ready-mix to logistics, Bulk Exchange connects suppliers and contractors in real-time to power efficient estimating, procurement, and project execution. Contractors can use Bulk Exchange as a centralized and industry-specific search engine, so they can locate, source and dispose of bulk materials more efficiently. Producers use Bulk Exchange to broadcast their pricing, offerings and deals, enhancing visibility to a broader customer base.
How does Bulk Exchange benefit the aggregate supplier market?
Suppliers can deepen existing relationships and build new ones by broadcasting their offerings and information on the Bulk Exchange marketplace. Suppliers know that visibility and access through online platforms are becoming the norm for how materials are sourced in construction. While there will never be a replacement for long-term relationships, aggregate suppliers are keen to meet their customers wherever they are, and that’s more commonly online. Bulk Exchange offers access to a large and growing list of contractors who rely on the platform every day to locate, source and dispose of materials, while helping them deepen their existing relationships with better responsiveness and seamless access.
Why did you add cement to the marketplace?
Bulk Exchange is being built by the industry from within the industry. With that comes constantly listening to our users, both on the supply side – producers, suppliers, recycle and disposal sites – as well as the estimators and contractors, i.e., the demand side. The requests we heard loud and clear from the demand side was they wanted to see cement producers and plants on the Bulk Exchange platform. Contractors were already using Bulk Exchange to source aggregates and ready-mix, and many of our supplier partners were looking for ways to streamline cement quotes and logistics, too.
Cement is a cornerstone material in heavy construction. It touches everything from road paving to sitework to infrastructure. Up to now, there has never been a centralized hub to allow all the players in this industry to search and connect with each other. Bulk Cement is a vital and integral component to all things heavy civil. The market is fragmented, pricing is volatile and availability shifts fast. By bringing cement into BX, we’re helping both sides: suppliers get more visibility, and contractors get faster access to accurate, real-time information.
How did your partnership with UNACEM come about?
Both Bulk Exchange and UNACEM are active members in key associations such as CalCIMA, NRMCA, and others. After meeting at industry events, the partnership came together through mutual interest in solving real-world problems. UNACEM wanted a better way to connect with contractors, especially in high-volume or fast-turnaround jobs and they see Bulk Exchange as a key solution to support and scale that.
UNACEM has a strong reputation in the market and a track record of innovation in its operations. Like us, they see where the industry is heading with faster quoting, better visibility, and fewer phone calls to get answers. It’s not just a listing, it’s a way to surface real-time availability, special pricing, and targeted offers directly to contractors who are actively looking.
How do you balance the changes in technology with helping contractors and suppliers get work done today?
We are arguably in the most revolutionary period in the history of technology. Bulk Exchange is in a unique position to support the industry and help it embrace and utilize AI. AI is only helpful if it’s built by the industry and based on valid, actionable industry data. We will utilize our foothold in the industry to establish a “source of truth” from within the industry from which AI can pull information, allowing producers to control their messaging in a centralized hub.
How else do you plan to evolve the system in the future?
Our focus is simple: to make Bulk Exchange the easiest, most efficient way to get materials moving. That means listening to our users and building what real contractors and suppliers actually need.
We’re expanding in three key areas:
- More materials – Concrete is just the start. We’re adding the products heavy civil contractors need most, with new categories going live all the time.
- Smarter results – So contractors can see accurate pricing and availability by job location, timing, and quantity with no chasing and no guesswork.
- Better tools – Features that support every phase of the job, from pre-bid planning to mid-project changes.
We’re not trying to change how the industry works. We’re making it easier to do what you already do. Faster, simpler and more reliable.
