Uber for builders: New app saves time, money

A Sunshine Coast businessman is among the driving forces behind a new app that provides a tech-based solution to a common problem in the building industry.

Darren Wallis of GJ Gardner

A new app is saving building companies money and time by preventing the need to fetch tools or supplies while on site.

Getter addresses a common problem within the building industry where tradies are short on supplies and need to order more or send an apprentice on a shopping trip.

Sunshine Coast businessman Darren Wallis is among the driving forces behind expanding the app into new regions this year.

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The company has established a Queensland head office in Buddina and this year will have up to seven drivers servicing the Coast.

It was launched in Sydney last March and will this year expand along the eastern coast and to Melbourne and Brisbane.

"Often tradies run out of a particular tool or supply, or they might be short a bag of cement or some studs," GJ Gardner Homes director Mr Wallis said.

"Rather send the apprentice to the shop to get it or rely on a store to deliver which could take two days, they can jump on Getter and have it delivered within a few hours."

The company will expand to more cities this year after raising $1.4 million from industry investors including Mr Wallis.

Getter CEO Tom Burton said the app was born out of the frustration from tradies as they downed tools to seek new supplies.

Mr Burton said it provided a tech-based solution to connect construction companies direct to suppliers.

He said industry research showed tradies made unplanned trips to the hardware store on one in every three jobs, adding about $2 billion in labour and vehicle expenses annually.

"As tradies themselves, the Getter founders have seen first-hand the lost productivity that ensues when products or tools need replacing," Mr Burton said.

"This can result in increased wage costs through off-site inactivity, as well as increased fixed costs on machinery, vehicles and on-road costs, plus opportunity costs through pushed project timelines."

Mr Wallis said he was already impressed with the business's growth since its launch just under 12 months ago.

"I've come in as a strategic investor to help set them with some contacts," he said.

"I love the concept so we'll be expanding the marketing, the fleet and business as a whole and the growth so far has been exponential."

Getter has partnered with several suppliers including Bunnings.

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