Digital classification of materials ‘will drive down costs’ Credit: Scott Lewis | Flickr A rollout of digital classification of construction materials across the UK is being led by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). A group of companies, including Travis Perkins, has committed to fast-tracking adoption of ETIM (European Technical Information Model), a standardised means of describing product specifications, designed to clarify requirements along the supply chain. Widespread adoption of an open industry standard would ease the creation of digital databases and search engines for online trading in a wide variety of supplies. The group of ETIM Trailblazers now comprises more than 20 merchants, buyers and suppliers, according to the BMF. These include H&B Group and the National Merchant Buying Society.