How Prolo works

From material list to confirmed order in three steps

No new software for your suppliers to install. No complex integrations to configure. Prolo fits around the way UK contractors already work.

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3 Steps from request to confirmed delivery
<2 min To send quote requests to all your preferred suppliers
94% Of requests responded to within one working day
Step 1

Tell Prolo what you need

Paste your schedule of materials or upload a CSV from your quantity surveyor. Prolo reads the specification including grade, size, quantity, and your delivery requirements.

You can also type a plain description and Prolo parses it: "1,000 Class B engineering bricks, 65mm, needed in Manchester M1 within 5 working days."

  • CSV upload or plain text input
  • Handles QS specifications and free text
  • Multiple line items per request
  • Delivery site and deadline captured once
Step 2

Prolo queries your suppliers

Prolo sends a structured quote request to every supplier on your list. They respond by email, exactly as they always have. No new systems to learn, no portal to log in to.

Responses arrive as they come in. Your comparison view updates automatically. You never need to chase anyone or wait for a phone call back.

  • Suppliers respond by email, no account needed
  • All responses collected in one comparison view
  • Automatic follow-up if no reply within 4 hours
Step 3

Compare, order, track delivery

All prices appear in a single comparison view once suppliers respond. Unit price, total, lead time, and stock availability from every supplier, side by side.

Select the best option, confirm the delivery window that fits your programme, and place the order. The purchase record is saved against your project automatically.

  • Side-by-side price and lead time view
  • Confirm delivery window at point of order
  • Purchase history linked to each project
Delivery coordination

Delivery windows confirmed at the point of order

The part of procurement that usually needs a follow-up call is handled at the same time you place the order.

Confirm the date before you order

Each supplier quote includes their available delivery windows. You pick the one that fits your programme before committing to the order. No separate call required.

Notified if anything changes

If a supplier needs to adjust a delivery date, you receive a notification immediately so you can make alternative arrangements in good time, not on the morning it fails to arrive.

Delivery records on every order

Confirmed delivery dates, actual delivery dates, and any variances are recorded against each order. Useful when a delay affects your programme or a client asks about costs.

Questions

Common questions about how Prolo works

No. Suppliers receive a structured email from Prolo on your behalf and reply to it as they would any other enquiry. There is no portal for them to create an account in, and no software to install. Their existing email setup is all they need.
Prolo handles all standard building materials: bricks, blocks, mortar, sand, cement, aggregates, timber and sheet materials, insulation, roofing materials, structural steel, plumbing and drainage, and basic electrical materials. If your QS schedules it, Prolo can request it.
Prolo sends an automatic follow-up after four hours if no response has arrived. If a supplier still does not respond, their entry in your comparison shows as outstanding so you can decide whether to wait or proceed with the quotes you have. You are never blocked from moving forward.
Yes, that is the intended way to use it. You tell Prolo which merchants and suppliers you already deal with, and Prolo contacts them on your behalf. Your commercial relationships stay exactly as they are. We also maintain a network of verified UK suppliers you can add to your list if you want to broaden your options on any job.
Yes. Prolo is designed for UK contractors of all sizes, from sole traders running a single residential job to firms managing multiple commercial sites. The time saving is proportionally larger for smaller contractors who currently do all their sourcing themselves.
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