Federation of Master Builders

Powering the Future of UK Builders Through Digital Innovation

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the UK's largest trade association in the construction and building industry, representing over 7,000 companies. Recognising the mobile nature of their members, FMB partnered with Cantarus to create a mobile app that enhances member engagement, personalises content, and streamlines access to essential resources.

The Challenge

FMB faced several challenges in delivering meaningful value to their members, requiring a strategic approach to engagement and service delivery:

Increasing Usage of FMB Benefits and Services: From events, to learning resources, to news – FMB knew they could better connect with members with their existing member benefits.
Digitising the Membership Card: Rather than use a plastic/paper card, FMB sought to modernise with an in-app card proving member status.
Facilitating Member Revenue: Mobile notifications for the “Find a Builder” website feature was identified as potentially impacting the bottom line for members.
Enabling Timely, Direct Communication: The need for a streamlined and effective communication system was necessary to ensure members could quickly access essential updates and resources.
Promoting Member-to-Member Networking: Encouraging interaction among members on relevant topics and shared interests was crucial to building a supportive, knowledge-sharing community.
Exploring Potential Revenue Opportunities: FMB sought ways to unlock additional revenue streams by leveraging partner promotions.

To address these challenges, FMB sought a comprehensive digital solution tailored to the needs of their members.

The Partnership

FMB sought a vendor with a head-start on their requirements and proven track record. The Cantarus MemConnect platform was identified as having existing features that checked the box for many requirements such as for content integrations, online community, and leveraging CRM data. Further, the ability of the platform to incorporate bespoke features such as for the “Find a Builder” notifications was key.

With the vendor selected, the Cantarus/FMB team combined FMB’s deep understanding of member needs with and Cantarus’ expertise in crafting innovative digital solutions, app UX/design, working with app stores, and more.

Our partnership with Cantarus has been great in delivering an app that truly resonates with our members. Their collaborative approach and ability to adapt to our evolving vision have been crucial to its success. We're thrilled with the results and are excited to continue working with them to add even more features, like improved job lead notifications and our new podcast series. It's been a pleasure working with such a dedicated and talented team.

Liz Porter Head of Digital, FMB

Our Solution

Together, FMB and Cantarus have delivered an app that has transformed how members engage with the organisation. Featuring a suite of engaging features, the app offers:

Job Leads: Matches posted homeowner jobs on the FMB website with suitable builders based on location. Builders receive real-time push notifications, allowing them to respond quickly to new business opportunities.

Build Online Profile: Empowers members to showcase their expertise by uploading recent projects, gathering customer reviews, and managing service area details to maximise job leads and flag their availability.

Community and Location Groups: Fosters networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing through chat functionality and location-based subgroups. This has made it easier than ever for members to network, share insights, and support each other’s growth.

Custom Profile Types: Ensures tailored access levels based on CRM permissions, granting company owners full administrative control while team members access community features. This approach allows for a more inclusive use of the app, benefiting a wider range of users within a company.

Digital Membership Card: Members can access a digital membership card directly within the app, making it easy to present membership credentials with just a click.

Dashboard: The app’s dashboard serves as a centralised hub, curating recent and relevant content like news updates and community threads for quick access to the latest information.

Membership Invoices and Benefits: Allows members to manage invoices and access benefits, resources, contracts, and helplines.

Events, News, and Resources: Continuously updates members on industry developments via integrated feeds.

Promote Your Membership: Allows members to access downloadable branded materials such as logos and leaflets to support their business marketing efforts.

Member Referral Scheme: Encourages members to invite new building companies to join FMB using personalised promo links shared via email, WhatsApp, or other methods. New companies referred through the scheme receive a discount on their first year of membership, while the referring member also benefits from a discount on their next year’s renewal, creating a mutually rewarding incentive.

Seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the app ensures consistent data and a smooth user experience through single sign-on (SSO) and real-time syncing of member information, delivering both convenience and consistency.

Results and Impact

Since its launch, the FMB app has delivered measurable outcomes:

Over 20% of FMB members have downloaded the app, granting them easy access to its resources and tools.
The platform sees 753 daily engaged users, demonstrating strong and consistent activity.
With 282 topics within 6 months of launch, the platform supports vibrant and dynamic discussions
Features like job leads and the digital membership card have streamlined processes and driven substantial member engagement.
Networking capabilities and real-time updates have fostered a stronger sense of community among members.

The FMB app exemplifies Cantarus' commitment to delivering digital solutions that enhance member experiences. Through this partnership, FMB has created a powerful digital tool that strengthens connections, streamlines access to resources, and facilitates new business opportunities.

The new FMB member app has transformed the way members connect with the FMB. Since its launch, over 20% of our membership has downloaded the app, granting them easy access to a wealth of benefits. Members stay informed with real-time updates on job leads, events, industry news, and exclusive offers. They can also connect with fellow FMB members for advice and support, fostering a stronger sense of community. This innovative tool has not only streamlined processes but has also enriched the overall member experience.

Liz Porter Head of Digital, FMB

Future Enhancements

Building on the success of the FMB app’s job-matching capabilities, job-led notifications are set to reach the next level. In an upcoming update, members will receive instant alerts when a relevant job becomes available in their area, allowing them to claim it directly via the app.

Currently, homeowners can select and contact builders through the platform, with messages delivered as push notifications. Additionally, jobs posted on the FMB website are already accessible for claiming. This enhancement will extend that functionality to the app, ensuring members never miss an opportunity to secure new work, respond faster, and grow their business with ease.

The FMB podcast will also soon be available in the app, providing easy access to industry insights, expert advice, and the latest updates – all in one place.

Prefer to speak to someone?

Reach out to our Chief Product Officer, Mark Eichler, to talk about how our mobile app services can enhance your member experience and facilitate invaluable member-to-member interactions.

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