1,500+
Scrap Metal Yards in the UK

£10,000,000,000
Scrap Metal Industry

PROJECT AIMS

A scrap metal merchant spotted an opportunity to use technology to expand their business beyond their local area.  

The Scrap Metal company served a wide range of customers. This includes large demolition firms all the way to small independent businesses, while competing with local scrap metal merchants.

The Scrap Metal company saw a chance to grow. By digitising their business, they realised they could expand beyond their local area and increase their return on investment.

They decided to build an app that could make buying, selling and negotiating easier and more efficient for their clients.

All on one national platform.

Seamless In-App Transactions

We partnered with payment provider, Stripe, for payment integrations so that ScrapBays users can experience seamless transactions within the app.The ScrapBays App not only facilitates secure payments but also conducts identity checks to ensure that Merchants and Tradespeople are verified and compliant with trading legislation.

Instant Messaging between Tradespeople and Merchants

Twilio, an instant messaging platform, has been integrated into the app to allow Merchants and Tradespeople to communicate in real time, ensuring swift and seamless transactions.

Enhanced App Visibility with CMS Integration

We have built a Content Management System (CMS) that allows ScrapBays to maintain full control and visibility across their app. This system allows the team to easily approve listings, deals, accounts, and merchant documents. It also helps them quickly identify and resolve flagged issues, such as admin errors or fraudulent listings, ensuring a secure and efficient platform for users.

Merchant Auction Marketplace

At the heart of the ScrapBays app is an Auction Marketplace, where merchants can list and bid on scrap metal with confidence and ease.

To start trading, merchants confirm their company’s identity, unlocking access to a marketplace driven by real-time insights from the London Metal Exchange (LME), ensuring they stay informed of current scrap metal rates and trends.

Every transaction is backed by detailed product invoices and documents, providing transparency and trust throughout the buying and selling process.

To keep the auction process efficient and seamless, time limits are set for each stage—such as auctions going live for up to 24 hours—eliminating delays and maximising productivity.

For added flexibility, the platform offers alternative bidding options to boost sales. If the highest bidder doesn’t follow through, the listing can be offered to the next highest bidder, or if reserve prices aren’t met, merchants can directly offer items at the reserve price. This dynamic approach ensures merchants can optimise their sales and keep the marketplace flowing smoothly.

Tradespeople Listings for Seamless Scrap Sales

There is also a dedicated space in-app for Tradespeople to create and manage their scrap listings with ease. By uploading details such as item descriptions, rough weights, and photos, tradespeople can showcase what they have available directly in the app.

Merchants can then browse these listings in the marketplace and connect with tradespeople to arrange purchases, even outside of the app, streamlining the selling process and providing tradespeople with more opportunities to find buyers quickly and efficiently.

Google Maps Integration

Users can effortlessly locate nearby Merchants and discover trading opportunities throughout the UK with the inclusion of a Google Maps integration, enhancing connectivity in the Scrap Metal community.

THE CHALLENGE

ScrapBays approached Sonin with a vision: to revolutionise the scrap metal industry through digital innovation.

They wanted to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that would allow tradespeople to upload scrap metal for sale and connect with buyers. 

The scrap metal industry had previously rejected other digital solutions because those products failed to understand the unique needs of the industry. However, ScrapBays, being an established player in the scrap metal business, had the insider knowledge needed to create an app that merchants and tradespeople would want to use.

Another challenge was the industry’s complex regulations, which meant the app needed to comply with strict legal requirements.

THE APPROACH

To fully understand ScrapBays’ business and vision, we held a Discovery Workshop and visited their merchant site to see their operations first-hand.

This allowed us to gain valuable insights into how they buy, sell, and negotiate in the scrap metal trade. We also conducted thorough user research with tradespeople to ensure their needs were fully integrated into the app design.

Through close collaboration with ScrapBays, the Minimum Viable Product evolved beyond a simple buying-and-selling platform. We recognised the potential to create an Auction Marketplace where merchants could bid on scrap metal. As the project developed, it became clear that the app could empower tradespeople to sell scrap directly to certified dealers, adding even more value to the platform.

THE RESULT

The ScrapBays app is now live, offering both desktop and mobile versions for iOS and Android.

This digital solution is modernising the scrap metal industry, replacing outdated processes with a streamlined and efficient platform. ScrapBays has transformed their local business into a national player, allowing individuals and companies of all sizes to trade more profitably and efficiently. 

The app’s user-friendly interface simplifies the process of selling scrap metal, making it easier than ever for users to connect with buyers and dealers. With ScrapBays, the future of scrap metal trading is faster, smarter, and more accessible.