Why construction businesses are increasingly looking for end-to-end support

Kennards Hire’s 2026 Construction Confidence Check (CCC) found that almost one in three construction decision-makers plan to do so. Larger scopes for major infrastructure and buildings projects, tighter schedules, more specialist equipment categories and greater compliance obligations are increasing the workload at every stage of project delivery.

Managing these requirements across a wide range of suppliers can introduce additional complexity and risk leading to many construction businesses looking to rationalise and consolidate their supplier networks. Project Managers and Procurement teams are increasingly building relationships with fewer, more capable supply partners who can provide a broader range of equipment and services throughout the life of a project.

More complexity and more coordination

Today’s construction projects increasingly involve specialist trades, complex scopes and phased schedules that require equipment and expertise beyond traditional hire. Rail and renewable energy are two examples. Each specialist scope brings its own suppliers, lead times and coordination requirements, increasing the complexity of managing multiple providers and creating more opportunities for gaps and project risk.

The CCC found that developing partnerships with other construction businesses for shared resources (31%) and partnering with end-to-end suppliers (also 31%) were among the leading strategies to remain competitive in the year ahead. Bringing equipment requirements together under a single partner can simplify coordination and give project teams a better picture of equipment costs, availability and delivery across the full programme.

The value of end-to-end support

End-to-end support brings equipment and services together across the different phases of a project, reducing the need to coordinate multiple suppliers.

On a major civil or infrastructure project, this could include temporary fencing, site facilities, dewatering, temporary power, traffic management and specialist equipment. Coordinating these requirements through a single partner can help align equipment, deliveries and services with the construction schedule.

The benefits can also extend to how equipment is managed on site. Equipment no longer required for one phase can be removed as the next phase’s equipment is delivered, while temporary power can be specified around the combined requirements of lighting, tools and electric machinery.

Early engagement can further improve this approach. The CCC found that 22% of respondents identified earlier engagement during the planning stages as something that would help project success. Involving an equipment hire partner early allows equipment requirements to be planned, costed and coordinated alongside the broader construction program, helping reduce logistical complexity and avoid surprises during delivery.

Simplified compliance

Compliance requirements on construction sites are becoming more complex, with environmental obligations, safety documentation and regulatory requirements adding to the administrative workload for project teams. This can become particularly challenging when projects involve technically regulated equipment or multiple specialist suppliers.

Managing equipment through a consistent process can help reduce this complexity. Standardised documentation, coordinated equipment management and access to specialist advice can make it easier to meet requirements across different stages of a project, without adding another layer of supplier administration.

This is increasingly relevant as projects expand across specialist areas such as water management, temporary power and distribution, access and lifting, rail, earthmoving and site services. Bringing these requirements together through a broader equipment and services partner can provide greater consistency across the project, while maintaining access to the specialist expertise each scope requires.

Putting this into practice

Kennards Hire’s Specialist Solutions offering brings together equipment and expertise across areas including pumps and water management, power and distribution, access and lifting, rail, earthmoving and site services.

Operational Product Specialists work alongside project teams to understand the requirements of different scopes, while the broader branch network provides access to equipment and support across Australia and New Zealand. This combination allows specialist requirements to be managed alongside more general equipment needs, rather than treated as separate supplier relationships.