Artificial intelligence is no longer a side experiment in wholesale distribution. It is reshaping cost structures, altering customer expectations, and accelerating productivity across the industry. As adoption moves from testing to execution, distributors face a stark choice: integrate AI into the operating model now or risk falling behind competitors that already have.
That urgency is driving early interest in Applied AI for Distributors 2026, a three-day event dedicated entirely to real-world AI execution in wholesale distribution. Organized by Distribution Strategy Group, the conference will be held June 23–25, 2026, at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare.
The event is designed to move beyond theory, bringing together advanced AI adopters, technology providers, and distribution strategists to show where AI is already delivering results and how companies can build roadmaps tied to measurable improvement.
“The distributors gaining share today are the ones implementing AI in targeted, practical ways,” said Jonathan Bein, co-founder and managing partner of Distribution Strategy Group. “This event shows what’s working and gives leaders a roadmap they can put to use immediately.”
A Widening Competitive Gap
AI deployment in distribution is accelerating, and the gap between early adopters and late movers is growing. Distributors using automation, predictive intelligence and AI-driven workflows are lowering operating costs, improving service reliability, and strengthening customer relationships in ways traditional models cannot match.
“AI is already operating reality,” said Ian Heller, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Distribution Strategy Group. “Companies that hesitate will lose ground to competitors using AI to reduce costs, improve service and make faster, smarter decisions.”
Where AI is Delivering Results
The conference agenda focuses on AI applications already in use inside distributor operations, including automated workflows that reduce costs; AI-driven pricing, forecasting and replenishment; digital commerce tools that improve conversion and customer experience; productivity gains in sales, service and IT; and omnichannel enhancements that reduce friction and speed fulfillment.
Sessions are structured around execution, emphasizing what works, why it works and what it takes to replicate results on a scale.
While many distributors have AI pilots underway, far fewer have scaled those efforts across the enterprise. The conference aims to address that challenge with a practical framework that emphasizes prioritizing high-value, near-term ROI use cases; strengthening data and governance foundations; redesigning workflows around automation, preparing and upskilling teams, and scaling AI in a systematic, controlled way.
“Leaders need to know what to do first,” Bein said. “There’s a predictable pattern to successful AI adoption.”
Workshops and Early-Access Sessions
The first 75 registrants will receive access to a complimentary pre-conference strategy briefing led by Distribution Strategy Group’s research team. The session will highlight AI applications producing results today and help executives define priorities and build an actionable plan.
Two paid post-conference workshops offer firsthand implementation support:
- Agentic AI Workshop: A practical session on designing, building, and deploying AI agents for distribution use cases.
- AI ROI Calculator Workshop: A facilitated working session using Distribution Strategy Group’s ROI model to build a company-specific AI roadmap.
The workshops are open to conference attendees and non-attendees for an additional fee.
Evaluating the Right Partners
The conference will also connect attendees with technology providers whose platforms are already operating inside distributor environments. Through demonstrations and structured networking, executives can evaluate partners with experience in complex pricing, inventory variability, contractor workflows and long B2B buying cycles.
“The right partner can speed up your AI progress by months or years,” Heller said.
Event details
- Dates: June 23–25, 2026
- Location: Marriott Chicago O’Hare
- Includes: All sessions, meals, receptions, and structured networking
As AI adoption accelerates, the next two years are likely to determine which distributors extend their lead and which struggle to catch up. Applied AI for Distributors 2026 aims to give industry leaders a clear, practical view of how to move forward.
“This is not just another conference,” Bein said. “It’s where distributors come to understand — and prepare for — the future.”
