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  • Benj Cohen
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Benj Cohen

Benj Cohen founded Proton.ai, an AI-powered CRM for distributors. His company’s mission is to help distributors harness cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to drive increased sales. Benj learned about distribution firsthand at Benco Dental, a family business started by his great grandfather. He graduated Harvard University with a degree in Applied Math, and speaks regularly at industry events on the benefits of AI for distributors. Benj has been featured in trade publications including MDM, Industrial Distribution, and Industrial Supply Magazine. His company, Proton.ai, announced a $20 million Series A round of funding in 2022, led by Felicis Ventures. In 2023, Benj was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 – the first leader in distribution to receive such recognition.

Articles by Benj Cohen

Distribution Sales Strategy

Are Your Reps Just Busy or Actually Selling? The 4 Ps of Sales Productivity

While sales reps are drowning in tasks, prime selling opportunities slip away.
  • Benj Cohen
  • April 29, 2025
Distribution Sales Strategy

Clearing Your Revenue Fog: How Data Gaps Hurt Sales (And How to Fix Them)

Revenue fog makes it hard to scale sales success.
  • Benj Cohen
  • February 6, 2025
AI in Distribution

Walmart’s AI Playbook: 3 Winning Strategies Distributors Can Copy Today

Actionable tactics for distributors from Walmart’s playbook.
  • Benj Cohen
  • December 5, 2024
Distribution Technology

Top Considerations When Buying Your First CRM to Drive Your Business

This guide to buying your first CRM should help prevent buyer’s remorse.
  • Benj Cohen
  • September 26, 2024
Distribution Sales Strategy

Are You Giving Your Sales Reps Data or Insights? There’s a Difference

Empower sales reps with customer insights they can act on immediately.
  • Benj Cohen
  • July 23, 2024
Distribution Technology

Why Your CRM RFP Review Process May Be Flawed

Distributors may be losing sight of what really matters when selecting a CRM.
  • Benj Cohen
  • April 24, 2024
AI Isn’t Coming to Take Your Sales Reps’ Jobs
AI in Distribution

AI Isn’t Coming to Take Your Sales Reps’ Jobs — It’s Coming to Help Them

Like ERP and ecommerce, AI’s main function is to make things easier for users.
  • Benj Cohen
  • October 30, 2023
Distribution Technology

What It Means to Be Truly Data-Driven in Distribution

Most distributors are not making good use of their data.
  • Benj Cohen
  • September 6, 2023
Digital rendering of a warehouse
Operations

Transform Distributor Order Entry with AI

How to increase order accuracy and speed by 90%+.
  • Benj Cohen and  Tim Yates
  • August 9, 2023
Digital Strategy

Should Distributors Trust AI to Make Product Recommendations?

AI can offer customers the jumpstart they need to make informed decisions.
  • Benj Cohen
  • June 21, 2023
What Distributors Can Learn from Netflix’s Big Bet
Distribution Sales Strategy

What Distributors Can Learn from Netflix’s Big Bet

Distributors can learn from the evolution of the technology-powered online movie distributor.
  • Benj Cohen
  • May 2, 2023
Distribution Sales Strategy

How AI Can Support a Greater Customer Experience – and Drive Greater Margins

Offer better service and a more consultative experience with the help of AI.
  • Benj Cohen
  • April 3, 2023
Why VCs are investing in marketplaces
Digital Strategy

Why Venture Capital Firms are Investing in B2B Marketplaces

Distributors must step up or risk losing their hold on the B2B market.  
  • Benj Cohen
  • February 9, 2023
customer loyalty
Distribution Sales Strategy

How Distributors Can Win & Keep Customers in Today’s Market

Benj Cohen shares his take on McKinsey’s must-dos to win customer loyalty today.
  • Benj Cohen
  • January 23, 2023
multitasking
Distribution Sales Strategy

Why Cross-Selling is Hard (And 4 Actionable Ways to Make it Easier)

Even if reps increase their cross-sell efforts, without technology for support, they will not succeed.
  • Benj Cohen
  • December 5, 2022
Distribution Technology

How to Amplify Productivity with AI: Think Beyond the Tech

To reap the benefits of technology like AI, companies must go above and beyond the initial tech investment to build ‘intangible assets.’
  • Benj Cohen
  • November 8, 2022
break down walls
Distribution Sales Strategy

Break Down the Walls Between Channels: How an Omnichannel Approach Keeps Customers Spending More

Going beyond the traditional approach and building an omnichannel experience.
  • Benj Cohen
  • October 4, 2022
spotify AI
AI in Distribution

How Spotify Uses AI to Create an Ultra-Personalized Customer Experience and What Distributors Can Learn from It 

Distributors can learn from Spotify’s success delivering a personalized listening experience for every customer.
  • Benj Cohen
  • June 14, 2022
How Distributors Can Generate More Sales on Inbound Calls to CSRs?
Distribution Sales Strategy

How Distributors Can Generate More Sales on Inbound Calls to CSRs 

In some distribution companies, CSRs have become profitable sellers.
  • Benj Cohen
  • May 18, 2022
How eCommerce Teams Can Drive More Revenue Through Their Website
B2B eCommerce

How eCommerce Teams Can Drive More Revenue Through Their Website

Distributors must deliver customers’ desired browsing and shopping experience to compete against big names like Amazon Business and other digital-first competitors.
  • Benj Cohen
  • March 28, 2022
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