Google’s AI Trends Report – What It Means For Distributors Google’s latest AI trends report identifies five forces reshaping business in 2025. For wholesale distributors, these aren’t just tech industry abstractions—they’re competitive realities
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Expect most pilots to fail. Plan for it. Budget for it.
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Procurement budgets are tightening as organizations redirect capital toward AI infrastructure.
Home Depot is accelerating its tech investments in the Pro segment, highlighted by a new AI-powered material estimation tool.
Your top 10% of customers are covered by field sales. How are you reaching the other 90%? The very largest of a distributor’s accounts
E-business goes beyond just shopping-cart revenue. E-business involves a broader strategy that incorporates website ordering, EDI, punchout and email/fax order automation, along with an
A value proposition tells customers who the company is and why they should do business with them. A clear and compelling value proposition has
A value proposition tells customers who the company is and why they should do business with them. It is built on what a company
Given the presence of global players and digital disrupters with extensive multichannel reach and marketing capabilities, mid-market distributors have to think differently.
Most distributor inside salespeople are actually playing the roles of customer service reps and don’t have the skillset for a more proactive role. As
Customers and prospects may learn about, shop for and buy products from your company in a variety of ways—online searches, website visits, interaction with
Historically, suppliers have sold directly to a few of their largest customers. About 46% in the latest survey reported they are selling direct online
Opportunity is high for B2B e-commerce, according to the eighth-annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing
Search engine optimization (SEO), as technical as it sounds, is critical for a distributor to be found online. In fact, a search engine like
We’ve seen a strong correlation between companies that are high-performance marketers and those who target their marketing efforts to roles or personas within their
An effective value proposition defines the benefits of your company’s products and services – and makes clear how your company is different from the
The truth is: The “next” generation is here now. The oldest Millennials are 36; many are moving into or are already in decision-making positions.
Adjusting their marketing strategy and tactics in response to a generational shift in which millennials are already the largest age segment in the workforce
Because the IDEA Connector dramatically lowers ordering costs, the cost savings fall to the bottom line and directly increase profits. With manufacturers and distributors
To set themselves apart, distributors need a strong value proposition. It’s not just about pretty words on a website. A strong value proposition can
Traditionally focused on field sales, distributors have not historically been strong in marketing capabilities. But as customer demographics change, how distributors market has become
What’s the difference between omnichannel and multichannel? The difference is subtle: Omnichannel is really an integrated version of multichannel. In other words, the customer’s
Each distributor must strike the right balance to meet their customers’ needs. The risk is too great to get the resource allocation between field
If when you see the phrase “value proposition” you think: “Yes, we have one already. We provide great customer service. We’ve been in business
Ecommerce is table stakes for distributors in 2018, but it shouldn’t be surprising that B2B buyers want more than the capability to place an
The distributor is no stranger to coming upon crossroads throughout their business’s life span. For the most part, these forks in the road are
Print is not as universal as it once was (though it’s still very relevant for some customers), and even in-person sales rep visits, long
Amazon continues to build share into traditional distribution channels. Their obsession for the customer experience raises the bar high for suppliers – distributors and
As the world of distribution continues to shift to digital, the way that customers want distributors to communicate with them is shifting as well.
Jonathan Bein, managing partner of Real Results Marketing, spoke with Lindsay Young on the 3 Aspens Media podcast, Attract. Engage. Grow., about the importance
With all of these websites, how can your site stand out from the competition? Why would someone choose to click on a link to
Nearly 45 percent of distributors’ customers we surveyed want the ability to request a chat with a customer service rep online (see Exhibit 1).
Shopping happens before the transaction; it includes finding, researching and selecting a product, but not buying or purchasing the product. Make no mistake: It
Distributor priorities for e-commerce investment continued to evolve in 2017. In our latest research, improving customer experience and increasing the frequency of website transactions