IFS said the acquisition extends its industrial AI platform into warehouse operations, connecting manufacturing, warehouse execution, and supply chain processes within a single system.
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Legacy systems are at their breaking point. Distributors need AI-driven, cloud-based enterprise systems to expand margins and build resilient, scalable businesses.
Off-the-shelf technology often falls short of the needs of mid-sized distributors. Custom-built systems are expensive and inflexible.
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Watsco is applying AI across its analytics, ecommerce, and customer service tools.
In distribution, onboarding’s not as simple as handing over a laptop and a pricing strategy.
As AI investment continues at record pace, its environmental footprint is becoming impossible to ignore.
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
This article examines the initial results of the 2018 State of E-Commerce in Distribution Survey and how the industry’s e-commerce offerings are maturing. Subsequent
Most distribution companies take a similar approach to touting their position in the supply chain, with 80 to 90 percent of distributors believing their
While distributors are growing their use of digital vehicles, it may not be quickly enough. Many still rely on trade shows, print flyers and
This article examines how distributors across sectors approach marketing, what they consider the most effective channels to be and the frequency with which they
Amazon is a machine. The online retail juggernaut has recently churned out the world’s richest man and, its tendrils of modernization are slowly reaching
We have talked to many distributors who are still determining whether to offer an e-commerce store front or not. We hear common themes
What if I told you you are losing 5-10% of revenue a year? Furthermore, you might not have even noticed. In this blog post,
The shift moving towards e-commerce maturity means the journey evolves as well. As noted in Part 1, the top e-commerce priorities are shifting to
69% of inside sales people are spending less than 10% of their time making proactive outbound calls. They are spending the majority of their time
The 2017 State of E-Commerce in Distribution survey indicates the percentage of respondents with a mature e-commerce offering (at least 10 percent of total
An analysis of distributor data often identifies a dozen or more variables, or markers, that segment customers in certain ways.
For the best customers, Distributors can devote resources to maximizing the business relationship, while for less profitable and less efficient customers, Distributors can find
A surprise for many Distributors is that a lot of accounts they consider “good customers” because of the frequency or regularity of orders, the