AI in Distribution

The acquisition expands Schneider Electric’s presence in the fast-growing industrial AI software market, where manufacturers are increasingly adopting AI to improve equipment reliability, optimize production and reduce operating costs.

The announcement reflects a broader trend across wholesale distribution as companies deploy AI to automate estimating, quoting and other document-intensive workflow

Just a year ago, many distributors were asking where AI might fit into their businesses. At Distribution Strategy Group’s Applied AI for Distributors conference held June 23-25 in Rosemont, Ill., that question was absent.

Grainger chief technology officer Jonny LeRoy tells attendees at DSG’s Applied AI for Distributors conference in Chicago how the distributor keeps AI costs in check and prepares for the heightened risks from hackers armed with AI tools.

Artificial intelligence will transform wholesale distribution, but distributors that succeed will be those that treat cybersecurity and workforce development as strategic priorities rather than afterthoughts.

Among the distribution use cases gaining the most traction are demand forecasting, inventory optimization, warehouse operations, route planning, pricing, sales support and cross-functional coordination.

How AI is doing that today, and will do it even more in the near future, was the subject addressed by three tech experts in a session today at Distribution Strategy Group’s Applied AI for Distributors conference entitled “Intelligent Revenue Operations: Aligning Customer, Procurement & Digital Strategy With AI.”

The choice for distributors, is whether to establish approved, secure, and productive uses for AI or allow adoption to spread without direction.

Here are 10 tips from the speakers on today’s Tech Leaders Panel: Dan Kaminstein, senior principal product manager at ERP vendor Epicor; John Murcott, executive vice president of product and strategy at HawkSearch, a provider of site search; and Sam Bobb,  o-founder and chief technology officer at Kaavio which offers product content technology.

Danna Stone, senior vice president of marketing, and Ed Fenton, vice president and AI and digital transformation officer, said the $12.9 billion electrical distributor is focusing its AI efforts on inventory management, workforce productivity, customer experience, and operational efficiency rather than chasing the latest technology trends.