In the wake of COVID-19, there has been plenty of speculation about the role of distribution associations and how they must adapt to disruption, rapid digitization and the evolution of marketplaces, all of which were accelerated by the pandemic.
Innovation
How Johnstone Supply Built Company Culture Over Zoom: A Conversation with President and CEO John Tisera
Johnstone Supply saw its largest sales month in company history in June 2020 after responding to the pandemic with innovations at a local level to improve customer experience and focus on company culture.
Why Some Distribution Verticals Are More Vulnerable to Disruption
To understand how vulnerable a distribution vertical is to disruption, look at the relationship between the product category’s complexity and the ability for the distributor to deliver that product using common small-package carriers.
Want to Succeed with Industrial Vending? Stop Making These 5 Mistakes
Read about five common mistakes distributors make when considering and offering vending and inventory control solutions, and how to overcome them.
HD Supply White Cap-Construction Supply Group Deal is a $4B Look into the Future of Distribution
If you’re a distributor, keep an eye on White Cap, which – thanks to the help of CD&R and The Sterling Group – is modeling one of the only viable paths to a successful future.
Real Advice About AI in Distribution: Get Ready for the Next Tech Revolution
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just “advanced technology” – it’s a learning technology that improves on its own without human intervention. AI relies on big pools of data that are fed into machine learning algorithms (math formulas) to continually make decisions, evaluate their own performance and get better over time.
Why Distributors Can’t Innovate – and How You Can Start
Distributors are learning how to build cultures that drive innovation; don’t wait. The disruptors are at the gate and the battle for distribution supremacy will likely go to the swift and not the strong.
Grainger Disinvests in Europe as Amazon Business Expands: What This Means for the Industry
It’s fair to question whether these events are correlated or it’s just a coincidence that Amazon Business is (apparently) thriving in various international markets while Grainger is not.
What Private Equity Ownership Means to a Distribution Employee
Private equity isn’t new – even if it’s new to you. Arguably, PE as an investment method has been around for more than 100 years.
After the Crisis: What Distributors Must Do Next
Despite the many columns and webcasts predicting distribution’s post-pandemic “new normal,” it’s going to be a long time before our industry settles back into a rhythm. For now, expect a “new abnormal,” where powerful forces will continue to transform the industry and redefine how you must compete to win.