AI News and Gurus
AI News and Gurus: The Show for Intelligent Distributors
Tuesday, June 2 , 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT – 10:00 AM PDT / 1:00 PM EDT
The show that tells distribution leaders what AI actually changes for their business.
Distributors are operating in a fundamentally different environment, where AI is now embedded in how they source globally, build trust with suppliers, and make supply chain planning decisions under uncertainty. What used to take weeks of back-and-forth communication and gut-feel forecasting is being compressed into hours by AI-powered tools that handle supplier discovery, communication, demand sensing, and inventory optimization.
In this AI News and Gurus session, we examine what is changing across B2B sourcing and supply chain decision-making as AI moves from a back-office experiment to a core part of how distributors source, plan, and operate. Joining us are Justin Liu, U.S. Country Manager at Alibaba.com, to discuss how AI is reshaping supplier discovery, automated communication, and trust-building on one of the world’s largest B2B platforms; and Jeff Metersky, Vice President of Solution Strategy at GAINS, to discuss how AI and advanced analytics are reshaping supply chain planning, design, and decision-making under variability and uncertainty. Together, we will explore where the real productivity gains are landing, what distributors should be paying attention to, and how AI is changing the economics of distribution from the supplier side through to the warehouse and customer.
Key Takeaways
- How AI is changing the global B2B sourcing experience for distributors
- The role of AI in supplier verification, comparison, and trust-building
- How AI and advanced analytics are reshaping supply chain planning and design
- Practical applications of AI in managing variability, risk, and uncertainty
- What leading distributors are doing today to capture value from AI across sourcing and operations
What You’ll Learn
- How AI-powered tools are streamlining supplier discovery, communication, and comparison in global sourcing.
- How AI and advanced analytics are improving supply chain planning, inventory decisions, and network design under uncertainty.
- Where AI is making the biggest difference in distribution, and where human judgment still matters most.
- How distributors can use AI to diversify their supply base, mitigate risk, and respond to shifting trade conditions.
- What leading distributors are doing right now to apply AI across both the supplier-facing and operational sides of the business.
Who Should Attend
Sales, marketing, and ecommerce leaders exploring how AI is reshaping the distribution business.
Distribution executives evaluating how AI fits into their sourcing, planning, and supply chain strategy.
Procurement, supply chain, and operations leaders managing global supplier relationships and inventory decisions.
Guests
Justin Liu
Country Manager, Alibaba
Jeff Metersky
SVP of Innovation & Strategy, Gains Systems
Sponsors
Guests
Justin Liu
Country Manager, Alibaba
Justin is a veteran in e-commerce, with over a decade of experience working for leading B2C and B2B platforms. He has helped brand owners and entrepreneurs expand their retail footprint, leverage online channels, and build their brands. He currently leads Alibaba.com’s U.S. business as Country Manager.
Jeff Metersky
SVP of Innovation & Strategy, Gains Systems
With over 39 years of experience in applying advanced analytics to improve supply chain performance, Jeff is a passionate and seasoned leader in the field of supply chain design and optimization. He has helped hundreds of organizations across various industries and geographies adopt and implement supply chain design and planning principles and technologies, delivering value and impact on their bottom line and competitive edge.
Hosts
Brian Hopkins
Chief Operations Officer, Distribution Strategy Group
Brian Hopkins is recognized for his expertise in customer service and operational efficiency within the industrial distribution sector. His career trajectory showcases a series of impactful leadership roles, marked by innovation and strategic growth.
Brooks Hamilton
Founder and CEO, AI Strategy Advisors
Brooks Hamilton is the founder and CEO of AI Strategy Advisors, which helps large enterprises build and implement AI strategies. With a deep understanding of both AI technology and business operations, his company is positioned to help organizations navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Previously, Brooks held executive positions at Zilliant, where he worked with dozens of leading distributors to design and deploy AI sales, pricing, and revenue management applications.