Technology Leader Panel
The Distributor’s Technology “Dreamstack”
Wednesday, September 23 , 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT – 10:00 AM PDT / 1:00 PM EDT
If you could build your tech stack from scratch today, what would you actually choose and what would you leave behind?
Every distributor has accumulated technology over time — systems added in layers, inherited through acquisitions, or chosen to solve a single problem without a view of the whole. The result is a stack that works, mostly, but doesn’t hang together the way leaders wish it did. The question worth asking now is: if you were building from scratch today, what would you actually choose?
In this Technology Leader Panel, distribution executives and technology leaders come together to define what a purpose-built distributor tech stack looks like in 2026 — the platforms, integrations, and capabilities that belong in it, and the legacy choices that don’t. Panelists will share what they’ve learned from real deployments, what they’d do differently, and how they think about making smart technology investments in an environment where the options keep expanding.
Key Takeaways
- What the core components of a modern distributor tech stack look like and how they fit together
- Where ERP, CRM, ecommerce, analytics, and AI tools intersect and where the gaps most often appear
- How leading distributors are evaluating and prioritizing technology investments in 2026
- What integration and data strategy decisions have the biggest downstream impact on stack performance
- How to build a technology roadmap that’s durable, not just current
What You’ll Learn
- The platforms and capabilities distribution technology leaders would prioritize if building a stack today
- Where current stacks are falling short and what’s most commonly missing or misaligned
- How to think about the build vs. buy vs. integrate decision across the stack
- What success looks like when the technology actually works together as a system
Join Us
If you’re responsible for technology strategy, operations, or digital transformation at a distribution company, this panel will give you a practical framework for evaluating where your stack stands and where to focus next.
Panelists
Graham Rigby
Vice President, Product Management for Distribution and Building Supply Industries, Epicor Software
Alex West
Technical Lead, Phocas Software
Ryan Ayers
Co-Founder and CEO, Suppli
Sponsor
Panelists
Graham Rigby
Vice President, Product Management for Distribution and Building Supply Industries, Epicor Software
Graham Rigby is Vice President of Product Management for the Distribution and Building Supply industries at Epicor, where he leads product strategy and innovation for solutions that help distributors modernize and scale their operations. With more than 25 years of experience spanning product management, sales leadership, and implementation, Rigby brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing today’s distribution businesses.
A founding leader behind Epicor’s Distribution business in North America, he has played a key role in growing Epicor platforms into widely adopted solutions and in shaping Epicor’s broader distribution strategy. Known for his customer-centric approach, Rigby works closely with organizations to align technology with real-world operational needs, driving efficiency, growth, and long-term competitiveness.
Alex West
Technical Lead, Phocas Software
Alex West leads the US Technical Presales team at Phocas Software, where he works with distributors daily on the analytics layer of the stack – automated financial statements, sales and inventory analytics, and rebate management. Because that work starts with connecting to whatever ERP and surrounding systems a distributor already has, he sees firsthand which stack and data decisions make reporting straightforward and which ones make it expensive. Prior to Phocas, Alex spent 12+ years in technical presales across reporting, analytics, and FP&A software, serving customers in a range of industries and market segments.
Ryan Ayers
Co-Founder and CEO, Suppli
Ryan Ayers is the Co-Founder and CEO of Suppli, the digital credit teammate built for the physical economy that integrates with your ERP to monitor customers for changes in credit health, proactively manage dunning, and automate cash application. Under his leadership, Suppli has become a trusted industry partner recognized by AD, NAW, ISA, LMC and NACM.
Host
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.