Distribution Strategy Group

Join us March 5 at 9 PT/12 ET for our annual deep dive into distributor technology trends and strategies for success. Jonathan Bein will present the results of our annual survey of distributors on how they are leveraging technology to support the customer journey. You’ll learn: ⚙️ How ERP and CRM are evolving to provide real-time insights, integrations and better customer experiences ⚙️ How distributors are using AI and other emerging technologies to drive efficiencies and greater effectiveness in their operations ⚙️ The latest advancements in ecommerce and other digital tools ⚙️ Actionable recommendations to make the right tech investments and drive measurable impact Register now to attend live (or to get a link to watch on-demand after the show): https://lnkd.in/gNWkb_Xk Thank you to our sponsors: Epicor and Shopify

Brendan Breen, CEO of the Industrial Supply Association, joins us Wednesday; we'll talk about the industry, the economy, tariffs and more. Don't miss it!

Brace yourself because the next big thing in AI is coming: Agentic AI. Ian Heller shares that the use cases for Agentic AI are endless. AI agents will have access to enormous amounts of data, will be able to consider many alternatives, balance many dependencies and – most importantly – act on your behalf. This change from reactive with LLMs to proactive with Agentic AI means the impact on productivity will be massive. Ian’s latest article shares examples of the power of Agentic AI. Check it out here 👉  https://lnkd.in/gu_dPYSa 💡Thinkers360 just published their “Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Agentic AI 2025.” At the top of the list, with a score of 100 sits Noelle Russell from the AI Leadership Institute. Noelle is joining us at Applied AI for Distributors in Chicago on June 24–26. She’s delivering a keynote and will join us for the reception afterwards so you can ask questions and learn from her. Register your team today: https://lnkd.in/gD2srdfy

💥Applied AI for Distributors Panel Announcement 💥 “Combining Human and Artificial Intelligence to Build the Next Competitive Edge” Join us for a panel of technology and HR leaders, who will share how to combine the best of AI and human intelligence to create an intelligent, adaptive and future-ready organization. Leveraging the unprecedented capabilities of AI with the innate intuition, empathy and insights only humans possess can help leaders build capabilities that can enable superior value propositions and empower better cultures. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion that will explore the new boundaries of organizational design and effectiveness. Applied AI for Distributors will be in Chicago on June 24-26, 2025. Learn more about this and other sessions: https://lnkd.in/ga5y9cB3 Register now: https://lnkd.in/g6M6smZw

Does your sales team know what’s driving revenue? Or are they just guessing? Hidden inefficiencies and limited data visibility often create what’s called revenue fog, forcing sales reps to rely on guesses or their gut over hard evidence. What’s causing the fog? ☁️ Data silos. When reps track their activity in different ways – CRMs, spreadsheets, email trails, paper notes – the data gets scattered, and it’s hard to get a sense of what’s working. ☁️ Undefined sales processes. If everyone works differently, it’s hard to meaningfully compare their results. ☁️ Disconnect between activities and transactions. It’s important to close the loop between sales efforts and outcomes. To learn how to clear your revenue fog, read the latest from Benjamin Cohen: https://lnkd.in/gNPYC9xp

Join Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein for the next episode of Wholesale Change on Feb. 26, featuring special guest Brendan Breen, CEO of the ISA - Industrial Supply Association. ISA continues to introduce new initiatives to drive growth and support members in the industrial channel.   The conversation will dig into:  > The importance of building and maintaining strong channel partnerships  > How ISA members are tackling the challenges the industry faces today  > The role ISA is playing in educating and engaging with the channel around critical issues such as tariffs and the talent gap  > ISA’s newest initiatives, including the building of a veteran network  > How distributors can leverage ISA's resources and insights  Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights from Brendan, who brings a holistic view of the industry to the table. Register now: https://lnkd.in/e2QgQAnQ Thank you to our sponsor: White Cup  

Don’t wait: Secure your spot now for our pre-show strategy session, “Distribution 2030: AI-Driven Transformation,” June 24 in Chicago. We’re kicking off the first morning of our 2025 Applied AI for Distributors event with a deep dive into building a plan for AI for your business. Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein will facilitate this powerful session. Get: > AI forecasts for key distribution functions  > Function-by-function roadmap to help you prepare for the shift  > ROI calculator to estimate efficiency gains and cost savings   > Strategic planning framework to evaluate and prioritize AI investments The first 75 registrants for the full Applied AI for Distributors event will have priority access, so move quickly. Learn more about this exclusive session: https://lnkd.in/gREvQdQw Learn more about Applied AI for distributors: https://lnkd.in/ghdQ2tjM 

If you’re an early adopter of new tech, implementing a new ERP system might feel like an obvious course of action – but your fellow stakeholders may be more hesitant. They’ll need you to make a business case before they consider investing time and money in a major project. And each stakeholder will want to hear about the things they care about. For example: 🫰CFOs will want to know the cost and ROI, with hard data to back it up. 📈 Sales VPs will want to see new opportunities for growth and enhanced sales team performance. 🖥️ IT leaders will want you to make the case for integration and system security. 🧑💻Employees will want to know if the system is user-friendly and will make their jobs easier. Generic bullet points won’t be enough to get everyone on board. For more on how to build a convincing case for a new ERP, read this article from Jon Byrd: https://lnkd.in/gruTawGF

Many distributors have not yet built strong muscles when it comes to rapidly evaluating and adopting new technologies – simply because it hasn’t been an option for them. Now that real AI solutions are available, distributors need to act: ⚡️Make sure you have the right people on your team. That means the right technical experts but also leaders that are hungry to learn and adopt new technologies. ⚡️Build processes for identifying opportunities to use technology to improve sales, productivity, accuracy and customer relationships. ⚡️Continually scan the environment to identify new and emerging AI tools that are available for distributors. This includes spending time with your current providers, probably all of whom are incorporating AI.  Supercharge your strategy for AI by attending our upcoming conference, Applied AI for Distributors on June 24-26, 2025, in Chicago. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ghdQ2tjM View the agenda: https://lnkd.in/ga5y9cB3

It’s 2025, and distributors that don’t have a comprehensive digital strategy are already behind. Join us on Feb. 19, 2025, at 9 PT / 12 ET for a Distribution Leader Panel to hear from your peers on how they are building and implementing a digital strategy to future-proof their businesses. Panelists are: Darren Taylor of Jon-Don and Robin McGuire of Reinders, Inc. Hear how to: 👂Align your digital strategy with shifting customer expectations. 👂Leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency with AI and automation. 👂Enhance customer experience and drive sales growth. 👂Overcome common pitfalls in implementing digital initiatives. Register now to attend live or to get access to watch on demand: https://lnkd.in/gTiQHSwq Thank you to our sponsors: HawkSearch by Bridgeline and Infor