Last year we launched our Pulse of Industrial Supply survey, and subsequent report, to democratize information and provide distributors, reps, and manufacturers free marketplace information. The research, sponsored by William Blair, asks you to share quarterly performance and outlook, by key product category (if applicable) and key market segments (again, if applicable,)

2026 Q1 Pulse of Industrial Supply Survey Now Open

The 2026 Q1 Pulse of Industrial Supply survey is now open (and closes on March 25th!) Respondents receive a free copy of the results, and the survey only takes 1-2 minutes to complete.

You input is confidential as we only ask for the information in ranges, so no company-specific information is shared.

We aggregate and share the results with respondents. And by asking for input from each segment of the channel, you can then triangulate performance.

Q4 Pulse of Industrial Supply Findings

Last quarter (and if you didn’t get the report and would like a copy, email me), respondents shared

• Q4 had low single digit performance throughout the country
• Q1 would be mid single digits
• Performance would improve throughout the year resulting in mid to high single digit performance

It also highlighted that there is a digital divide, which was expected due to types of customers served.

The large distributors (Grainger, Fastenal, MSC, etc), as expected have a high percent of their business which is digital (eCommerce.) They are working with Fortune 500 companies so are using punchouts, vending machines and such. Grainger has a little business called Zoro, which is 100% digital. The math, and the markets, work.

Conversely, smaller distributors (<$50M) have low single digit percentage of digital business. The reality is most of them call on smaller customers who may not want to buy online … but they may view product or availability online. The customer buying journey, and the value proposition, differs. Additionally, many of these companies may be more technical in nature (or as Frank Hurtte calls them, “knowledge-based distributors.”

So, with Q1 almost done, we’re launching the Q1 Pulse of Industrial Supply survey.

It should take 1-2 minutes to complete. Respondents receive a free copy of the report. This issue also has some AI-related questions for distributors and, in appreciation for your input, we’ll also provide a free copy of our new eBook, “The AI-Enabled Distributor” which is a practical primer on AI to help distributors on their journey. This 120-page book is loaded with practical information as well as over 30 AI-powered distribution solution providers. This is a $39 value and is supported by Band, Blue Ridge, Canals, Distributor Data Solutions, DISTRO, IDEA, Infor, Motivate, Mydatamatcher, Parpsec, Patchworks, Prokeep and Pull Logic

The survey closes March 25th and we’ll be sharing the report shortly thereafter.

Thank you for your support.