Mark McGready, Director Data Analytics and Solutions for IDEA, attended the 2026 Applied AI for Distributors Conference organized by Distribution Strategy Group. While he spoke to attendees about IDEA's Data Whispers solution and how Nudge (its avatar) helps drive sales, profits and acts as a virtual sales coach and information resource tailored to each distributor's offering … [Read more...] about Was there an Elephant in the Room at the Applied AI for Distributors Conference?
Productivity
The Most Valuable Feedback You’re Not Reviewing
Every company seeks to improve profitability. While you endeavor to price everything correctly with a goal of achieving the desired margin, there are the inevitable. This why the phrase "sh*T happens" was invented. People are not infallible and most people do not make errors on purpose. Sometimes a typo is a typo. Sometimes mistakes occur because of lack of training or lack of … [Read more...] about The Most Valuable Feedback You’re Not Reviewing
Winning Orders with AI-Powered Sales Quoting & Ordering
Last month I participated on Prokeep’s webinar on order quotation and order automation. For a pre-launch event, the attendance was great. Winning Nowadays Goes to the Quickest - Customers Don't Have Time to Waste Customers want speedy responses to quote and questions. The reason – they are running fast. Not enough time, or maintenance labor, to get all the work done so … [Read more...] about Winning Orders with AI-Powered Sales Quoting & Ordering
AI for HR
How AI Can Transform HR for Industrial Distributors The Bottom Line: People are a distributor’s largest asset — and AI can now automate the HR burdens that slow leaders down. HR expert Tracie Sponenberg identifies five accessible, affordable AI tools distributors can pilot today to streamline onboarding, scheduling, performance reviews, employee experience, and HR … [Read more...] about AI for HR
AI for Industrial Supply IMR’s
From a tech viewpoint, AI is what companies talk about. Distributors are implementing it or at least discussing it. Not much gets shared within the manufacturer environment but it is well in use. Independent manufacturer reps (IMRs) have also asked the question. Some have dappled. Few are advanced. Most are intrigued but lack expertise and/or are concerned about … [Read more...] about AI for Industrial Supply IMR’s
Embrace Change to Adopt AI and Improve Profits in the Industrial Channel
The concept of digital transformation, let alone AI, as a future driver for your organization is probably a folly unless … You have a leader, and leadership team, which believes in change. There are two key words in the above sentence … “leadership” and “change.” Leadership infers vision, an ability to perceive “need,” an entrepreneurial mentality that desires growth, … [Read more...] about Embrace Change to Adopt AI and Improve Profits in the Industrial Channel
Prokeep Helps Capture the Text and Turn it Into Dollars
As distributors seek cost-effective ways to improve customer experience, improve productivity and have a cost-effective sales tool, while doing all of these digitally, Industrial Trends is pleased to welcome our newest partner, Prokeep. Prokeep offers a unique solution to distributors, which can also cost-effectively and easily be used by manufacturer representatives, which … [Read more...] about Prokeep Helps Capture the Text and Turn it Into Dollars
ChatGPT, AI, Office, Teams and More Technology to Power Your Industrial Business
Within distribution there is a continuous, and increasing, call for distributors, manufacturers, and manufacturer representatives to “invest in technology.” And I would presume that companies are spending more on technology / digitalization than ever before. It may not show up in the IT budget, but marketing, pricing, sales, warehousing, manufacturing and other departments now … [Read more...] about ChatGPT, AI, Office, Teams and More Technology to Power Your Industrial Business
The Road to a New ERP System
Deciding on an ERP system is one of the most challenging decisions for an Industrial distributor given its impact on business operations … everything from easy of doing business, ability to integrate with other tools, access to information, cost (acquisition, maintenance, training, productivity) let alone it touches every person who interacts with a company … associates, … [Read more...] about The Road to a New ERP System
Punchouts Drive eCommerce in the Industrial Channel
eCommerce is more than, in the words of an Amazon and MRO analyst, “click and ship”. eCommerce is about a methodology and a mindset to do business more electronically. In fact, the commerce element can be very diversified, especially for medium to large MRO buyers. Consider Amazon Business, Grainger and MSC. Companies such as Grainger and MSC report that over 30% … [Read more...] about Punchouts Drive eCommerce in the Industrial Channel
