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
Sales Channel
Using Digitalization to Optimize Operations & Drive New Business in Industrial
To combat the challenges of today’s marketplace, progressive distributors looking towards the future are investing more and more into digitizing their processes to optimize performance. These companies recognize that: Data can be monetized. This means that information in their ERP systems can be acted upon rather than remain in data silos and databases. Whether this is … [Read more...] about Using Digitalization to Optimize Operations & Drive New Business in Industrial
Better Industrial Sales through Better Sales Coaching
Field level sales management is one of the most challenging roles in the industry, and, in many cases, one of the least effective roles in distributors. Why you ask? Because the people who are placed in these roles typically are: It does not mean they are “bad”. They are trying to succeed, and many eventually do. The challenge, however, is how can they better manage … [Read more...] about Better Industrial Sales through Better Sales Coaching
Today, it takes more than your Account Managers to drive Industrial sales and profitability
The past few months I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of face-to-face time with distribution leadership teams working with them on their go-to-market sales plans. I have some advice and counsel to share. If you are just refreshing your 2010 belly-to-belly selling playbook, I would recommend you consider some slight adjustments for 2025. Your end customer is short on … [Read more...] about Today, it takes more than your Account Managers to drive Industrial sales and profitability
Questionable Meetings. Are you willing to ask uncomfortable questions?
With the Distributor meeting season coming to an end this weekend and distributors finally done with their planning sessions with manufacturers (more meetings), the issue of the quality of the meetings defined as “probing questions / value of the meeting time” has been a topic of discussion that we’ve recently had. Our good friend Mike Marks recently resurrected a post he … [Read more...] about Questionable Meetings. Are you willing to ask uncomfortable questions?
A changing MRO environment?
Recently I participated in a networking group that included a number of MRO buyers. The subject was trends in the MRO space. Granted many of the attendees were larger MRO buyers, but the feedback indicated a change in buyer purchasing behaviors. Over the years I've sat in a number of these meetings, albeit with different attendees. The buying and eCommerce trends centered … [Read more...] about A changing MRO environment?
