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
Technology
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
Converting POs to Digital Commerce, and a Christmas Offer
Last quarter's Pulse of Industrial Supply identified a significant divergence in the percentage of digital sales for smaller distributors vs large distributors. Perhaps its the customer base? It could be investments in eCommerce technology and product data. It could be marketing. But it could also be that smaller distributors are not being customer friendly, … [Read more...] about Converting POs to Digital Commerce, and a Christmas Offer
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
ISA Member Spotlight Series – Industrial Supply Company
As I was doing the research and interviews with Industrial Supply Company, and writing this profile, one famous quote kept popping in my head.... "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country." Horace Greeley. That "grow up with the country" phrase certainly applies to Industrial Supply Company. They are a great example of a Company founded in 1916 in Salt … [Read more...] about ISA Member Spotlight Series – Industrial Supply Company
How to Avoid Three Big B2B Distribution Digital Death Traps
As a distributor building a digital strategy and creating digital solutions, I’ve worked with advanced and basic software solutions. I’ve been fortunate to be on distribution teams and work with distribution clients over the past 15 years learning sometimes the hard way, the key mistakes to avoid on a digital journey. 1: Mistake of Investing in technology instead of talent The … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Three Big B2B Distribution Digital Death Traps
Is your experienced associate led pricing model approaching a cliff?
If your winning pricing model is still being led by just your experienced sales team, it is probably time to make changes for the future. I had the opportunity to sit in on an excellent Pricing certification session that kicked off recently with my friends and colleagues leading the session from ACTvantage: Senthil Gunasekaran and Pradip Krishnadevarajan. Senthil and Pradip … [Read more...] about Is your experienced associate led pricing model approaching a cliff?
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
CRM … Today’s Marketing Backbone
Marketing for distribution today requires more nuance than ever before. It is no longer solely counter days, events (especially golf!), flyers, short-term promotions and logoed items. It's more about strategy, analysis, targeting customers, determining messaging, tailoring offers to selected audiences, promoting your value proposition and more. Further, giving a flyer to … [Read more...] about CRM … Today’s Marketing Backbone
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
