As companies seek to save on their energy costs, meet sustainability goals, or earn utility rebates, the concept of building automation continues to grow. Many feel this is the "next frontier" in energy management ... the convergence of lighting control management and HVAC system management. Companies such as Acuity's Distech Controls, Delta Intelligent Building … [Read more...] about DesignLights Consortium (DLC) ToolKit for Lighting & HVAC Integration
Industry Outlook
Ferguson Annual Report Analysis … HVACR and Plumbing Dual Trade focus continues
A few weeks back my colleague David Gordon wrote a column on Ferguson's Q4 numbers. Ferguson added to that release with additional information that was contained in their full annual report. I wanted to see what the Ferguson Annual report had to share to our recent analysis in HVACRtrends, and the distributor series on Ferguson that I wrote for MDM. Did anything major … [Read more...] about Ferguson Annual Report Analysis … HVACR and Plumbing Dual Trade focus continues
What HVACR end customer trends are crucial for 2025?
In 2015 when I was on the HD Supply Power Solutions team, I started some research with the goal of getting feedback to make better pricing decisions with direct surveys for our associates. We were roughly a $2 billion dollar business trying to improve our GM% and profits. Over the past ten years that survey has grown in size and scope to include end customers, distributor … [Read more...] about What HVACR end customer trends are crucial for 2025?
Ferguson Q4 Earnings Report … Preparing for Increased HVAC Focus
Last week Ferguson shared their FY Q4 earnings and held their analyst call. While not “focused” on the HVACR market, Ferguson is growing in this space and sees opportunity to increase their influence and, more importantly, gain share in the market … and they have the war chest available to make the investments and “buy-in.” From the Ferguson earnings call (words in italics are … [Read more...] about Ferguson Q4 Earnings Report … Preparing for Increased HVAC Focus
ChatGPT Prompts to Drive HVACR Sales
ChatGPT was launched November 30, 2022, but went “mainstream” in Q1 2023 when Microsoft made a significant investment into OpenAI. Since then either “AI is going to take over”, “many will lose their jobs”, “it’s a great tool to use” or somewhere in-between. Further, it amplified the conversation of “what is the opportunity / future” do to AI. Over the past year there have … [Read more...] about ChatGPT Prompts to Drive HVACR Sales
PHCC Connect – a Tradeshow Opportunity to Connect
Trade shows can be a great way to introduce contractors to new products, solicit voice of customer, initiate (or strengthen) relationships, network and maybe learn a thing or two. A phenom that has occurred much more so post-pandemic is distributors exhibiting at contractor tradeshows, especially regional shows. No longer is the business, "only in my backyard." Contractors … [Read more...] about PHCC Connect – a Tradeshow Opportunity to Connect
AI for Contractors … and the Channel
Manufacturers and distributors have lately been having many conversations about “technology”. But not in the conventional sense of the tools / software, more as it relates to functionality / capability for the future. They are asking "Does their IT department (which could be their ERP / software provider) have a tech roadmap that includes AI?" And sales and marketing management … [Read more...] about AI for Contractors … and the Channel
Making AI Real Intelligence
AI has been all the rage since ChatGPT was unveiled. Not only is it the talk of every conversation relating to technology, price management, operational improvement, customer service, marketing and more, it has also powered the construction market with the explosion of data centers, advanced chip manufacturing, and, of course, the stock market. But, it’s impact to date is … [Read more...] about Making AI Real Intelligence
10 Technology Trends for HVACR Distributors in 2024
Technology is an ever-growing element of improving customer experience and corporate profitability for a distributor. The days of only having an ERP and the equivalent of MS Office on a server are gone. Nowadays every function within the business benefits from technology and essentially there is now “an app for that” inferring if you can conceive it, there is technology that … [Read more...] about 10 Technology Trends for HVACR Distributors in 2024
Distributors – Planning Marketing Strategy for 2024
The HVAC market has experienced a dramatic slowdown compared to the past few years, which, with the benefit of hindsight, some of the slowdown / decline should have been expected (can’t expect price increases and supply chain issues to be a “benefit” to distributor sales long-term.” According to the June HARDI report, sales were down 6% but, perhaps more disconcertingly, is … [Read more...] about Distributors – Planning Marketing Strategy for 2024
