There's lots of talk regarding AI. Many wondering "what are others doing" and asking "what should / can I do? As well as "where can it help me 'the most'?" Lots of heady questions but talking amongst yourself doesn't get anywhere. This is when talking to experts help. One that can help HVACR distributors improve their warehouse operations is Will Quinn. Many know Will as … [Read more...] about Tomorrow’s Warehouses … Powered by AI
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Is your proven 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 the excellent HARDI Pricing certification session that kicked off recently with my friends and colleagues leading the session from ACTvantage: Senthil Gunasekaran and Pradip Krishnadevarajan. Senthil and … [Read more...] about Is your proven experienced associate led pricing model approaching a cliff?
Improving Pricing and Inventory Knowledge with HARDI Certification
I believe one of the biggest challenges as distributor is managing pricing and inventory effectively because you can be handicapped by your own internal viewpoints. Your culture as a distributor is crucial to your success, but it can be limiting you in terms of new ideas and approaches in two crucial areas - Inventory and Pricing. I’ve been fortunate to work for six great … [Read more...] about Improving Pricing and Inventory Knowledge with HARDI Certification
Driving Distributor Profitability Through Operational Efficiency
The “go-go” days of post-Covid are gone. We’re back to pre-pandemic industry growth rates. Maintaining, and improving, net profitability in the face of slowing growth, increased cost structure, and stagnant (if not decreasing) margins, requires improved operational efficiency, inventory management, strategic price management, appropriate implementation and utilization of … [Read more...] about Driving Distributor Profitability Through Operational Efficiency
Increasing Warehouse Output While Managing Costs
With business returning to a more “normal” pace, defined as “slow growth” looking forward, leading distributors are focused on improving the operational / warehouse aspects of their business. While national chains, over the years, quickly moved to a CDC or RDC model, larger independents have also adopted this approach. This achieves a dual mandate of “improved” inventory … [Read more...] about Increasing Warehouse Output While Managing Costs
Is AI Coming to Your Warehouse?
The technology topic of the year in distribution has been, and will continue to be, AI. In reality, much of AI is really ML (machine learning) but it's not as "sexy" to talk about data being built into algorithms, to mine data and then deliver information, insights and/or potentially predict (or recommend) actions. The difference between AI and ML, from a theorist's … [Read more...] about Is AI Coming to Your Warehouse?
7 Warehouse Tips to Improve Customer Satisfaction
Dick Friedman, a warehouse productivity improvement \"guru\" with much experience working with electrical distributors shares thoughts distributors should consider as there becomes the proverbial \"light at the end of the tunnel\" for COVID (due to pending vaccines), fierce competition and the potential for a resurgent market. Acting now can prepare distributors to support … [Read more...] about 7 Warehouse Tips to Improve Customer Satisfaction
Warehouse and Purchasing Considerations as Distributors Comeback
As business begins to improve and distributors reopen counters and bring back some staff, questions arise regard purchasing, staffing, warehouse management and \"operations\" in general. While business for many is operating at a reduced level, the acceleration of business can create disruption ... especially after a significant slowdown over 45-60 days. Dick Friedman, an … [Read more...] about Warehouse and Purchasing Considerations as Distributors Comeback
SPAs- Are they Worth the Cost?
In a penny nickel business, every penny counts. Which is why SPAs can matter. Increasing gross margins and, more importantly, net profitability, in today’s environment is extremely challenging. Publicly-held national chains such as Rexel and WESCO report net profitability in the 4-4.5% range whereas the NAED PAR report typically proclaims a 2-4% net profitability for … [Read more...] about SPAs- Are they Worth the Cost?
FedEx to Live without Amazon. Lessons for Distributors
Last month FedEx announced that they won’t renew a ground-delivery deal they had with Amazon to provide small-package ground deliveries. This follows FedEx’s announcement that it wouldn’t renew Amazon’s FedEx Express contract which Amazon used to transport packages by air. Why? Pretty simple. FedEx decided it didn’t want to continue doing business with … [Read more...] about FedEx to Live without Amazon. Lessons for Distributors
