For HVAC-R distributors dealing with margin pressure, labor constraints, and increasingly complex quoting environments, AI is rapidly moving from curiosity to operational necessity. After nearly a year of research, interviews, and vendor evaluations, I am pleased to announce the release of The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit: A Field Guide written specifically for … [Read more...] about AI for HVAC Distributors: A Practical Field Guide from Pilot to Profit
Technology
Helios Bets on AI Diagnostics with Nationwide Bluon Rollout
Commercial service organizations are watching AI tools closely, trying to figure out which ones actually deliver results in the field. Helios HVACR, a nationwide commercial service provider operating in more than 40 states, just made a significant move by deploying Bluon's HVACR AI diagnostics platform across its entire field operation. The goal is straightforward: faster … [Read more...] about Helios Bets on AI Diagnostics with Nationwide Bluon Rollout
Housecall Pro Report Highlights Rising Customer Experience Standards in Home Services
Customer expectations in home services continue to rise, and home service customer experience is now a decisive factor in how homeowners choose contractors. A new report from Housecall Pro examines how digital convenience, transparent pricing, and consistent communication are reshaping homeowner decision-making across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other residential trades. … [Read more...] about Housecall Pro Report Highlights Rising Customer Experience Standards in Home Services
Real-Time Product Data Is a Competitive Divide in HVAC
Real-time product data is now a competitive divide in the HVAC channel, and manufacturers who provide real-time product data gain an immediate advantage. When specs, pricing, and availability are current for reps, distributors, and contractors, jobs move quickly and customers feel confident. When that information is old or inconsistent, quotes slow down, margins weaken, and … [Read more...] about Real-Time Product Data Is a Competitive Divide in HVAC
Show Me the Value: Why HR Needs Receipts
HR often sits in a strange space inside organizations. Employees are wary because they see HR as working for management, not for them. Leadership, meanwhile, gets frustrated when HR leaders say they want to be “strategic” but then spend their time bogged down in the tactical weeds. Over the years, I have worked closely with HR leaders in different contexts. Too often, I … [Read more...] about Show Me the Value: Why HR Needs Receipts
AI for HVACR Reps
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. Reps have asked the question. Some have dappled. Few are advanced. Most are intrigued but lack expertise and/or are concerned about expense. The challenge for many reps is the … [Read more...] about AI for HVACR Reps
Creating more time for your inside teams to service customers
This week we’ve been on calls with key distributors and working on our latest benchmark research about how automated order management is creating “barriers to exit” for customers. We are preparing this full report for a webinar and white paper in partnership with our friends at Conexiom. I’m excited to be co-presenting this webinar and crafting the white paper research … [Read more...] about Creating more time for your inside teams to service customers
Preview of HVAC Contractor eCommerce Research Findings
As HVAC distributors continue on their journey of digitization, BigCommerce sponsored research to uncover insights from contractors on their usage of eCommerce to support their material purchasing needs. The forthcoming white paper (you can reserve your copy of the full report) provides a snapshot of the valued features and functionality of online sites, how much is … [Read more...] about Preview of HVAC Contractor eCommerce Research Findings
Powering Sales Focus and Productivity with Proactive Communication Tools
The results of our survey and research our team at Channel Marketing Group did in concert with Prokeep on the channel are in and show some clear gaps and opportunities for the channel In the HVACR channel world, where speed often wins the deal, distributors are under increasing pressure to serve more customers, faster—without adding headcount. Traditional sales models, … [Read more...] about Powering Sales Focus and Productivity with Proactive Communication Tools
Johnstone Supply Orion Group – Making Training and Programs a Differentiator
We have been featuring leading HVACR distributors in a Spotlight series over the past few months, and I sat down to do an update on the Johnstone Supply Orion Group (JSOG) story. I've been a fan of what JSOG is doing as an organization with their strategic vision and the focus they have on helping their end customers grow and thrive. JSOG's goal is to continue "Our Journey … [Read more...] about Johnstone Supply Orion Group – Making Training and Programs a Differentiator
