Did you ever get the feeling that costs rise but the value proposition doesn’t change. Or you sense that you’re over spending? Or perhaps you know that someone hasn’t had the time to review “the pennies and nickels” that, when accumulated, become dollars. We’ve all heard about subscription costs that run amuck because no one remembers them. Or have heard of the stories … [Read more...] about From Distributor Tech Expense to A Better Bottom Line
Technology & Digital
The AI Transition Is Moving Fast. Here Is How to Protect Your HVAC Business
Every major technology shift in history gave people time to adjust. Electricity took decades to reach most American homes. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is moving through the economy in less than ten years. That speed is the real risk, and it reaches further than most contractors expect. Why This Change Is Different Bill Gates wrote in August 2026 that we are entering "one … [Read more...] about The AI Transition Is Moving Fast. Here Is How to Protect Your HVAC Business
AI Is Confident. That Doesn’t Mean It’s Right.
Artificial intelligence has become one of the most transformative technologies of our time. It can write reports, summarize meetings, analyze spreadsheets, generate code, answer questions, and even help us brainstorm creative ideas. Used well, AI can save hours of work and dramatically improve productivity. But as AI becomes more capable, it also introduces a subtle and … [Read more...] about AI Is Confident. That Doesn’t Mean It’s Right.
How Agentic AI Could Change How HVACR Contractors Buy Material
Amidst the conversation about AI and data centers, both of which distributors can benefit from, there is another conversation that, as typical, starts on the consumer side and then migrates to B2B. This is how AI is / may change business models Inevitably it does not occur as quickly as the Big 4 consulting pundits project, but it does seep into the business with more … [Read more...] about How Agentic AI Could Change How HVACR Contractors Buy Material
The $339,000 HVAC Financing Problem Sitting in Every Contractor Proposal
75% of homeowners know contractor financing exists. Only 1 in 3 has ever used it. That gap is entirely yours to close. MIT Taught Me the Lesson First I recently enrolled in the MIT No Code and Agentic AI program. The cost: $2,850. MIT gave me three payment options: Option 1: Pay in full. $2,850. Done. Option 2: Three payments. $500 upfront, $1,000, then $1,350. … [Read more...] about The $339,000 HVAC Financing Problem Sitting in Every Contractor Proposal
Did an Elephant Show Up at the Applied AI Conference?
Mark McGready, Director Data Analytics and Solutions for IDEA, attended the 2026 Applied AI for Distributors Conference organized by Distribution Strategy Group. While he spoke to attendees about IDEA's Data Whispers solution and how Nudge (its avatar) helps drive sales, profits and acts as a virtual sales coach and information resource tailored to each distributor's offering … [Read more...] about Did an Elephant Show Up at the Applied AI Conference?
Blue Hawk Brings Construct CRM to its Members
Integrating with your customers provides an opportunity to add value to them and help solidify your role as their preferred distributor. The key is recognizing the reality ... that they also need to buy from your competitors (credit, availability, brands, location, price, etc) and enabling this (remember the phrase, "pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered!") Recently I wrote … [Read more...] about Blue Hawk Brings Construct CRM to its Members
