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
Technology & Digital
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
Adding a Nudge to Your Sales Coaching, at the Point of Impact
Every conference has some session about AI. And every reception at every conference has someone asking about what you’re doing with AI. So, imagine being at a conference that is all about AI and where everyone is talking AI 24x7x3. This is what will happen next week at DSG’s Applied AI conference in Chicago. If you are attending get ready to hear from many AI companies about … [Read more...] about Adding a Nudge to Your Sales Coaching, at the Point of Impact
TUG Connects: More Than an Infor Conference
Infor is one of the most prominent ERP systems serving the HVACR market. Last month their users group, TUG, which is independently run, held their annual event. If your company operates on the Infor platform, this is where your IT and sales operations group (as well as others depending upon the agenda) go to keep your company on the leading edge of technology. NSA … [Read more...] about TUG Connects: More Than an Infor Conference
Turn Your Customers’ CRM into Revenue for You
In the age of digital, distributors are seeking ways to get closer to their customers. Consider, if you have an electronic connection, and ideally an integration, with your customer, the relationship is deeper and you are building a moat around the customer. Your competition will still win some business (selected lines, locale, credit, perhaps price) but you win the dominant … [Read more...] about Turn Your Customers’ CRM into Revenue for You
