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
Technology & Digital
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
AI According to Mike Marks on Driven by DCKAP
AI is all the rage in trade publications, on LinkedIn, for industry conferences (and standalone conferences targeted at distribution) and will probably be a topic at this year's HARDI conference in one-on-one conversations between distributors and manufacturers. The questions that will be asked are: What are you doing? Oh, you’re not doing anything? What are you … [Read more...] about AI According to Mike Marks on Driven by DCKAP
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
Recap of Poolside Chat with Microsoft
On August 22nd Channel Marketing Group hosted a poolside chat with Microsoft’s Matt Petersen. The session was titled “ChatGPT, AI, Office, Teams and More Technology to Power Your Business. Within minimal promotion and advance notice, and the support of NEMRA, Edison Report and Electro-Federation, we had over 200 people register and over 110 connections on the webinar … thank … [Read more...] about Recap of Poolside Chat with Microsoft
The State of HVACR Distributor eCommerce, and the Opportunity
E-commerce, defined as “website ordering, continues to be low for most HVACR distributors but by no means does this diminish the importance of distributor websites. For most distributors, eCommerce sales is a low percent of their total business. Some have recognized that their website can be an alternative order entry system and can help simplify the ordering process … [Read more...] about The State of HVACR Distributor eCommerce, and the Opportunity
Winning the HVACR Product Data Revolution
In June HVACRTrends hosted a webinar introducing the Trimble / Distributor Data Solutions (DDS) collaboration. The two companies shared what they are seeing in the construction trades and how data is being used, and will be used, to help companies operate more efficiently, more effectively, and as a tool to capture market share. Takeaways Two key takeaways from the session … [Read more...] about Winning the HVACR Product Data Revolution
