March 2020 - Modern Distribution Management

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March 2020

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A 3-Part Plan to Grow Business During the Coronavirus Crisis

In a matter of weeks, months and years, distributors can develop a strategy to differentiate your business and strengthen your market position in the face of this COVID-19 pandemic. proton.ais Benj Cohen lays out a timeline approach to reclaim market share, strengthen AI and create market differentiation.

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Everyone is Counting on Distributors as Essential Businesses: 4 Ways to Handle the Responsibility

The conversation during MDMs first live discussion on COVID-19 last week made clear that the next couple of months will be critical for distributors as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold. MDMs John Gunderson reflects on how the distribution speakers who participated in the conversation are leading their teams during this health crisis.

Everyone is Counting on Distributors as Essential Businesses: 4 Ways to Handle the Responsibility Read More »

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4 Sales Planning Actions to Take Now to Strengthen Your Sales Teams

Its an unsettling time for outside sales. Managing them through this time is critical for the future of your business. MDMs John Gunderson advises distributors leverage your relationships appropriately, focus on sales planning and forecasting, avoid panic pricing and consider whether or not sales promotions are in order.

4 Sales Planning Actions to Take Now to Strengthen Your Sales Teams Read More »

COVID variants and supply chain pressures continue to challenge the industry across many levels. Distribution leaders, however, have used the ebbs and flows of nothing-like-normal to not only adapt to market disruptions, but to leverage emerging technology upgrades more aggressively to head off future headaches.

Download this Issue as a PDF: March 25, 2020

This is the PDF of this issue of Modern Distribution Management.

What poses the greatest threat to the master distributor model? Ask two of the master distributors featured in the latest issue of MDM Premium and they will share a similar response. Driven by factors such as increasing consolidation and the emergence of e-commerce marketplaces, homogenization and commoditization threaten to strip away the uniqueness of individual master distributors, disrupting their ability to invest in customer service and brand differentiation. Of course, master distributors don’t operate in a vacuum. The same issues they face are felt by the distributors they serve. That theme is reflected throughout this issue of MDM Premium. Our other two features — a Q&A with Cook & Boardman CEO Darrin Anderson and a feature on five emerging job roles in distribution — provide insight on specific actions distributors are taking to keep up with the pace of overall industry transformation.

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COVID-19: Distributors Work to Keep Pace with Demand

Distributors are responding to customer concerns and increased demand on staff in a variety of ways, including limiting new business to meet existing customer demand; open communication on shortages and supplier allocations, and discouraging panic by not accepting returns beyond normal usage patterns. Face the crisis with a sense of flexibility and resilience, experts say.

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‘Trust the System’: A Data-Backed Commitment to Automation

Known for his engaged and strategic perspective and strong leadership qualities, the 37-year-old Florian Ostendarp is leading the charge to automate as many processes as possible for the distribution company. Already about 80% of purchase orders are automatically processed and 67% of order confirmations are completely electronic.

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