Customers looking to reset after COVID-19 disruption will want efficiency gains made possible by data, digitization and automation, says Suroor Anwar, VP at the electronic products distributor.
Posts By Bridget McCrea
The 38-year-old industry outsider came into distribution when e-commerce was just taking off and has since led MSC Industrial Supplys Better MRO online knowledge hub to hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors.
Subscribers should log-in to read this article.
Now customer support manager, Palmer Johnson Power Systems Mary Klett quickly rose through the ranks at the company after starting as a customer service rep, thanks to the 38-year-olds willingness to take on new opportunities, like gamification, and her exceptional ability to support her team.
Subscribers should log-in to read this article.
Wholesale distribution, along with arts and entertainment, financial services and retail trade, slowed hiring efforts in January, according to a February report from the CBIZ Small Business Employment Index. Overall, the numbers for companies with 300 or fewer employees showed improvement over December statistics.
Increased competition from both traditional and non-traditional distributors coupled with technological advancements have put the power of analytics into distributors hands. Use your metrics to your advantage to measure company performance, make better decisions, understand customer activity and give customers exactly what they want.
Inventory management is wholesale distributions biggest pain point, Blue Ridge and SmartBrief survey shows.
Companies like 3M are prioritizing distribution for those most in need, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai predicts a direct impact on 2020 revenues.
A look at the legislative status of bi-partisan bill American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019, its potential industry impactsincluding whether or not states will act to pass legislation on their own and the bills chances of reaching President Trumps desk.
Already a growing strategy for larger global firms, small- to mid-size distributors can benefit the business by bringing HR into overall company planning. Distributors can start by rethinking the HR department label, bringing HR into safety initiatives, ensuring the right leaders are in place and embedding employee relations into recruitment and selection.
The 4Q19 Baird Industrial Distribution Survey reveals a high percentage of companies that are focused on revamping their sales processes for the year ahead. They will invest more in skills training, improve digital marketing efforts and increase outside sales coverage.
Unique advice, a clear vision and measurable ROI are all ways to improve customer relationships and help sell more to clients who have already bought into your business.
A long-term mindset, key technology investments and a supportive culture can help distributors grow your online marketplace.
Heres what all distributors can do now to prepare for a potentially challenging year ahead for talent recruitment.
Distributors that are on the path to sustainability are realizing a long list of benefits that come from operating as a good corporate citizen in their communities.
Subscribers should log-in to read this article.
Subscribe
The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry
What We're Reading
Premium Access
Investment Banking Directory
The MDM Investment Banks in Distribution directory is a listing of firms with expertise in the wholesale distribution industry.
