E-commerce continues to be front of mind for distributors, as three of the Top 5 most-read articles from the second quarter of 2015 focused on this topic. Companies continue to keep a close eye on Amazon's attempts to gain ground in distribution, while continually assessing how they measure up in a changing industry.

Also during the second quarter, distributors were looking at opportunities to expand through acquisition or international growth.

Here are the top five articles on mdm.com from the second quarter:

1. Amazon's B2B Move Reduces Threat – Amazon Business replaced AmazonSupply as the Internet retailer's B2B website. Amazon hopes the move will improve the experience for B2B shoppers looking for a B2C experience, but experts say the move might actually lessen the threat to distributors.

2. M&A Competition Heating Up – Today's M&A market sees strategic buyers and private equity firms often targeting the same companies, setting the stage for a more competition and a more compelling consolidation story in the second half of 2015.

3. 2015 State of E-Commerce in Distribution: E-Commerce on Path to Maturity – Part 1 of our fourth annual distribution e-commerce series examines the results from the 2015 State of E-Commerce in Distribution Survey. Adoption of e-commerce platforms is increasing, as barriers to entry have lessened. This article looks at what distributors say their top priorities are when it comes to e-commerce and how satisfied they are with the results.

4. 2015 State of E-Commerce in Distribution: Integrate or Stagnate – Part 2 of our fourth annual distribution e-commerce series delves into the reasons behind the continued reluctance on the part of some distributors to launch an e-commerce platform and the central role e-commerce can play in an effective integrated marketing strategy.

5. Destination: Mexico – Because of its manufacturing strength, proximity to the U.S. and increasing acceptance of the distribution channel, Mexico has become an attractive market for distributors looking to expand internationally. Despite these compelling reasons, companies must be strategic when they head south of the border.

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