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Latest In Research
Though the fallout for distributors from COVID-19 continued to be a hot topic in April, news on Amazon Business garnered the most attention from MDM readers during the month. New data show the enormous number of SKUs available on the platform and that it may be poised to become the top industrial distributor in the U.S.
Four procedures distributors can implement now to adjust your forecast of future demand of items and address the effects of COVID-19, from inventory management expert Jon Schreibfeder.
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.
The industrial distributor is encouraging a company-wide focus on opportunities to improve operational efficiencies, including making some COVID-19-induced changes permanent. President and CEO John Wiborg is also elevating ROI expectations from existing technology investments.
How manufacturers sell and how customers buy have undergone significant change in recent weeks, and it wont go back to the way it was three months ago. MDMs John Gunderson shares tips on how the B2B manufacturer can reset plans with reps, key distributors and end customers.
Coronavirus market upheaval has future-focused manufacturers stepping up communication with end customers and putting themselves in a position to make channel adjustments in the coming post-pandemic economy. MDMs John Gunderson shares how distribution channel partners can prepare for the change.
Future-focused distributors are embracing the market upheaval brought on by the coronavirus to strengthen their brands, step up communication with customers and suppliers and put themselves in a position of strength to thrive in the coming post-pandemic economy. Consultant Mark Dancer during Fridays MDM Live webcast shared several ways distributors can show leadership now.
Streamlining the order-to-cash process can play an important role in helping distributors to stay on top of accounts receivable and reduce DSO at a time when cash generation is of paramount importance during the COVID-19 economic slowdown.
CEO Charley Hale shared during MDM Live how the fluid power distributor is making the most of a slower business environment to speed up its original 18-month plan to improve salesforce effectiveness and efficiency, enhance its e-commerce capabilities, and more.
Industry consultants Mike Marks and Brent Grover shared accounts of distributors who are acting quickly to adjust their business models to reflect new coronavirus realities during MDMs weekly MDM Live COVID-19 impacts webcast. They described why transparency is paramount in making the most of employee, bank and supplier relationships during the pandemic.
NAW Chief Government Relations Officer Jade West discusses the industry associations effort to promote distributors as essential businesses and ensure distributors are not cut out of the supply chain, as well as ongoing initiatives such as financial support for distribution businesses with more than 500 employees.
There are several elements of electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions that can minimize the impact of operating in a modified business model during the global coronavirus pandemic. IDEAs Tom Guzik shares three common EDI transactions distributors can use to keep supply chains optimized.
The coronavirus hit distribution hard in the second half of March, according to a first look at the latest MDM-Baird quarterly survey. And distributors are acting quickly to protect the balance sheet and cash flow. Heres a recap of Fridays MDM LIVE program, where panelists shared the latest numbers on how quickly distributor revenue is declining, as well as what distributors are doing now to stem losses and conserve cash.
After initial success through its own website, the Michigan manufacturer first looked to broaden its customer base with a few items on Amazon about five years ago. CEO Jacqueline Canny explains how the e-commerce giant has helped to supplement Ultimations e-commerce expansion and bring in a wider audience for its conveyor technology and automation products.
MDMs most-read content of March focused on the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts on manufacturing and distribution, as well as actions the industry is taking to minimize negative consequences
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.
In this second of our three-part conversation on innovation in distribution, J Schneider of strategy and consulting firm Dorn joins host Tom Gale to discuss what innovation looks like in 2020 for distributors and manufacturers. In this episode, we look at the ways smaller distributors often have an advantage to identify opportunities for innovation, the need to be selective in building manufacturer-distributor partnerships around a shared vision for innovation, and how to build a culture of innovation.
Managing your customers through this COVID-19 crisis to maximize their long-term loyalty and profitability includes several steps, such as incorporating your emerging channel strategies, aligning sales compensation with your priorities, developing product substitution groups and preventing over-ordering.
The worldwide disruption caused by COVID-19 means distributors need to consider both short- and long-term action plans for your inventory and customer pricing programs. MDMs John Gunderson shares actions that are critical to helping your company anticipate customer needs.
