Technology Archives

Lean Six Sigma was Early in Distribution. AI Makes it Real (Part 1 of 4)

What if AI doesn’t replace Lean Six Sigma, but finally makes it scalable? The first in this four-part series from NAW Chief Innovation Officer Bart Tessel introduces LSS AI: a disciplined operating model to help distributors move beyond AI hype, close learning loops and build organizations that learn faster than volatility.

June 8, 2026

ERP

How Epicor Sees AI Moving ERP Toward Business Outcomes

Epicor CMO and SVP of Product Kerrie Jordan joins the MDM Amplify Podcast to discuss ERP’s shift from a system of record to a system of outcomes, the company’s latest agentic AI announcements and what distributors should prioritize as business software enters its next chapter.

June 2, 2026

Technology Provider News

Canals Raises $35M Series A to Expand AI Workflow Tools for Distributors

Canals said the funding will accelerate product development for its AI-powered workflow suite used by more than 100 distributors.

May 28, 2026

Census: AI Adoption Accelerating Across U.S. Businesses, but Use Cases Remain Narrow

New Census Bureau data analysis suggests wholesale trade continues to report AI usage below the national average, indicating a more gradual pace of adoption. Meanwhile, the broader findings reflect MDM & NAW's industry AI research.

May 27, 2026

Market Analysis

The Hidden Majority: Your AI Is Writing Emails. Your Competitor’s is Finding Margin

We kick off our new "The Hidden Majority" article series with one that focuses on the small- to mid-sized results from the latest Baird-MDM survey combined with our AI research from earlier this year. This piece explores why pricing and margin optimization remain the industry’s biggest untapped AI opportunity — especially for sub-$100M distributors.

May 24, 2026

Technology Provider News

Epicor Debuts Agentic AI Platform, Promises 90-Day Cloud ERP Deployments

At its annual Insights user conference, Epicor unveiled a new agentic AI platform designed for distribution and manufacturing workflows while also launching a program promising cloud ERP go-lives in 90 days for qualifying customers. Get the details here.

May 19, 2026

Cybersecurity

Verizon Report: Ransomware Drives 61% of Manufacturing Malware Breaches

Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report shows vulnerability exploitation overtaking stolen credentials as the top breach entry point, while ransomware, third-party risk and AI-assisted cyberattacks continue reshaping the threat landscape. We cover the key findings here.

May 19, 2026

Colorado Sun Highlights AI Adoption in Distribution, SHIFT Conference

Featured coverage from The Colorado Sun focused on how distributors are approaching artificial intelligence with practical, operations-driven strategies based on conversations at NAW's SHIFT Conference.

May 18, 2026

Technology Provider News

Kaavio Raises $2.9M to Streamline Product Content Creation for Distributors

AI-powered startup Kaavio secured the pre-seed funding to help distributors and manufacturers transform technical documents into market-ready product content at scale.

May 15, 2026

Data & Analytics

Market Analytics, Pt. 3: From Insight to Intervention – Activating the Growth Engine

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

May 13, 2026

ERP

DNOW Says MRC ERP System Has Stabilized as Optimization Work Continues

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

May 8, 2026

Contractor

Ferguson Inks Partnership to Expand Contractors’ Digital Sales Capabilities

Ferguson formed a strategic alliance with Contractor Commerce to help contractors modernize online sales, offering self-service buying tools, AI-powered search visibility and eCommerce capabilities directly through contractor websites.

May 7, 2026

Digital Commerce

Podcast: Tom McFadyen on How AI Is Reshaping B2B Commerce

AI is reshaping B2B commerce faster than most distributors are prepared for. In this sponsored episode of the MDM Amplify Podcast, Tom McFadyen of McFadyen Digital breaks down AEO and AI-driven search, how to prioritize high-impact use cases and why agentic commerce could redefine how distributors compete in the years ahead.

May 5, 2026

Data & Analytics

Market Analytics, Pt. 2: The Growth Engine – Sales Transformation Starts with Data

This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).

May 4, 2026

Operations

Amazon Opens its Logistics Network to All Businesses. Here’s What Distributors Should Know

The move positions the company as a full-service supply chain provider — raising the bar for delivery speed, integration and competition across distribution. Get the details here and our analysis of what it means for distributors.

May 4, 2026

Technology Provider News

Augment Acquires Merlin, Taps Applico Team to Drive AI Push in Distribution

Supply chain productivity platform Augment has acquired stealth startup Merlin to enter wholesale distribution, integrating AI capabilities into its Augie platform and targeting quote-to-cash workflows for distributors.

April 29, 2026

ERP

Do You Really Need to Move On From Your Legacy ERP?

Does your ERP actually need replacing? This piece argues distributors should resist fear-driven upgrades and weigh timing, strategy and hidden migration risks — noting that modernization doesn’t always require a full system overhaul.

April 27, 2026

Expert Perspective

Podcast: Build the Back End First — Why Execution Beats Tech Any Day

Ludwig Meister Co-CEO Max Meister joins the Podcast to explain why innovation fails without execution — and why AI won’t fix bad data. We also preview his SHIFT main stage session on benchmarking digital, data, sales and culture maturity.

April 23, 2026

Building Materials/Construction

From Order-Takers to Demand Generators: Building Materials’ Next Shift

Distribution always had rich data on new construction — but almost nothing on the market that's already standing. The replacement and renovation market has been a data desert for decades. That's starting to change with AI.

April 22, 2026

Data & Analytics

Distribution Market Analytics 101: What Building the Foundation Looks Like

Most distributors track internal performance — but lack a clear view of market opportunity. As the first in a three-part series, this article outlines how market analytics reframes growth by defining markets, estimating share and identifying where opportunity is underdeveloped.