Technology Archives - Page 2 of 64 - Modern Distribution Management

3 Misconceptions about AI that Distributors Need to Put to Rest

Proton.ai's Jill Voege writes that while many distributors tend to think of AI as an abstract concept, it's actually a technology that can provide real value for their businesses.

August 5, 2021

Technology

5 Misconceptions Distributors Have About E-Commerce Platforms

E-commerce costs too much, won't make a difference to a distributor's bottom line and isn't worth much more than brand promotion. Right? Not so fast, say SAP's David Koenig and Mirakl's Angela Troccoli.

July 29, 2021

Technology

Does the Future of Independent Distribution Depend on B2B Marketplaces?

Should Amazon Business hit $100 billion or more in the next few years, it would be a 'flashing danger sign' for independent distributors, say Applico's Nick Johnson and Alex Moazed. The alternative, they tell MDM in this week's podcast, would be if distributors invest in other marketplaces.

July 28, 2021

Technology

Future-Proofing Distribution Systems with Quantum Computing

Quantum computing offers a significant opportunity to solve complex constrained optimization problems in near real-time, as demanded by modern distribution challenges, with more accuracy and better answers to drive better decisions.

July 19, 2021

Technology

Why Being ‘Stuck in the Middle’ Isn’t So Bad

The pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for companies to prove their value in the supply chain — and they can look to Aerosmith and Gwen Stefani as examples.

July 16, 2021

Technology

Don’t Get Stung by a Delayed Reaction to Customers’ Growing Digital Expectations

Digital commitments are paying off for the 2021 MDM Digital Innovator award winners, thanks to their quick action and customer-centric initiatives.

July 12, 2021

Technology

Commentary: Don’t Get Stung by a Delayed Reaction to Customers’ Growing Digital Expectations

Digital commitments are paying off for the 2021 MDM Digital Innovator award winners, thanks to their quick action and customer-centric initiatives.

July 11, 2021

Technology

Competing on Customer Experience a Winning Hand for Distributors

Bloomreach’s Jason Hein talks about how a good customer experience is key for both traditional and digital distributors.

July 8, 2021

Technology

Introducing the No. 1 Company in Applico’s Top 50 B2B Marketplace Rankings

Alex Moazed, Applico CEO, recently interviewed the leadership team at Faire, which took the top spot among B2B marketplaces.

June 23, 2021

Technology

Home Depot Tees-Up Online Rental Reservations for Equipment

Home Depot’s new online technology lets pro or do-it-yourself (DIY) customers reserve and rent equipment online up to 30 days in advance.

June 23, 2021

Technology

AI, ML, Cloud and Edge Compute: What They Can Mean for Distributors

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, edge compute and 5G technology are poised to play key roles in distributor technology transformation.

June 22, 2021

Technology

How to Avoid Death-by-Commodity Fate on an E-Commerce Platform

With a background in event ticketing, Scott Barrows got a front row seat to witness how e-commerce platforms can affect distributor performance. Although in a different market sector, the lessons Barrows learned carry into the way he manages BluePallet, a B2B e-commerce platform currently serving the chemicals vertical.

June 17, 2021

Technology

Why Web Sessions Matter in B2B E-Commerce

There is a big difference between sessions and raw new visitor traffic. Distributors have built their businesses on relationships, and sessions are a way of measuring potential budding relationships in the digital environment.

June 16, 2021

Technology

4 Steps to Increase Sales Rep Use of New Technology

Focus on benefits, training and coaching while setting clear expectations with targeted incentives to increase sales rep use of new technology.

June 15, 2021

Featured Blog

What’s Your Hybrid Customer Engagement Strategy?

Shake up or break up: Tough truths on digital transformation.

June 14, 2021

Technology

Applico’s Top 50 B2B Marketplace Ranking

Digital platform consultancy ranks its top 50 B2B marketplaces, focusing exclusively on independent B2B product marketplaces that facilitate the exchange of goods between a business customer and a third party distributor and/or supplier.

June 10, 2021

Technology

Despite Labor Shortage, a Bounty of Business for Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery

California-based distributor Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery has seen a marked increase in sales this year to its landscape customers.

June 8, 2021

Technology

Visual Search – The Next Big Thing For E-Commerce

Adding visual search functionality is a great way to grow revenue, says Chantal Schweizer of Earley Information Science. A preference among millennials, visual search is only going to become more and more of a requirement in the future, she argues.

June 7, 2021

Technology

How to Improve Pandemic-Rushed Digital Investments

Changes in the work environment mandated by the pandemic have intensified the need for information management improvement. Knowledge graphs provide a unique way to reveal relationships among information entities and to connect the systems they support. In addition, they enable the effective use of information in AI and machine learning applications.