Many more industry events are on this year's calendar. The question now is, what will associations do — cancel, postpone, convert to virtual gathering or offer a hybrid of live and digital programming?
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Size doesnt matter when it comes to being successful in e-commerce. Walmart recognized that its prior e-commerce team, and perhaps its vision, could only take the company so far. It needed new blood, says Channel Marketing Groups David Gordon.
If you're a distributor in America today, youve got to get digital quick, says John Caplan, president, North America and Europe, Alibaba.com, who spoke on last weeks MDM Live about why digital has become imperative for distributors to compete.
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Optimize search results, facilitate up-sells and cross-sells, promote items that need to turn quickly and elevate private-label products all ways distributors can use AI to transform websites from order-taking to order-making assets.
Blindly following a competitors lead or treating every customer the same are two common mistakes that distributors cant afford to make in todays environment. Consultant Robert Sabath explains how these and other common actions can hold you back.
Tracking industry and customer data can provide distributors with a window into future planning as the market continues to shift during the coronavirus crisis. Channel Marketing Groups David Gordon suggests elements to consider, ranging from pricing pressures to the availability of talent.
In a recent virtual conversation with a few hundred Texas A&M Industrial Distribution students, the next generation had a lot to say about what changes they see in B2B distribution after the full impact of COVID-19 becomes clear. The future of distribution is moving faster than any of us thought possible, and its looking brighter with the talent coming online.
For employees who are traditionally customer-service oriented, making cold calls requires a different skill set. Eric Chernik, CEO of Building Controls & Solutions, is providing training and tools for all employees, such as customer call lists with outbound call scripts, to grow business during the coronavirus slowdown.
COVID-19 has sped up the digital evolution of the sales department. MDMs John Gunderson explains how to keep your sales people selling with the effective tactics they have picked up during coronavirus distancing, put an end to ineffective practices of the past, and use data to take share from competitors even in a down market.
There is an escalating response to the economic impact of the coronavirus among distributors, increasing furloughs and hiring freezes, management consulting firm Alexander Group finds. However, forward-looking distributors are also putting plans into place to convert competitors customers and grow digitally.
The e-commerce product is designed for businesses which need an immediate way to improve productivity, offer quality online experiences and stay connected to their valued customers and suppliers.
Amazon Businesss growth is not equally distributed. It has excelled in certain areas of B2B and struggled in others. Platform consultancy Applico shares the top verticals for Amazon Business, including number of products listed and category sellers.
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Forecast error — the difference between forecast demand and actual demand — can negatively impact cash flow at a time when distributors want to conserve cash while dealing with coronavirus fallout. Reconsider relying on sales history alone, pre-determined inventory agreements, keeping rare items in stock and depending on sales reps to report market changes.
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.
