Training is a crucial step in developing a distribution company’s successors, says John Jacobsen, vice president of sales and marketing at DGI Supply, in The Critical Role of Employee Training.

According to Jacobsen, failing to successfully transfer knowledge from current to future leaders will eventually lead to a talent gap, “which means then the customers are going to find alternative solutions to meet their needs,” he says.

In addition to the common product and technical training – something distributors have always done well – Jacobsen says companies also need to focus on improving the sales, leadership and general business skills of their employees.

Jacobsen suggests enrolling employees in training programs and providing access to professional development, such as the ISA Learning Center courses and workshops.

Read more about how training can prepare your business for the future, in The Critical Role of Employee Training.