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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.
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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.
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.
