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Infor: Distribution is Where AI Moves from Promise to Practice

Leave a Comment / AI, Featured Blog, Technology Provider News /

At the company’s annual TUG conference for distribution customers, CEO Kevin Samuelson and AI Innovation leader Rick Rider outlined how the company is positioning AI for distributors — not as a standalone product, but as an ongoing service built around industry context, co-innovation, process intelligence and governed automation. Here are our key takeaways.

Infor: Distribution is Where AI Moves from Promise to Practice Read More »

MDM’s Stellar Industrial Supply Case Study Report Now Available

Leave a Comment / Facilities Maintenance (MRO), Featured Blog, Industrial Supplies, MDM Blog, Safety Products /

Our latest MDM Case Study examines how Stellar Industrial Supply built a differentiated growth model around documented customer savings, service-first selling and digital execution — turning measurable value creation into a durable platform for customer loyalty, expansion and operational excellence. It’s available now for Premium subscribers and in the MDM Store.

MDM’s Stellar Industrial Supply Case Study Report Now Available Read More »

MDM’s June Premium Monthly Recap

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, MDM Blog /

June’s Premium content covered the keys to Grainger’s business model success; AI’s role in Lean Six Sigma; what 3M’s “Ask 3M” AI customer tool means for distributors; City Electric Supply’s new services rollout; the growing pricing power gap between large and small distributors; and our monthly MDM Forecast and M&A Roundup. Get the condensed rundown here.

MDM’s June Premium Monthly Recap Read More »

See MDM’s 2026 Industry Titans

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, MDM Blog, MDM Market Leaders, Top Distributor Sectors /

You’ve seen our new Top Distributors Lists. Now, see which companies remained as MDM Industry Titans and which ones joined the exclusive club that recognizes companies that have been in the top 3 of one of our Top Distributors Lists for at least five consecutive years — a testament to sustained market leadership.

See MDM’s 2026 Industry Titans Read More »

Sales Teams Need Guidance, Not More Dashboards

Leave a Comment / Expert Perspective, Featured Blog, Sales & Marketing /

Distribution personnel everywhere are clamoring for data dashboards, but it’s not the difference-maker most think, argues author Mark McGready. Here, he explains why traditional business intelligence often fails reps and how guidance-driven tools can turn customer data into faster, more actionable sales decisions.

Sales Teams Need Guidance, Not More Dashboards Read More »

Distribution Sales Training: 7 Most Critical Selling Skills

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, MDM Blog, Sales & Marketing /

The role of the distribution salesperson has changed. With pricing and product availability now transparent online, sales teams can no longer win by simply taking orders. This MDM blog breaks down seven critical selling skills distributors should build now — from value-based selling and needs discovery to AI-enabled prospecting, negotiation and trust-building.

Distribution Sales Training: 7 Most Critical Selling Skills Read More »

MDM’s Singer Industrial Case Study Report Now Available

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, MDM Blog /

How has Singer Industrial grown into a 55-plus-company platform while preserving local leadership and culture? This MDM Case Study explores the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor’s coordinated autonomy model, acquisition strategy and technology investments that are helping drive scale, efficiency and long-term growth.

MDM’s Singer Industrial Case Study Report Now Available Read More »

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

Leave a Comment / AI, Featured Main, Operations /

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.

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

MDM’s May Premium Monthly Issue Now Available

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, MDM Blog /

Our May issue is packed with articles that cover the margin pressure gap between large and small distributors; a deep dive into Grainger’s impressive 1Q; parts 2 and 3 of Tom Gale’s data analytics series; updates on DNOW’s MRC Global integration and ERP headaches; our monthly MDM Forecast and M&A Roundup; a Safety/PPE Market Profile; and more.

MDM’s May Premium Monthly Issue Now Available Read More »

Before You Automate Your Warehouse, Ask These 3 Questions

Leave a Comment / Featured Blog, Operations, Warehousing /

Warehouse automation often falls short — not because of technology, but because distributors automate the wrong problems. This piece outlines three critical questions to reduce friction, improve workflow orchestration and ensure automation investments actually deliver efficiency gains.

Before You Automate Your Warehouse, Ask These 3 Questions Read More »

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

Leave a Comment / AI, Featured Blog, Market Analysis /

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.

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

Podcast: Field Sales is Far From Dead – It’s Evolving

Leave a Comment / Expert Perspective, Featured Blog, Sales & Marketing /

Map My Customers’ JT Rimbey joins the MDM Amplify podcast to discuss the evolving role of field sales in distribution — exploring territory management, account segmentation, CRM adoption and why relationship-driven outside sales remains a critical competitive advantage despite growing digital buying trends and advances in AI-powered sales technology.

Podcast: Field Sales is Far From Dead – It’s Evolving Read More »

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