The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors is part of a coalition of trade groups filing a lawsuit against the OSHA's Worker Walkaround Rule. NAW Chief Government Affairs Officer Brian Wild called the rule a "pro-union power grab" that jeopardizes OSHA's core mission of ensuring worker health and safety. "NAW is dedicated to protecting the interests of our wholesaler-distributors, many of whom are small businesses, operating on tight margins at the core of the B2B supply chain," Wild said in a statement.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is launching new data offerings called Supply Availability Indexes that will "measure how widespread supply disruptions are, understand if availability is improving and track inflationary pressures and the impact on local firms." The bank noted that supply chain pressures are a key contributor to inflation.

AFC Industries, a distributor of fasteners and industrial supplies, has purchased aerospace fasteners provider Meg Technologies in Huntington Beach, Calif. "We were looking to strengthen our capabilities and position within the aerospace market and MTI offered us the ability to do that while adding a team that has a great reputation and relationship with its customers and suppliers," said AFC CEO Kevin Godin.

Continued growth of nearshoring in Mexico and prolonged tension between the US and China are contributing to increased cross-border business with the US, according to an Uber Freight report. Two issues marring the growth are a driver shortage in Mexico and cargo theft, says the report.

Using generative AI tools in customer relationship management platforms can help reduce the revenue drain that customer churn causes for distributors, writes Magnus Meier, global vice president for wholesale distribution at SAP. GenAI tools can provide timely, actionable insights to create targeted actions around pricing, promotions, products and rebates to help recover and grow revenue, according to Meier. Other use cases include configuring value-added services to increase customer appeal and profitability and customizing products and service recommendations.

Tractor Supply has opened its 10th and largest distribution center in Maumelle, Ark., a 1.1 million-square-foot facility that includes autonomous mobile robots for small-item fulfillment and will be a testing ground for other robotic technology aimed at increasing productivity and cost savings. The facility includes more than 10,000 solar panels and will begin fulfilling digital orders and ship to 250 stores in the Midwest, Texas and Southeast starting in June.

Experts say setting clear goals and focusing on customer relationships can help sales managers boost sales during lean economic times. Other recommendations include implementing value-added services for customers, as well as offering training for sales staff and recognition to boost morale.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's National Financial Conditions index, which gauges borrowing conditions for companies, has hit its loosest level since the start of 2022. Falling borrowing premiums and rising share prices have facilitated companies' access to cash.

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have revolutionized the retail sector, enhancing customer interactions through technologies like smart shelves and automated inventory management. However, while predictive analytics can optimize sales strategies and inventory management, caution is needed to ensure AI personalization features genuinely improve the customer experience without alienating them, with a focus on transparency and customer feedback.

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