Roofing and building materials distributor Beacon has acquired Roofers Mart, a roofing supplier in Southern California, and is Virginia-based Beacon's seventh acquisition this year. "Contractors will benefit from a larger catalog, including Beacon's TRI-BUILT branded products, along with additional resources to bring value-added services such as Beacon PRO+ to help them grow their businesses," says Roofers Mart CEO Greg Robles.

Distributors adopting AI solutions should first assess whether the technology aligns with business goals, integrates smoothly with existing workflows and fits within their current tech stack, an approach that allows distributors to cut through the noise and complexity of AI options, writes ProfitOptics' Nick Pericle. "[I]f you narrow AI to what applies to your company's needs, any knowledge gaps you may have will be much easier to bridge," Pericle writes, adding that evaluating AI solutions thoroughly can help distributors achieve meaningful, long-term benefits.

Grainger has achieved a 31% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions since 2018, seven years ahead of achieving its 2030 target. The company's new goal is to achieve a 50% reduction by the end of the decade through investments in solar, hydrogen and sustainable building materials.

Companies including Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nordstrom have incorporated radio-frequency identification labels to enhance inventory visibility, manage risks more effectively and improve operations, writes Lisa Pruett of R.R. Donnelley & Sons. The smart labels help businesses allocate resources more effectively, reduce costs and improve productivity, writes Pruett.

The abundance of fragmented software-as-a-service solutions in transportation and logistics has complicated integration and management for the supply chain industry, writes Bryn Heimbeck, president of Trade Tech. Shippers and carriers need a global logistics platform with an end-to-end solution that integrates with existing systems, an approach that enhances connectivity, facilitates real-time collaboration and reduces operational costs, Heimbeck writes.

Managers should set different benchmarks and rewards for "hunters" and "farmers" on sales teams, advises expert Greg Giersch, to meet the needs of their different personalities. "Hunters often appreciate public recognition and competitive rewards, while farmers may find more value in personal acknowledgments and team celebrations," Giersch writes.

Brand messaging should be informed by external, not internal input, such as customer insights, trends, competitive analysis and buyer journey research, advises Natalie Nathanson, founder and president of Magnetude Consulting. Use emotional storytelling to ensure your unique value proposition breaks through and mirror customer language to "create a sense of familiarity and trust while demonstrating that you understand your audience's needs," Nathanson writes.

The concept of "unbossing," which promotes self-directed teams, has led to a significant increase in layoffs of middle managers, rising to 30% of all job cuts in 2023 from 20% in 2018, according to Live Data Technologies. Chronus CEO David Satterwhite cautions that this approach can disrupt employee development and increase workloads and instead recommends redefining middle managers' roles to focus on mentorship and suggests reverse mentorship programs.

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