The US Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously ruled that Amazon is a distributor and responsible for recalling more than 400,000 hazardous or defective products sold by third-party sellers through its Fulfilled by Amazon program, including faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers without safety features and children's sleepwear that violates flammability standards. Amazon is appealing the decision, which requires the marketplace to notify consumers and remove these products from the market.

Employers added 122,000 jobs to private payrolls in July, down from June's revised tally of 155,000, according to ADP, while wages rose 4.8% from last year among those who remained in their jobs. "With wage growth abating, the labor market is playing along with the Federal Reserve's effort to slow inflation," said Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist.

Wesco International is undergoing a significant digital transformation to gain a competitive edge in the distribution industry, with a major focus on digitizing and automating manual tasks across business functions, such as accounts receivable and payable, quotations and inventory management. John Gunderson, a senior leader at Dorn Group, details Wesco's efforts to leverage data and AI to improve efficiency, reduce errors and enhance customer experience.

Mitigating risk for supply chains and procurement starts with data, writes Alex Saric from Ivalua, whether the risk is geopolitical, environmental or economic in nature. "Tracking leading indicators using real-time data and predictive analytics enables early detection of emerging incidents," Saric writes.

The trucking industry continues to be impacted by a freight recession with no end in sight, with the AFS Logistics and TD Cowen freight index report indicating a sixth straight quarter of declining truckload rates per mile. Trucking faces a supply-demand mismatch as increased capacity during the COVID-19 consumption surge is now being met with reduced consumer spending demand amid high interest rates. Lower prices and declining volumes have led to a rise in bankruptcies.

Digital adoption platforms have the potential to help people retain more as they learn supply chain software, use it more accurately and realize the maximum amount of value in the software, writes Matt Palackdharry of Apty. Digital adoption platforms also help organizations understand where people are struggling most so they can reinforce their learning and encourage them to keep going rather than quitting out of frustration.

CFOs are being urged to support procurement teams in adopting a modern approach to strategic sourcing that goes beyond cost-cutting to enhance supply chain resilience, writes Jim DeLoach, a managing director with consulting firm Protiviti. Finance teams play a crucial role in supply chain resilience, providing data analytics, risk management and investments in technology and talent. DeLoach writes that a shift is necessary to address geopolitical conflicts, climate disruptions and labor scarcity to ensure more resilient, efficient supply chains.

Salespeople should adjust their approach for different personalities, advises sales expert Stephanie Stoll, identifying four major personality types as analytical, amiable, driver and expressive. "By understanding and adapting to different prospect personalities, you can elevate your sales game to new heights," Stoll writes.

Compensation growth for American workers slowed to 0.9% during Quarter 2, down from 1.2% in Q1,, easing concerns about inflationary pressures, the Labor Department reported today. While wage and benefit growth is still positive for employees, the slower pace may signal to the Federal Reserve that inflation is moderating, potentially feeding through into a rate cut in the Fall.

The percentage of US employees who are fully engaged with their work increased from 30% in the first quarter to 32% in the second quarter as more employees understand what's expected of them and receive the resources and opportunities to do good work, according to research by Gallup. "After steady declines in employee engagement beginning in the second half of 2021 -- particularly among younger and remote workers -- organizations may be starting to settle into the 'new normal' ways of hybrid and remote work," writes Gallup's Jim Harter.

Attending the Innovators Summit lets you stay updated with the latest industry developments and remain ahead of your competitors. By being aware of emerging trends and disruptive technologies, you can proactively adapt your business strategies, identify new revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Learn more here.

In today's competitive labor market, understanding compensation trends is essential. MDM is pleased to present a free webcast discussing detailed findings from NAW's 2024 compensation study. This essential tool offers unparalleled insights into current salary and benefit trends within the wholesale distribution industry. This session will be moderated by MDM Senior Editor Vesna Brajkovic and will feature expert panelists Greg Manns of Industry Insights and Mike Emerson from Indian River Consulting. Learn more here.

The NAW Company Roundtables are an exclusive community of thought leaders from Billion Dollar and Large Company distribution enterprises who congregate to network with non-competing peers in multiple lines of trade on key issues. Learn more about the many Roundtable event opportunities we offer, and how your leaders can get involved. Learn more.