US productivity has been on the rise, with a 2% increase in the third quarter compared to the previous year, marking the fifth consecutive quarter with an increase of 2% or more. This uptick is attributed to technological advancements and shifts in business practices, but the sustainability of this productivity growth remains uncertain.

The Department of Justice has petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the Corporate Transparency Act to proceed after a series of conflicting court rulings have paused and reinstated the measure. The CTA requires businesses to report beneficial owners to FinCEN. Opponents, including the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, argue that the law imposes undue burdens on businesses.

New York has enacted the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program. Effective June 1, the measure addresses musculoskeletal injuries among warehouse workers, mandating employers with large warehouse operations to implement injury reduction programs, conduct ergonomic evaluations and provide training.

Dedicated fleets offer fixed capacity and reliable service, and allow organizations to maintain control over logistics operations and improve customer satisfaction, but they also present cost management challenges, especially during a freight recession, writes Nathan Lease of Gartner Supply Chain. It is essential for organizations to have a strategic relationship management program, vehicle routing and scheduling technology, dedicated fleet metrics and benchmarking data analysis to optimize their fleet performance and maintain competitiveness.

AI can optimize collaboration between buyers and suppliers, enable data-driven decision-making and mitigate risk through applications that include collaborative demand forecasting, dynamic risk scoring and real-time performance monitoring, writes Megha Chaudhary, a senior manager at Deloitte Consulting. Companies are also using AI to align production with demand, assess supplier risk and automate contract management, creating more resilient and agile supply chains.

B2B marketers are planning to enhance personalization and storytelling in 2025, with 49% increasing budgets for personalized buyer experiences and 60% investing in AI, according to a survey by Madison Logic and Harris Interactive. Marketers also aim to engage younger executives through social media, video and podcast advertising, and they plan to use customer stories, captions and influencer marketing to create shorter, more engaging ads.

Businesses are facing another year of uncertainty, with global instability and changing alliances reshaping the geopolitical landscape. Whether it is the rising cost of doing business or the friend-shoring phenomenon, companies are revising strategies to adapt to a world where geopolitics, not just market forces, dictate business decisions.

Richard Osibanjo outlines a five-part framework as a strategic roadmap for leaders facing the challenges of 2025. Leaders are urged to transform chaos into clarity by creating values-based visions, prioritizing impactful actions, inspiring bold decisions, investing in employee development and leveraging crises for tangible results.

Join us in Washington, D.C., January 27-29 for NAW's Executive Summit, bringing together the best and brightest leaders from the wholesale distribution industry. Learn more here.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW’s premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.