With key measures in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire at the end of the year, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors is calling on Congress to protect provisions such as the 199A small business deduction, lower individual tax rates and corporate tax reductions that have significantly benefited the economy. NAW is also urging lawmakers to maintain the last-in, first-out inventory system and repeal the death tax.

AFC Industries, a distributor of tooling, fasteners and industrial supplies, has opened a facility in Monterrey, Mexico, to enhance inventory management, delivery and services in the country, and marks a strategic expansion into the Mexican industrial sector. "Our goal is to build strong, lasting partnerships with businesses in Mexico and help them achieve supply chain excellence," says AFC Industries de Mexico President Antonio Ron.

Some businesses are facing challenges in finding small warehouses to lease, despite years of extensive warehouse development driven by ecommerce growth. The shortage is due in part to developers' recent focus on constructing larger buildings. The vacancy rate for warehouses measuring under 100,000 feet was just 3.9% in the fourth quarter of last year, well below the vacancy rate for the warehouse market as a whole, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

Aurora Innovation plans to remove backup human drivers from its autonomous trucks in April, marking a significant step toward commercial deployment. The company has demonstrated the safety and adaptability of its trucks on the Dallas-to-Houston route, handling complex scenarios such as construction zones and funeral processions. Aurora has partnered with Nvidia and Continental to scale production and aims to reduce costly on-site interventions.

Siloed data presents a challenge to AI project success, causing difficulties in accessing and connecting necessary data and fragmentation that hinders the creation of a trusted data foundation. Dan Higgins of Quantexa writes of the necessity of a robust data strategy that connects, analyzes, operationalizes, and democratizes data to support AI initiatives and overcome common project failures.

Stephanie Downs from The Center for Sales Strategy discusses the differences between open and closed AI tools in sales. Closed AI systems offer tailored and secure responses by using proprietary data, making them more reliable for sales processes, while open AI tools draw from public sources and can produce inaccurate outputs.

Leaders want to reduce "bad friction" that frustrates employees or customers, but organizational psychologist Bob Sutton recommends creating some "good friction" that improves processes and products by taking time to sort helpful ideas from harmful ones. Good friction is needed in the form of being intentional when forming a team, taking time to make solid decisions even when pressed for time and being deliberate about collaboration during creative work, Sutton says.

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.

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