QXO has agreed to acquire Beacon Roofing Supply for $11 billion, or $124.35 per share, ending a four-month public courtship. Established as an acquisition vehicle to consolidate a fractured building materials distribution industry, QXO previously targeted Rexel before zeroing in on Beacon late last year. The deal, which both boards have unanimously approved, is expected to close by the end of April.
Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam, director of Texas A&M University's Master of Industrial Distribution program, discusses the expectations of Generation Z and millennial talent in an MDM podcast series aimed at introducing SHIFT Conference attendees to the event's speakers. Nagarathnam addresses how creating a strong workplace culture with an environment of fairness, respect and trust can attract and retain young employees in the distribution sector.
Graybar's Connect initiative -- which integrates platforms such as SAP and Salesforce to automate tasks, enhance data insights and improve service delivery -- has driven a 5.5% increase in net sales to $11.6 billion in 2024, the highest in company history. The multi-year transformation project seeks to improve data access, enhance customer and employee experience and modernize the organization's technology.
Gartner has released a report identifying 12 steps for delivering supply chain resilience and continuity through strategies like multisourcing and supplier diversification. "As the supply chain landscape continues to evolve, it has become increasingly important for supply chain leaders to focus on building resilience or redundancy," says Gartner's Ronak Gohel.
Walmart has integrated AI-powered demand forecasting, automated procurement and warehouse robotics to streamline operations and mitigate disruptions. The integration reduces reliance on manual labor and increases efficiency, demonstrating the significant advantages these technologies offer in streamlining operations.
LinkedIn's report "The ROI of AI" reveals significant AI integration among B2B marketers, with 74% of salespeople viewing it as the future of sales. The report highlights that 88% of sales executives see a substantial impact on ROI, and 84% of sellers save at least 30 minutes on routine tasks using AI.
Despite an increase in job applications, offer acceptance rates can be below 70%. Companies can improve these rates by being transparent about compensation, showcasing a positive company culture, and streamlining the hiring processes to not miss out on the best talent. It also helps to ask candidates why they turned down an offer.
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.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Our industry employs more than 6 million workers throughout the United States, accounting for approximately 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. 250,000 wholesale distribution companies operate across North America, including all 50 states. Learn more.
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