US wholesale inventories saw a modest increase of 0.2% in April, reaching $908.7 billion, per data from the Census Bureau. Wholesale sales during the month rose by 0.1% to $700.2 billion, an increase of 6.0% from a year earlier. The inventory-to-sales ratio for April stood at 1.30, a decrease from 1.34 in April 2024.

Technology distributor and solutions provider Avnet has purchased a 150,000-square-foot building in Tempe, Ariz., and will convert it to its new global headquarters. The company plans to shift over to the new headquarters from Phoenix in the middle of next year.

Walmart will roll out its drone delivery service to 100 more stores over the next year, adding Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., and two cities in Florida to the lineup. Customer demand for Walmart's drone delivery service is driven by the desire for quick access to urgent items like groceries and over-the-counter medications. .

Building supply distributors are increasingly turning to technology to enhance customer interaction and streamline operations, says Cyndi Brandt, vice president of fleet solutions at Descartes Systems Group. AI and digital transformation are becoming crucial for maintaining competitiveness, with Brandt noting that tariffs are also beginning to affect the supply chain, raising costs and necessitating more working capital for inventory.

Sourcing negotiations should move beyond just cost savings to include long-term value creation, risk mitigation and supply continuity, writes Aniket Kulkarni, a strategic sourcing manager at Sysco. "In an era where disruption is the norm, procurement leaders must evolve from cost cutters to value architects. Dynamic pricing, backed by transparent models and collaborative supplier partnerships, offers a practical path forward," Kulkarni writes.

Although just 17% of B2B marketers have fully integrated AI, those who have are significantly more successful, according to AgileSherpas' report. Fully agile teams are twice as likely to be AI pioneers, with two-thirds reporting enhanced agility through AI, and the report also highlights the importance of experimentation, autonomy and focus in implementing AI.

Logistics employers are facing significant labor market challenges, characterized by fluctuating worker demands and economic conditions. Market swings, due to factors like the pandemic and rising inflation, have influenced job availability and wage expectations. Employers are now dealing with a tight labor market, turning to new strategies, such as offering incentives and leveraging recruitment apps, to attract and retain workers.

Employee ownership of companies can pay off for both employees and former owners, writes John Abrams, the founder of Abrams+Angell. "By converting employees to owners and by making the values that matter to us a part of the conversion, we can transform the topography of tomorrow's small business landscape into a rich ecosystem of widespread empowerment and wealth-sharing," Abrams writes.

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.

Interested in membership with NAW? Reach out and let us know how we can help you.