Proton.ai has partnered with Revenue Optics to address inefficiencies in the distribution industry's inside sales model. The collaboration combines Proton.ai's advanced AI analytics, which examine customer and transaction data to uncover account opportunities, while Revenue Optics provides a structured outbound sales playbook. The partnership aims to help sales teams close deals more quickly and generate more revenue from existing accounts.

Automotive Color & Supply, a distributor of automotive and industrial paint and supply products, has acquired Smetzer Paint & Supply, a regional distributor based in Milan, Ohio, expanding ACS's footprint and service capabilities across the Midwest. Smetzer's strong market relationships and customer service reputation align with ACS's growth strategy and core values, supporting continued expansion into new markets, says ACS CEO Josh Byers.

Central Garden & Pet has opened a Salt Lake City fulfillment center, consolidating two legacy sites to enhance supply chain efficiency. The facility, which joins recently opened centers in Pennsylvania and Georgia, features advanced safety systems and direct-to-consumer capabilities.

Human-in-the-loop is emerging as a crucial concept in robotics and automation, emphasizing a partnership between humans and machines, writes Guy Yehiav, the president of SmartSense by Digi. While robots and automation have significantly improved supply chain efficiency, human intervention remains essential for decision-making and handling unpredictable situations, writes Yehiav, who notes that HITL ensures that humans can step in during robotic failures, maintaining workflow and safety.

Early adopters are beginning to demonstrate strong returns on their investments in AI agents, despite broader industry skepticism and concerns about high spending. Companies like BNY and Walmart are seeing measurable outcomes that impact bottom lines, with BNY reporting notable capacity growth and Walmart accelerating product development. These successes suggest that, for some organizations, AI agents are already delivering significant value and could establish a sustainable advantage.

Amazon faces a proposed class-action lawsuit in New York alleging that it enforces a punitive policy on workplace absences for employees with disabilities. The suit, led by warehouse worker Cayla Lyster, claims that Amazon penalizes employees who request reasonable disability accommodations by imposing unpaid leave and the possibility of termination if they accrue too many absences, even when such absences are legally protected. Amazon denies the allegations, stating it prioritizes employee health and safety. The lawsuit follows a similar case filed by the New Jersey attorney general.

HumourScope founder Paddy Gilmore argues that B2B brands often overlook the effectiveness of humor in advertising, mistakenly believing that business purchases require a more rational approach. However, Gilmore highlights examples such as Volvo Trucks and FedEx, which have successfully used humor to boost sales and brand engagement. He cites academic research showing that humor enhances attitudes toward ads and brands, leading to greater product consideration.

Effective leadership requires self-editing, a skill that involves self-control, adaptability and continuous improvement, according to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, the chief science officer at Russell Reynolds Associates. Self-editing helps leaders create psychological safety, manage complex challenges and evolve beyond their natural tendencies, Chamorro-Premuzic writes.

Federal Reserve officials are divided ahead of the December policy meeting, split between whether persistent inflation or labor market weakness poses the greater threat to the economy. Hawks are pushing for a pause in rate cuts, emphasizing risks of sustained inflation from businesses passing on tariff costs. Doves, meanwhile, cite concerns about potential softening in the labor market.

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