Avnet has supplemented its distribution business with internet of things solutions such as the Azure Sphere MT3620 starter kit and the SmartEdge Agile device. Avnet's solutions help customers monitor production and performance and manage assets across multiple sites, among other functions, said Pete Bartolotta, president of business transformation.
True Value has added 360-degree images for many products on its website, allowing customers to choose how they view products. Sales for products that have added such imagery are up by 22%, according to the company.
Offering the best possible customer service using ERP It is more important than ever for today's manufacturers and distributors to be able to deliver the seamless experience customers want — and ERP can get you there. Read this report to learn why ERP is key to customer experience, how other companies use ERP to drive success and why the time is now to adopt cloud ERP.
Struggling distributors should consider adding services or pursuing different market segments, says K/E Electric Supply General Manager Rock Kuchenmeister. Distributors can also add product lines or encourage more business from existing customers, Kuchenmeister says.
Making supply chains visible and transparent helps companies gain consumers' trust, which can improve revenue, according to a study. "Even small investments in supply chain visibility can make a big difference for a company," said Y. Karen Zheng of the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Business-to-business marketers must use their social presence to nurture leads by targeting prospects with content that helps them solve problems, Carlton Sanders writes. Use the artificial intelligence tools provided by social platforms to optimize creative and targeting, and prioritize LinkedIn, Sanders advises.
Inquiry-based leaders ask questions aimed at uncovering possibilities, discovering what worked -- and didn't -- before and hearing a range of perspectives, writes Natalie Nixon. "Each time you open yourself up to not knowing, the added value to what you understand and want to explore further can be priceless," she writes.
NAW's groundbreaking research study, "Optimizing Channel Profitability: A Playbook to Align Manufacturer-Distributor-Customer Relationships," is distributors' key to implementing channel management best practices. Purchase copies for not only your internal team, but for your manufacturer partners, too. You'll find 24 best practices on channel design and management from actual distributors and manufacturers, 44 ready-to-implement action steps, and 38 real-world distributor and manufacturer examples to benchmark against. Act by Aug. 31 and you'll save 10% on every copy.
There's no denying the growth/demise ratio of Amazon versus brick-and-mortar operations. The "Amazon Effect" is causing businesses to literally shut down, leaving their creditors at a loss. NAW's strategic partner Cortera wants wholesaler-distributors to be ready. For a limited time, Cortera is offering wholesaler-distributors a complimentary Portfolio Analysis, CFO Report and unlimited Boost. Take advantage of this offer.
The NAW Certificate in Distribution Professional Management Program is ideal for high-potential managers who seek to complement their professional development with a strong emphasis on practical application within the distribution field. There are three separate, one-week sessions held at Texas A&M University, and they focus on Optimizing Distributor Profitability, Generating and Managing Growth, and Distributor Capability Development. These sessions are designed to help companies retain and further develop their key employees. Get all details.
