Alex Lee will acquire W. Lee Flowers for an undisclosed sum. W. Lee Flowers owns and operates IGA and KJ's Market stores and also distributes to grocery retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Carriers and shippers believe that a balance of expertise and technology will be the key to successful supply chains, according to Coyote Logistics research. "Technology provides visibility and data that's critical to building a supply chain strategy, while human expertise is the key to unlocking the real value of the tools, synthesizing data into actionable supply chain initiatives, and making the best strategic decisions for the business," Coyote executive Christina Bottis said in a statement.

Supply chain finance systems enable businesses to optimize cash flow and make accounts payable and receivable more transparent, writes Eric Krell. They are optimal for businesses that need to adjust the flow of goods to offset tariff increases, he writes.

Indrajeet Deshpande predicts the top 10 business-to-business display tactics for next year, such as an increased focus on maximizing display ad campaigns by setting clear goals and the need to identify niche publications within specific industries to boost return on investment. B2B marketers should design display ads that give prospects what they need to know immediately and invest in video to communicate in a more engaging way, he advises.

LinkedIn has retained the top spot as the most trusted social platform for the third straight year and is currently followed, respectively, by Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, according to nearly 2,000 respondents to a Business Insider poll. The Digital Trust Report also reveals that legitimacy, community, privacy protection and relevance all play a significant role in a consumer's decision whether to engage with an ad.

Strategy execution is more likely to succeed when there is a statement of commander's intent that outlines a clear goal, defines roles for each team and empowers them to take action, writes Art Petty. "A clear statement of intent with key actions makes the work of strategy execution tangible and visible" while building trust, he writes.

Companies can employ successful long-term strategies if they are able to tolerate the risk and sacrifice of a short-term pivot, writes Amy Cappellanti-Wolf, chief HR officer at Symantec. "But if you stay attentive, plan well and know your out, then it's possible to pivot without losing the path forward," she writes.

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Two things are clear: Major portions of the sales process will be digitized, and the sales force isn't going anywhere. What portions will be digitized and what new value-add will be created? What will remain in the hands of the sales force? Find out the answers to these questions and more by joining this cutting-edge NAW and Texas A&M University consortium, and you'll be ahead of the rest of the industry. Get details and sign up.

AI entrepreneur Benj Cohen says, "The problem with most new technologies is that they quickly become obsolete. This is frustrating for distributors who are always trying to keep up with the newest thing. But AI should be viewed differently. Unlike other developments, it won't be swept away by accelerating waves of innovation. AI does not merely endure: it adapts and becomes better over time." Keep reading.