AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and Henry Schein have asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to work on more quickly distributing coronavirus vaccines by unlocking the full health care network.

Sales leaders with D&H Distributing and ADI Global say their customer service representatives are experiencing less stress during the pandemic by using automation to manage simple orders and reduce errors. Automating simple orders gives "the customer, the sales rep and the customer rep to spend more time on those complex orders so that they can make sure that they're correct," says Joe Loucks, global director of sales operations at ADI Global.

Companies have increasingly adopted remote implementation for warehouse management systems as the pandemic made it difficult to be present in person. The shift has changed how training, communication and project management are carried out, vendor executives say.

Less-than-truckload, local heavy-duty and light trucking have an easier time finding drivers than long-haul trucking, according to a report by 3PL Coyote Logistics and Emsi. The report also found that as more truck drivers reach retirement age, fewer younger people are willing to replace them.

McKinsey research shows business-to-business buyers want an omnichannel experience, but prospects want to be able to mix that with traditional in-person and remote interactions. Some 83% of B2B leaders say omnichannel is more effective than traditional sales strategies and 64% of B2B companies are planning hybrid sales models -- a blend of in-person, video, phone and app interactions.

Potential customers quickly become annoyed when a salesperson's first interaction with them includes a pitch, writes Josh Roth. Roth walks through what defines a solicitation versus a salesperson trying to add value and build relationships.

Executives would do well to sponsor and promote people who are quietly creating success and change within their organizations, especially those with "styles that don't fit the typical mold of what a leader 'should' look like," writes Joel Garfinkle. "Whether it's the varied opinions, ideas, perspectives or leadership styles, diversity will improve the decision-making power of your leadership," he adds.

During this 90-minute open discussion, you'll exchange ideas with a trusted network of C-suite peers in distribution. Companies belonging to this community are from firms between $100 million and up to $1 billion in annual sales. There is no formal agenda or speakers -- just you and more than a dozen of your friends in distribution discussing today's pressing issues. Last year, participants shared how they were protecting their employees during the pandemic and more. Don't miss this opportunity. Register today.

In this free NAW webinar on April 6, at 2 p.m. Eastern, Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein will evaluate the marketplace strategic options available to distributors, such as becoming a third-party seller on a merchant-owned marketplace, becoming a third-party seller on a marketplace not owned by a merchant, building your own marketplace, the imperative for an industry-owned marketplace, and opting out of marketplaces. Register now! Check out the full Adding Value in a Post-Pandemic World series! Sponsored by Oracle Netsuite.

Through the NAW Certificate in Distribution Professional Management, which is completely virtual in 2021, NAW and our partner Texas A&M University offer these three comprehensive sessions to help you help your managers to strengthen their skills with the educational foundation they need to enhance their value to your company: Optimizing Distributor Profitability, May 24-27; Generating and Managing Growth, July 19-23; Distributor Capability Development, October 18-22. Register your team today!