B2B's evolution will depend on new applications for data, a rethinking of purpose and new partnerships, especially outside of B2B, writes NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Fellow Mark Dancer. "Thoughtful companies will survive by creating foresight, developing capabilities, and putting contingency plans in place," Dancer writes.

Rates of serious injury for workers at Amazon warehouses are almost 80% higher than those for warehouse workers at its competitors, according to an analysis of federal data by the Strategic Organizing Center union coalition. Last year's overall injury rate at Amazon was over twice the rate at Walmart, the report said.

Warehouse operators should "make lots of small bets" with warehouse robotics technology rather than make only one large investment that might not be correct, says A.K. Schultz, co-founder and CEO of SVT Robotics. Cloud-based offerings with components that can be swapped out will help companies stay current over time, Schultz says.

Branding goes far beyond logos or graphics to encompass the emotions consumers feel when they think about your company, writes Marshall Communications' Nancy Marshall. Marketers must reflect the emotions their audiences feel about their brand and identify the brand ambassadors among customers who can engage emotionally with new prospects, Marshall writes.

Live event experts from VidCon, the Consumer Electronics Show and New Hope Network talk about how the pandemic disrupted the industry and what brands should focus on in the future. Marketers should create "an experience that you can deliver every day and every week that culminates in a face-to-face event," advises VidCon's Jim Louderback.

Emotional intelligence requires self-examination, such as being aware of how your behavior affects people, showing appreciation, rooting out biases and asking for guidance, writes John R. Stoker, who provides 10 questions for self-assessment. "Noticing patterns of behavior and results is one key to making important changes," he writes.

To help distributors move past the pandemic successfully, every new copy of INNOVATE TO DOMINATE ordered now includes -- at no extra charge -- a brand-new e-chapter called "Distribution Leans In: Stories of Resiliency and Innovation during the COVID-19 Pandemic." NAW has added this new e-chapter to give distributors immediate ways to apply all the lessons of INNOVATE TO DOMINATE as they emerge from the unprecedented challenges to a stronger business future. It's time for distributors to change the game and dominate the future of wholesale distribution.

Designed for C-suite executives, these roundtables provide actionable strategies that will increase your company's competitive advantage. Companies belonging to this community are from distribution firms between $100 million and up to $1 billion in annual sales. You'll engage in thought-provoking conversations with your peers and hear from industry experts on topics that will ultimately increase your profits! Register today.

Suppliers are increasingly selling direct, customer demographics are skewing younger and many distributors are struggling to keep up. Distributors are grappling with fundamental changes in the expectations of their supply chain partners. Suppliers continue to report frustration with their distributors' poor digital capabilities. Join NAW on June 29 at 2 p.m. for this free, live webinar with Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein of Distribution Strategy Group, who will recommend actions distributors should take to address this growing channel conflict. Register today.