DXP Enterprises has acquired Illinois-based Drydon Equipment and California-based Burglingame Engineers, which distribute and supply water and wastewater equipment in various markets. The deals bring DXP's total number of wastewater and water industry acquisitions to nine since December 2020.

The pandemic has helped fuel the rise of e-commerce, "which requires more than three times the logistics space of brick-and-mortar sales," said Richard Kolpa of Prologis. Some developers are responding to the strong demand with multistory warehouse projects in urban areas, filling the need for last-mile logistics. The earliest example in the US was Prologis Georgetown Crossroads in downtown Seattle.

Companies can glean relevant insights from big data by focusing on profit growth, giving managers at different levels the right responsibilities and pursuing newer and high-payoff opportunities, write Jonathan Byrnes and John Wass of Profit Isle. They also note the importance of treating profit segments individually with "different metrics, different data and different management game plans."

Smaller trucking fleets and independent operators who typically pay for fuel at the pump are particularly affected by escalating fuel prices that have reached their highest levels in 9 years. Trucking companies are bracing for further increases as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to affect oil markets, potentially leading to "some attrition among the smaller carriers," said Todd Fowler, equity research analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

Every good sales presentation starts with knowing the other participants well, being aware of potential competitors and preparing for a conversation, not just a speech, writes Erica Schultz. Consistently invite buyers to participate during the meeting and support claims with compelling case studies and stories for best results, Schultz recommends.

A product information management system can help business-to-business marketers tackle some of the common challenges in B2B marketing, such as misalignment between sales and marketing, writes Ceejay Teku, founder of Catsy. Teku explains how the tool assists with content management and serves as a database, enabling B2B marketers to improve search engine optimization and have a centralized brand platform for both sales and marketing, among other benefits.

It's often easier to be empathetic and compassionate with other people than with ourselves, writes David Dye, who offers reflection questions for leaders. "[H]ow can you possibly maintain empathy for others if you're not acknowledging your own feelings?" Dye writes.