Amazon and Home Depot have recently introduced venture capital funds to invest in technologies in the industrial and retail sectors. "They're looking at everything from robotics in manufacturing to logistics and trucking and 3PLs and tools that can enable/disrupt the logistics industry -- as well as, yes, B2B distribution," Applico CEO Alex Moazed says.
Private equity firm Advent International has purchased a stake in Imperial Dade from Bain Capital Private Equity, with whom it will share board governance of the distributor. Meanwhile, Imperial Dade has acquired Allied Eagle Supply.
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Distributed order management technology systems can improve omnichannel fulfillment by allowing companies "to capture all information in the order management process across all relevant channels," writes Chris Cunnane.
The growing sophistication of telematics systems is giving trucking firms more data regarding fuel consumption, driver behavior and overall vehicle performance. Some systems can now factor in the truck's make and model, the load type and weight and the engine's RPM and idle time when analyzing performance, allowing companies to optimize routes and incentivize efficiency.
Business-to-business marketers can deliver a better content experience by thinking deeply about why prospects will be interested in particular content and how that will help them progress in their buying journey, Ardath Albee writes. Albee explains how to use context, choice, relevance and simplicity to deliver experiences that give buyers "flow," which is "the feeling of complete absorption and energized focus in an activity that gives you a high level of enjoyment and fulfillment."
Some of the customer relationship management system features that can help distributors include contact and lead management, marketing automation and business app integration, writes Benj Cohen of Proton. Artificial intelligence-powered CRM also highlights order opportunities and allows salespeople to send customers personalized messages, Cohen writes.
Frustration comes with the territory for leaders, who should try to respond in a controlled, intentional manner to irritating situations instead of reacting emotionally, writes John Mattone. "Visibly angry and frustrated leaders create atmospheres of stress that can engulf entire organizations, unsettling employees and prompting them to question their allegiance to common causes," Mattone writes.
If you are looking for insights on creating and building your marketplace strategy, NAW offers this free webinar for distribution leaders on Marketplace Disruption and Strategic Response on Thursday, May 12, 2022. You will hear from Ian Heller, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Distribution Strategy Group, and Alex Moazed, founder and CEO of Applico. These two Thought Leaders along with a panel of distributors, will discuss their own marketplace strategies and share the business decisions that led to their specific strategies. Be sure to register today!
