Distributors, including Grainger, are increasingly investing in and/or creating B2B marketplaces, but even more should consider doing so, "given the size of the space, and, frankly, how much money these distributors are making," said Alex Moazed, founder and CEO of business consultancy Applico. Nick Johnson, managing director at Applico, added, "I think all this marketplace competition could actually be really good for the small to midsized distributor."

Lineage Logistics is increasing its use of automation and other advanced technologies to help counteract the impact of inflation, as well as committing more resources to employee recruitment, retention and onboarding, said Chief Financial Officer Matthew Hardt. Separately, Lineage has acquired e-commerce fulfillment company Perishable Shipping Solutions.

Companies with the best-performing supply chains have expanded the role of the chief supply chain officer, begun working with competitors and other partners on common goals, and made supply chains able to stabilize themselves through resilience and agility, according to Gartner's annual Top 25 Supply Chains list. Such companies also have big goals for sustainability and invest in "human-centric automation," according to Gartner.

Supply chain and warehouse managers can better navigate peak periods by using data analytics and integrated software systems, writes Martina Schwinger, portfolio manager for software and IT at KNAPP. Analytics can provide valuable insights before a peak hits, while warehouse management and control systems can make adjustments during a peak, and computerized maintenance management systems can keep things running smoothly, Schwinger writes.

Doing one thing really well on social media, evolving content strategy based on predictive analysis and community building are three major content marketing trends for this year, according to a report by Tailor Insight. The report also recommends content marketers focus on voice-search optimization, video, creating personalized experiences and, above all, creating "true human connections."

Business-to-business buyers rely on trust in their purchasing relationships, so it's important to be transparent with them on higher prices tied to inflation, writes Joe Harouni, the Connected Commerce practice lead at Avionos. "The more buyers understand price transparency and believe your business has fair pricing, the more likely they'll be to purchase and remain brand loyal," Harouni writes.

Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan has redirected the agency to emphasize litigation, rather than settlements, when evaluating mergers and acquisitions that raise antitrust concerns. "Inasmuch as we are seeing some of the existing incumbents gain positions in some of these next-generation technologies, including through acquisitions, that's something that we have to be extremely vigilant about," Khan said.

Managers are now expected to make more high-level decisions around remote work and other issues, so they must be empowered to "lead from [their] seat," writes Adam Bryant, quoting Terri Ludwig, president of Ballmer Group. "Everybody should think beyond the job description they were handed, look for ways to contribute to the broader organization's goals, and help rewrite the playbook," Bryant writes.

Avoiding difficult circumstances out of fear can often make them worse and undermine a leader's power, writes Gregg Vanourek. Vanourek offers 14 strategies to confidently meet uncomfortable situations, including tackling smaller issues first, getting help from others and quieting negative self-talk.

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