Eighty percent of decision-makers in distribution and manufacturing say they are concerned about hiring enough workers in the next five years, particularly as more baby boomers retire, according to a Conexiom survey. Nearly half of respondents say they will increase investments in technology to attract new workers, especially those in Generation Z.

Cloud-based warehouse-management systems, wireless fleet management, autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles are among the leading innovations being deployed in warehouses, according to Dan Cuellar, senior director of sales at Addverb Technologies. Cuellar also lists the internet of things and modular "plug and play" systems as trends to keep an eye on.

The robots-as-a-service model, which is forecast to become a $44 billion market in six years, according to Research and Markets, gives companies a way to try robotic automation on a small scale by getting a configured robot, upgrades and maintenance via subscription rather than by long-term purchase. Jim Lawton of Zebra Technologies suggests five questions to ask to determine whether the option makes sense at your company.

Sales leaders can help their teams master the art of prospecting on social media channels, which many top salespeople consider instrumental to their success. Nearly three-quarters of sales professionals say LinkedIn provides them with more leads and is ideal for researching prospects, according to a HubSpot Blog survey of more than 500 people.

Brands such as Microsoft, Apple, Cigna, Intel and Sherwin-Williams are bringing creativity to business-to-business marketing, and B2B marketers can learn from their campaigns, writes Campaign's Rahul Sachitanand. "Creativity in the B2B sphere isn't limited to just the artistic side alone, it can also include creative ways to innovate for clients across media and other channels -- with a focus on the sweet spot between creativity, technology and data," Sachitanand writes.

An unexpected crisis doesn't have to lead to a chaotic reaction if your teams are clear on their mission, have the plans and resources they need and can communicate effectively across departments, writes leadership coach Corinne Hancock. "Things that are outside of our control are going to continue to happen, it is our reaction to those events that determine whether we spiral into chaos or thrive and find the opportunity," Hancock writes.

Leaders who remain outwardly open and curious, instead of showing a negative reaction to their team's ideas or questions, will build trust and respect and encourage more creativity, writes Kate Nasser. "Replace your negative reaction with sincere interest in what all employees have to offer," Nasser writes.

The NAW Large Company Roundtables are an exclusive community of thought leaders from Large Company distribution enterprises who congregate to network with noncompeting peers in multiple lines of trade on key issues. The companies invited into this community are from distribution firms with annual sales between $100 million and $999 million. Register today!