Avnet has introduced a software suite meant to help customers improve the speed of internet of things deployments. Avnet's IoTConnect Platform powers the suite, which includes a channel partner program and online marketplace.
Dealer Tire will purchase automotive reconditioning services company Dent Wizard from Gridiron Capital for an undisclosed amount. Dent Wizard will operate independently after the sale, with CEO Mike Black continuing to lead the company.
Info Session: Uncover the DDI Difference Learn what makes DDI System a leader in industry-aware distributor technology for nearly 3 decades during an upcoming 30-Minute Info Session Jan. 16th at 2 PM. Attendees will also get a quick glimpse of Inform ERP workflows and key functionalities. Register now
Distributors will continue to have a difficult time finding skilled job candidates in 2020, particularly as automation decreases the talent pool by requiring new skills, says Success Performance Solutions President Ira Wolfe. "A good health insurance plan, lenient vacation policies, and flexible work schedules, for example, can all go a long way in attracting today's top job candidates," writes Bridget McCrea.
What's on tap in manufacturing and distribution in 2020? [Webinar now on-demand] Experts from Netsuite and Deloitte discuss 2020 trends and technologies that will drive business, how to respond to a growing demand for price transparency, why now is the time to invest in updating back-office systems and more. Watch now.
Syed Balkhi offers four tips for digital content marketing in 2020, including creating more diverse content that appeals to a global audience and using video and influencers to help prospects make buying decisions. He recommends employing automation and machine learning to deliver personalized content and pinpoint prospects with high purchase intent.
Salespeople can develop a better selling mindset by putting less pressure on themselves to make a sale and focusing on helping prospects instead, writes Sean McPheat. "Having a healthy mindset means putting your own self-interests on the back burner as you build longer-term relationships with prospects and customers alike," McPheat writes.
Leadership in the new decade will demand more discernment, a willingness to question our thoughts and beliefs and the ability to handle conflict, writes Marlene Chism. "This decade requires leaders who can bring people together and create new visions," she writes.
Don't miss the NAW 2020 Executive Summit: INNOVATE TO DOMINATE, Jan. 28-30! This year's forward-looking program and networking with distributors who are your peers will really shake up your thinking, provide you with fresh ideas and critical thinking, and give you a rare chance to benchmark your business. You'll walk away with valuable insights that you'll translate into ideas to help you run your business more effectively and profitably. Register today.
"Optimizing Distributor Profitability: Best Practices to a Stronger Bottom Line" is a groundbreaking research study -- with an oversize, step-by-step wall map -- that features 47 best practices and 50 action steps developed from actual experiences with 84 real-world wholesale distribution firms. This perennial best-seller is a powerful weapon to use to enhance your shareholder value. Also available as an e-book. Download a sample.
The time has come to address your concerns about shrinking margins by upping your game on pricing decisions. If you keep doing more with less, you'll soon be doing everything with nothing. The issue of margin erosion will never end if you don't get creative -- first with your pricing methods and second with your value proposition. If you want to leverage pricing optimization best practices that are rooted in sound analytics, start by reading "Pricing Optimization."
