Articles of Interest

Major manufacturers may have taken a big early lead but their smaller competitors have been able to close the digital gap in recent years. As the vendor market for Industry 4.0 tools proliferated, price points came down, leading to a lower cost of entry for smaller manufacturers and distributors to get in the game for advanced technology. And given the agility and speed to enact change management that small and medium-sized business (SMBs) tend to have compared to larger firms, they’ve been able to close the digital gap.

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This post from Brian Hopkins explores why embracing AI, even cautiously, is a strategic move that will likely pay dividends down the line.

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Annual expenditures for improvements and repairs to owner-occupied homes are projected to decrease this year and into the first quarter of 2025, but at a moderating rate, according to our latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA). The LIRA projects that annual owner spending for home renovations and maintenance will decline by over 7 percent in the third quarter of this year before easing to just -2.6 percent through the first quarter of 2025.

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A new survey of 1,000 supply chain and logistics leaders from SaaS provider Descartes, titled What Are Companies Doing to Survive the Supply Chain and Logistics Workforce Challenge? found that 54% are focused on automating “non-value-added” and “repetitive tasks” with technology to improve worker productivity.

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Pursuing further progress in workplace safety has led to integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) innovations. This amalgamation, despite potential risks as well, promises not only to drive injury rates even lower, but also enhance overall efficiency in manufacturing processes.

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How can you leverage Generative AI to get the insightful and immediate answers you need to provide the best service for your customers? This article covers a Q&A with Paul Baier, CEO and principal analyst at GAI Insights, who will answer that question in his presentation at Applied AI for Distributors, June 4-6, 2024, in Chicago.

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B2B customers of all types want more rep-free information. In this article, Lindsay Young Addresses the cost of not meeting the increasing demand for digital resources.

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In the modern business environment, with an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data generated daily, big data is undoubtedly pivotal in understanding and developing all aspects of an organization’s goals. However, known for its vast volume and rapid collection, big data can overwhelm and lead to analysis paralysis if not managed and analyzed objectively. But, when dissected thoughtfully, it can provide the critical insights necessary for strategic advancement.

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In this article, Dirk Beveridge writes that we live in a country where the GDP has tripled in the past 50 years, and health and well-being is at its lowest. It’s time to change that. As employee well-being improves, their performance and productivity improve.

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