Retooling Distribution for Digital: Why the Traditional Model Is Breaking, and Pathways to Transformation

Editor's Note: This article is the first in a two-part series. See part 2 here

For more than a century, wholesale distributors like you have been the linchpins of supply chains, seamlessly connecting manufacturers to end markets with efficiency, scale and specialized expertise. Your value proposition has rested on aggregating diverse product lines, orchestrating intricate logistics, and leveraging deep industry knowledge and regional strongholds. Yet, the digital era is dismantling this foundation. ECommerce platforms have tilted the balance of power toward customers, which has enabled direct…