Why Distribution’s AI Bottleneck Isn’t Budget
The companies moving beyond isolated pilots are building a repeatable operating foundation around data, integration, governance and measurable business ownership.
October 22, 2026
AI is reshaping distributor CRM — but only when backed by the right platform strategy. In this episode of the MDM Amplify Podcast, LeadSmart’s Kevin Brown breaks down smart AI adoption, data integration and how...
Eric Hoplin, NAW CEO, testified to the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on how the distribution industry is deploying AI.
AI can make room for the human connection that actually wins business. Read how artificial intelligence in distribution can reengineer highly manual processes into ones that are faster, more accurate, and yes, more human.
Driven by continued AI adoption and ERP upgrades, more than half of the distributors/manufacturers polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM survey expect to increase IT investment in 2026.
Packer said the project represents a key step in the company’s broader AI roadmap, which aims to expand automation and digital tools across the company.
The launch of new agentic AI-powered software aims to redefine procurement for distributors, automating supplier onboarding and invoices directly inside CRM. The result: simpler tech stacks, faster operations and new opportunities to strengthen supplier and...
AI adoption in distribution isn’t just a technology story — it’s a leadership story and one that centers on partnerships. SRS Distribution’s collaboration with InstaLILY demonstrates the power of approaching AI not as a transactional...
Two Stanford MBAs took a two-year deep dive into researching AI use in wholesale distribution — conducting 200+ executive interviews with industry leaders. Their takeaway: distributors are not only ready for AI, they’re eager for...
AI in distribution isn’t about having perfect data — it’s about knowing where to start. Here, discover five benchmarks that may signal your business is more AI-ready than you think.
From smarter inspections and technical support to demand planning, sourcing, and inventory optimization, this article by Avnet’s CIO explores how distributors can leverage AI as a true agent of change to drive efficiency, resilience and...
Will robots replace us? AI take our jobs? The answer (at least so far) has been “no.”
AI promises much to distributors — but where does it deliver? Here, a pair of Stanford graduate students reveal the findings of their major industry research project that applies the scientific method to show the...
