AI, Tech, & Digital Commerce
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Border States Elevates Cybersecurity Leadership with VP Appointment
In his new role, he will oversee the company’s cybersecurity strategy, enterprise risk management and cyber resilience initiatives as Border States continues to expand its digital capabilities.
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City Electric Supply Expands Industrial Automation Business with Siemens Partnership
The agreement strengthens CES’s Industrial Automation Solutions (IAS) division, which provides automation engineering, control systems, and technical support through the distributor’s network of more than 750 branches.
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Lantern Raises $7 Million to Expand AI Forecasting Platform for Wholesale Distributors
The funding comes as venture capital firms continue to back software companies focused on wholesale distribution, a sector that has drawn increasing attention as distributors invest in AI to improve inventory productivity, reduce working capital, and offset labor shortages.
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Proton.ai Launches AI Platform to Automate Order and Quote Entry for Distributors
The software is designed to interpret customer requests, identify products, recommend substitute items when products are unavailable, generate draft quotes and prepare customer emails using customer-specific pricing and catalog data. Sales representatives review and approve every quote before it is delivered to a customer.
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What a $60 Billion Amazon Business Means for the $8 Trillion Distribution Industry
The distributors that thrive alongside a $60 billion Amazon Business will be the ones that stopped trying to out-Amazon Amazon and made themselves too complicated to replace.
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Amazon Business Reaches $60 Billion GMV, Raising Competitive Pressure on Distributors
Amazon is increasingly positioning Amazon Business as the platform companies use to manage procurement itself, embedding the service deeper into customers’ purchasing workflows rather than competing only for individual orders.
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Leading Economic Index Slips as Housing Weakens, but AI Investment Keeps Growth on Track
The decline in building permits is an early warning sign for distributors serving residential construction markets, including lumber, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and building materials.
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VAD, Exotic Automation Merge to Form 38-Location Industrial Distribution Company
Executives said the merger expands the company’s geographic footprint, supplier network and value-added service capabilities while providing additional scale in purchasing, warehouse operations and back-office functions.
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Fastenal Turns to AI, Acquisitions as Next CEO Takes Over
The company expects approximately $320 million in net capital expenditures this year, equal to about 3.5% of projected sales. Spending will support distribution center capacity and automation, FMI devices, and information technology infrastructure.
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McKesson Bets on AI to Strengthen Healthcare Distribution
McKesson said more than 95% of its wired employees participated in digital learning programs designed to prepare the workforce for what it described as a “human-led AI future.”