AI, Tech, & Digital Commerce

Recent earnings reports and investor calls show companies beginning to talk less about AI as a broad technology initiative and more about where they are putting it to work.

AI agents are starting to do the shopping. Not recommend. Not assist. Shop.

The data presented at the Atlanta forum points to an industry where practical AI use is increasing but remains far from widespread.

The agenda reflects a shift in the distribution industry’s AI conversation. The question is increasingly less about what AI might eventually do and more about what distributors are putting into production now, whether employees are using it and whether it is improving business performance.

The companies in the Platinum, Gold and Silver tiers have demonstrated what DSG classifies as “Integrated” AI capability — production deployments with measurable business impact rather than pilots, partnerships, or announcements alone.

For Ferguson, the immediate AI opportunity is not primarily the technology itself. It is the physical infrastructure required to support AI computing.

Henry Schein joins a growing list of distributors, including W.W. Grainger, Sysco, and DNOW, that are embedding AI into customer-facing applications and internal operations to improve productivity, automate routine work, and strengthen customer relationships.

The DSG regional event will provide attendees with practical insight from distributors that are actively integrating AI into sales, operations, and customer service rather than simply evaluating the technology.