Emerging technology is becoming more specific, more capable and more fluent in how wholesale distribution operates. Here, NAW's Dan Schuberth offers his perspective on how the advantage will go to companies that pair it with the accumulated judgment of their people.
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Industry News
The combination will unite two major North American equipment dealer associations under the AED name, bringing together advocacy, education, workforce development, research and member services spanning agriculture, construction, industrial, forestry and outdoor power markets.
Rexel’s $1.4 billion deal for GCG would add more than $1.1 billion in annual revenue and deepen its exposure to data centers, utilities, communications and other critical infrastructure markets, extending an aggressive 2026 acquisition push. Get all the details and context here.
The deal brings supplyFORCE and more than 80 employees into AD, giving the $100 billion-plus buying group a national accounts program designed to help independent distributors jointly serve large, multi-site customers.
PrimeSource Brands has added decorative plumbing supplier JACLO just weeks after acquiring fastener provider Starborn Industries, giving the building products company three acquisitions so far in 2026.
Atlantic Street Capital partnered with GLP, an HVAC distributor serving industrial, utility, telecom and other specialized North American markets.
NAW is appealing a federal district court ruling that upheld Oregon’s EPR packaging law, continuing its legal challenge over fee-setting authority, interstate supply chain impacts and distributor obligations under the state’s Recycling Modernization Act.
The home improvement giant is piloting 20-minute drone delivery near Charlotte, joining a relatively short list of companies that have explored aerial fulfillment for time-sensitive products, parts and supplies.
The new enterprise growth platform connects ERP, CRM, marketing, quoting and eCommerce data to give distributors and manufacturers a unified view of customers, opportunities and risks.
The new hire takes over top leadership for the electrical, plumbing and lighting supplies distributor, which operates 17 branches and six showrooms across four states.
The electrical distribution giant said its new worldwide Data & AI platform now brings predictive models to operations representing 95% of company revenue, with applications spanning inventory, sales and customer experience.
Amazon expanded its Seller Assistant with persistent memory, always-on workflows and integrations with outside AI tools, giving marketplace sellers more ways to automate pricing, inventory and listing tasks amid a broader wave of investments across its commerce and delivery operations.
Wisconsin-based EMCO will net two Northeast distribution and packaging facilities, more than 80 employees and a portfolio of over 3,000 SKUs.
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