Tom Gale, Author at Modern Distribution Management - Page 11 of 29
Posts By Tom Gale

If not managed properly, too much of a good thing can backfire.

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  • Amazon Business: The Burning E-Platform

In case you missed it, Amazon just announced 2017 results. Once again, they didnt hold back on bulleted highlights, including items related to Amazon Business and its continued growth into distribution channels. Here is some color commentary on Amazons 2017 advances.

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MDM held its 2018 Distribution Industry Outlook webcast in January, including the latest economic outlook, financial and trend indicators, and MDM’s thesis that 2018 is an inflection point of several multi-year trends.Subscribers should log in below to read this article.

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The story about a North Sea oil rig workers leap into the water in 1988 from a scorching platform works well to apply to the knowns, unknowns, hype and misconceptions that have accompanied Amazons infiltration, integration and displacement of distribution channels.

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MDM is thrilled to start a new chapter for the company.

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The power of analytics and data to improve company performance has grabbed everyones attention, and with extremely positive impacts overall, but too often we fixate on specific data points and then lose sight of the larger (and sometimes smaller) picture.

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The latest forecast from ITR Economics is that the Industrial Production Index will peak in February and then slowly taper the rest of the year, dropping more sharply in 2019. In light of whats coming, ITRs Alan Beaulieu delivered an important message at the NIBA/PTDA Joint Industry Summit now, more than ever, is the time for strong leadership and investing in your business.

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  • Millennials in Distribution: Culture Trumps Everything
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For more than 20 years, technology adoption in distribution has lived with this axiom: The distribution industry moves at its own pace, and it reflects the wants and needs of its customers. On the other side is this: distribution, particularly industrial channels, is on the slow end of the technology adoption curve. As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

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This article originally ran as a blog on mdm.com. Rusty contributed to this column over many years. He was passionate about this newsletter, and in this day of blogs and 24/7 content, it is fitting to include it here to honor him in the printed edition, which takes a deeper look at the industry issues he cared so much about.

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  • Culture as a Competitive Advantage
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amazon-v-grainger

If it can’t dominate an industry digitally, Amazon will buy the bricks and mortar to get there.

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  • Don’t Confuse Rules with Policies

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