NAW Webinar: Analyzing 2026’s Top Distributors

June 25, 1:00 PM ET

Distributors of industrial, commercial and building supply products navigated a tariffs environment that saw frequent major changes throughout the last eight months of 2025, leading to a challenging year in terms of inventory and pricing decisions. Yet, the resulting inflation environment provided a considerable lift to most company revenues, which was reflected in MDM’s 2026 Top Distributors Lists and continues to buoy sales figures. Our annual feature presents the top players across 19 different distribution product sectors, ranked or displayed by their annual revenue within each sector. As always, it created a definitive who’s-who of the largest market movers in across the distribution landscape.

Join our free webinar as Executive Editor Mike Hockett and several of experts analyze the key factors that influenced our different lists that benchmark the largest market movers across the distribution landscape by scale. We’ll examine macro elements that impacted many distributors and granular items that led certain distributors to jump or fall on our lists.

Webinar: McKinsey Series: The Road to Future-Ready Distribution: Operational Priorities

June 4, 10:00 AM ET

What does it take to move from strategy to execution? Building on the SHIFT keynote, this webinar explores how distributors are putting future-ready strategies into practice. We’ll highlight the operational priorities, key investments, and real-world approaches shaping the next 6–12 months, so you can focus on what will drive the greatest impact.

This session is the first in a 3-part webinar series from McKinsey & Company. Registration includes access for the next two sessions: The Road to Technology and AI: From Hype to Scaled Impact and The Road Ahead: Workforce and Talent Priorities for 2027, presented by McKinsey & Company and NAW.

Sponsored by: McKinsey & Company

Webinar: Fueled by Product Data – How Banner Solutions is Using PIM to Accelerate eCommerce

May 21, 1:00 PM ET

For many distributors, the path to digital growth stalls before it truly begins — often because product data feels too incomplete, too inconsistent or too overwhelming to fix. But waiting for “perfect” data can be a losing strategy. This webinar explores a more pragmatic approach: how distributors can start with what they have, continuously improve their product data and unlock meaningful gains in eCommerce performance along the way.

Sponsored by: Akeneo

Webinar: A Guide to AEO + GEO: How Distributors Win in the Age of AI Search

May 7, 1:00 PM ET

Buyers are increasingly turning to AI search — like Google AI Overviews — to start their research. If your company isn’t the source being cited, your business is missing out. For distributors, that shift means product knowledge, policy pages, and technical specs need to be structured for AI citability, not just crawlability. This webinar explains how distributors can restructure content, taxonomy, and structured data so their expertise becomes citable and retrievable by generative engines — turning invisible sites into trusted answers.

Sponsored by: McFadyen Digital

Webinar: Where 400+ Distribution Leaders Are Investing in AI

April 9, 1:00 PM ET

In this live presentation and panel discussion, the NAW Research team behind our latest major study, “In Pursuit of Value: AI Priorities and Progress Lessons from 400 Distribution Leaders,” will unpack findings from the largest survey on AI adoption ever conducted in distribution. You’ll hear what over 400 senior leaders in distribution are actually doing with AI including where they’re investing, what returns they’re seeing, and how fast they expect to scale.

Sponsored by: Epicor, Canals, Descartes, Revalgo

Webinar: Thriving Through Change – Practical Tips for Building a Resilient Organization

March 25, 1:00 PM ET

Labor shortages, retiring experienced workers, and evolving technologies are reshaping every aspect of the supply chain. This webinar explores practical strategies to maintain productivity and consistency as your workforce transforms alongside the economic landscape. Learn how your ability to train and equip your teams helps you adapt to change quickly, even with less-experienced staff.

Sponsored by: Epicor

Webinar: The 2026 Annual Distribution Industry Outlook

February 18, 1:00 PM ET

After last year played out much different than most expected, distributors eye a more favorable landscape for business conditions, and MDM’s 2026 Annual Distribution Industry Outlook well help level-set your expectations.

This webcast on February 18 will benchmark your sales and growth outlook for the rest of 2026, review macroeconomic and distribution-specific trends, and examine the latest exclusive MDM-Baird quarterly survey insights.

We’ll once again be joined by Baird Senior Research Analyst David Manthey, NetSuite VP Ranga Bodla and MDM Executive Editor Mike Hockett for the data and analysis on how to best navigate the market signals shaping 2026.

You won’t want to miss this essential discussion.

Sponsored by: Oracle NetSuite

Webcast: E-Commerce Revolution – Seizing Opportunities in Distribution in the Era of AI

December 4, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern

Distribution is racing toward a digital, data-fueled future—and the winners are already pulling away. In this session, we’ll show how industry leaders are using e-commerce and digital tools to drive organic growth, increase share, expand margins, and delight B2B customers and suppliers. This webinar focuses on practical strategies to drive digital adoption, elevate customer experience, and leverage data and analytics to accelerate digital sales growth. Industry leaders will share how distributors are adapting to evolving buyer expectations—pricing, availability, product content, and self-service—and utilizing AI to adapt faster than ever. Whether you’re launching e-commerce, building new digital tools, or scaling an existing platform, you’ll leave with clear insights for success.

Sponsored by: McKinsey & Company

Webcast: Your Best Salesperson is About to Quit. Here’s Why.

October 14, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

The old playbook for distributor sales no longer works. Margins are tightening, customers expect more and sales teams are under pressure to deliver bigger results with fewer resources. The challenge isn’t just keeping top talent. It’s enabling every rep — from counter staff and CSRs to inside and outside sales, specialists and project teams — to win in a tougher market. That requires faster, more accurate quotes, instant product knowledge and shorter ramp-up times. Without it, you risk losing your best performers and leaving revenue on the table.

This free webcast features an in-depth conversation with Jason Sullivan, Founder & CEO of Distro — a leader in technology-enabled transformation for distributors — and MDM’s Executive Editor Mike Hockett. The duo will unpack the real drivers behind today’s sales challenges; show how modern revenue platforms help distributors boost productivity and unlock growth; and share how senior executives are protecting margins while fueling top-line performance. You’ll walk away with practical, actionable steps to set your sales team up for success, maximize profitability and future-proof your sales org.

Sponsored by: Distro

Webcast: Meet the Moment – How Distributors Can Meet and Exceed Evolving Buyer Expectations

October 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Today’s B2B buyers have raised the bar. They demand speed, accuracy and transparency at every step of the purchase process and expect digital platforms to deliver. With B2B eCommerce now accounting for 24% of U.S. sales and projected to hit almost 28% by 2028, distributors face critical challenges. Disconnected systems, complex pricing models and poor digital experiences erode buyer trust. 

Join PROS expert John Bruno and ADI Global’s John Carberry to explore how eCommerce in distribution can meet the moment. Discover actionable strategies to connect systems, adapt to evolving buyer behaviors and build loyalty through efficient, seamless digital interactions. 

Sponsored by: PROS

Webcast: The Labor Crunch: Solving Workforce Challenges in Distribution

September 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern

Labor shortages continue to challenge the distribution industry, making it more important than ever to attract, retain, and optimize workforce productivity. This session will cover innovative labor management strategies, automation solutions, and workplace practices that can help mitigate labor constraints. Whether you’re facing talent churn or planning for future workforce needs, this webinar will provide practical approaches to building a resilient and efficient team.

By registering for this webcast, you are registering for the McKinsey Perspectives on Winning in Distribution, Strategies for Profitable Growth & Resilience Webinar Series presented by McKinsey & Company and hosted by MDM:

April 3 : M&A in Distribution: Navigating Reshaping your Business for Success

June 5: Maximizing Profitability: Growth Strategies for Distributors

Sept 25: The Labor Crunch: Solving Workforce Challenges in Distribution

Dec 4 : E-Commerce Revolution: Seizing Opportunities in Distribution

Sponsored by: McKinsey & Company

Webcast: The Executive AI Playbook – Scaling Intelligent Supply Chains & Distribution Network

August 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Today’s supply chains aren’t just complex, they’re constantly shifting. From demand swings to supplier risk and even tariff pressures, leaders are being asked to move faster, adapt with precision, and keep everyone aligned.

Join us on August 7, 2025 (1–2pm ET) for The Executive AI Playbook: Scaling Intelligent Supply Chains & Distribution Networks, hosted by Modern Distribution Management. This live panel discussion will explore how eXplainable AI (XAI) is helping executives turn uncertainty into action, without losing clarity or trust.

From forecasting demand to navigating supplier risk, join Robert DiTommaso of Winsupply and Rajesh Naik of Mined XAI as they share what’s worked, what’s changed, and how to get everyone, from the boardroom to the front line, on the same page.

We’ll close with a live Q&A to tackle your biggest questions on building a practical, executive-ready AI roadmap.

Sponsored by: Mined XAI

Webcast: Preparing B2B Product Data for Growth and AI

July 24, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

In today’s digitally driven supply chain, distributors are under pressure to deliver rich, accurate and differentiated product experiences — faster and across more channels than ever before. But most organizations struggle to get the basics of product data right, let alone scale it for AI-driven automation, personalization or enrichment.

“Our product data isn’t ready” is one of the most common reasons cited for why distributors haven’t become deeply involved with AI applications or scaling certain customer offerings.

In this webcast, our expert panel will dive into the core challenges facing B2B distributors when it comes to organizing, governing and scaling product information. We’ll also explore the foundational elements required to make product data AI-ready, including how to:

Create a well-structured product taxonomy
Centralize product data into a single source of truth
Build strong data governance frameworks to ensure consistency and control
Expand into new channels and speed up product launches

Join us to learn how to turn complex product data into a competitive advantage — powered by structure, strategy and AI.

Sponsored by: Akeneo

Webcast: 2025 Mid-Year Economic Update

July 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Join University of Colorado’s Brian Lewandowski, MDM’s Mike Hockett and Oracle NetSuite’s Ranga Bodla as they analyze economic conditions and the demand outlook for the rest of this year and beyond. The event will feature MDM’s latest industry revenue forecast and break down economic trends, emerging growth opportunities, what to watch out for and how distributors can capitalize on the current competitive landscape.

Sponsored by: Oracle NetSuite

Webcast: The Future of Wholesale Distribution – What Will Shape the Industry by 2035?

June 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Distributors don’t fail because they see the future wrong. They fail because they expect only one future.

In a world defined by disruption — from AI to geopolitics to customer behavior — wholesale distributors are under pressure to evolve. But the biggest risk isn’t just moving too slowly. It’s assuming there’s only one way the future could unfold.

In this webcast, we’ll reveal findings from a major new research study that maps out four distinct futures for wholesale distribution. Built on interviews, trend analysis, and scenario planning, the research offers a powerful new way to think about risk, opportunity, and long-term strategy.

What you’ll learn:

The most significant social, technological, and economic forces reshaping distribution
Two critical uncertainties that will determine how the next decade plays out
Four plausible futures for the industry in 2035 — and what each one demands of leaders
Why “trying to predict the future” is the wrong approach — and what to do instead
Strategic questions and tools to help your team prepare, not just react

This is not another trends presentation. It’s a strategic foresight session designed to help you make better decisions — today — by imagining tomorrow more clearly.

Register now to see what’s coming — and how to be ready for any future.

Sponsored by: Infor

Webcast: Analyzing 2025’s Top Distributors

June 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

After riding the inflation wave in 2022, distributors of industrial, commercial and building supply products saw far smaller growth in 2023 as pricing was less of a tailwind. This led to modest annual sales growth or declines for most of the companies on MDM’s 2024 Top Distributors Lists.

Our annual feature presents the top players across 20 different distribution product sectors, ranked or displayed by their annual revenue within each sector. As always, it created a definitive who’s-who of the largest market movers in across the distribution landscape.

Join our free webcast as Executive Editor Mike Hockett and a handful of experts as they analyze the key factors that influenced our different lists, which serve as the definitive who’s-who of the largest market movers across the distribution landscape. We’ll examine macro elements that impacted many distributors, and granular items that led certain distributors to jump or fall on our lists.

Sponsored by: SAP

Webcast: From Ground to Cloud – Real Distributor Stories of ERP Transformation

April 17, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

The Right Time to Move to the Cloud? Now.

Research shows that most distributors plan to migrate most or all of their business solutions to the cloud if they haven’t already.(1)

If you’re still on-premise, you’re missing out on seamless updates, enhanced security, the flexibility to work from anywhere, on any device, with real-time collaboration that boosts productivity – and much more.

In this webcast, we’ll get first-hand perspectives from two distribution companies — Alarm Products Distributors and Allegis Corporation — that recently made the decision to move to the cloud, why they did and what the experience was like for them. We’ll also talk to Stephanie Luk-Brust, Cloud Manager at Epicor, on why so many distributors are converting from on-premises systems to the cloud.

Together, their discussion will cover:

What’s driving distributors to move to the cloud
Common myths about the cloud
What the cost factors are for on-premises ERPs versus those on the cloud
The important role cloud plays in IT security
Why the cloud is so critical for distributors seeking to access new AI capabilities

(1) Distribution Industry Insights Report 2023

Sponsored by: Epicor

Webcast: M&A in Distribution – Navigating Reshaping your Business for Success

April 3, 2025 at 10 a.m. Eastern

As mergers and acquisitions reshape the distribution landscape, understanding the opportunities and challenges of these transactions is critical. In this webinar, presented by McKinsey & Company and hosted by MDM, McKinsey experts will explore key drivers behind M&A activity, strategies for seamless integration, and best practices for maximizing deal value. Whether your company is looking to acquire, merge, or adapt to industry shifts, this webinar will provide actionable insights to help you make informed decisions and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

By registering for this webcast, you are registering for the McKinsey Perspectives on Winning in Distribution, Strategies for Profitable Growth & Resilience Webinar Series presented by McKinsey & Company and hosted by MDM:

April 3 : M&A in Distribution: Navigating Reshaping your Business for Success

June 5: Maximizing Profitability: Growth Strategies for Distributors

Sept 25: The Labor Crunch: Solving Workforce Challenges in Distribution

Dec 4 : E-Commerce Revolution: Seizing Opportunities in Distribution

Sponsored by: McKinsey & Company

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