Downtime is expensive, and often unpredictable. Using sensors and connectivity – key elements of the internet of things – to better maintain equipment can help distributors become more embedded in customer's everyday operations, says Mike DeCata, president and CEO, Lawson Products, Chicago, IL, in New Tech Disrupts Supply Chain.

“As you have a better understanding of the imminent failure of a piece of equipment, you can anticipate the need and maintain it more quickly than you could have before,” DeCata says.

Providing faster service decreases the customer's downtime, which increases their perceived value of the distributor because they are saving them time and money.

IoT can change how distributors interact with customers by allowing them to play a critical role in keeping operations functioning while, at the same time, not wasting time on unnecessary maintenance.

Read more about how the internet of things can improve customer relationships in New Tech Disrupts Supply Chain.