Distributors help keep businesses running smoothly by ensuring they have the right items in the right place at the right time. And if you’re doing your job well, the public doesn’t even see you.

With more tools than ever to gain critical insight into a business, enterprise leaders employ data and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) capabilities more than ever to help drive daily decisions about their customers, supply chain(s), pricing, and more.

To dig deep into what e-Commerce-ready product data actually looks like, and to go over some best practices, Supply House Times sat down with Matt Christensen, president of Distributor Data Solutions (DDS).

According to a recent research study from Epicor, a maker of industry-specific enterprise software designed to promote business growth, 96 percent of organizations surveyed worldwide have confidence in their ability to navigate the early stages of the ERP purchase process, from initial evaluation to requirements planning.

LeadSmart Technologies, a leader in the cloud-based CRM, channel collaboration and business intelligence market, announced a technology partnership with NetPlus Alliance (NetPlus). Headquartered in Lockport New York, NetPlus is a buying group for industrial and construction supply distributors. LeadSmart will provide its innovative Channel Cloud SaaS product solutions to NetPlus’s membership of distributors, suppliers and independent manufacturers’ representatives throughout North America.

In working closely with hundreds of manufacturers to syndicate product content across increasingly diverse sales channels over the last several years, DDS found virtually every supplier was struggling to gauge how their product content is ultimately being displayed (not to mention how it is performing) across their partner websites. This digital shelf analysis has become a major sticking point for manufacturers in evaluating and improving their e-commerce and digital content efforts.

DDI System, a provider of ERP and eCommerce software for wholesale-distributors, announced David Greene has stepped into a new role with the company as director of business development. Greene, founder and former partner of a market-specific ERP for foodservice equipment and supply dealers joined DDI System as a dedicated Foodservice Market Specialist in January 2020. Greene’s wealth of industry expertise and trusted relationships strengthened DDI’s focus and growth in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry over the past year and a half.