It's critically important for all of us to see ourselves as industry stewards. We are an essential industry for the future of our nation. We are necessary even though we might not always see ourselves that way.
A recent American Supply Association report finds that nearly 75% of companies are experimenting with AI, with 38% exploring use cases, 34% piloting tools, and 19% implementing AI for operations like data forecasting and process automation, reflecting a shift towards technology to meet rising demands.
Founder Brian Tuohey will be transitioning day-to-day leadership to the next generation, with his children stepping into key executive roles effective January 1, 2026.
Distributors must constantly adjust due to pricing volatility, supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, and shifting customer expectations, tightening decision timelines. In November, five distributors met at ASA NETWORK in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for Supply House Times’ 16th annual distributor roundtable to assess the market and discuss future success.
The Digitization & Customer Intelligence webpage provides a clear, accessible path for distributors and manufacturers looking to better understand CRM adoption, ERP integration considerations, and emerging technologies that support stronger customer relationships.
A look back on Supply House Times' most popular features from 2025.
January 5, 2026
The following list includes the top 10 most-read articles from 2025 based on website traffic at Supplyht.com. If you missed any of these throughout the year, take a few minutes to read what all of the bustle was about.
In wholesale distribution, progress in 2025 rarely came from one sweeping change. It came from smarter forecasting and more accurate data analysis. From incremental improvements in product data that made online searches less frustrating to onboarding processes that got new hires productive faster than before. None of it flashy, but all of it impactful.
Looking back at this past year, I want to leave you with a few notes about some of the ASA events I thought were extra special for me and also some other things that make ASA so special as our industry’s only national trade association.
With supply chain volatility easing but labor and regulatory pressures mounting, distributors lean on data, partnerships, and smarter inventory strategy.
According to the American Supply Association’s Monthly Economic Report, forecasting shows GDP growth moderating, oil and freight costs stabilizing, and key construction indicators posting mixed signals heading into mid-2026. Economists contributing to ASA’s reports note that "economic risk remains elevated, but channel fundamentals are stronger than national headlines suggest," pointing to continued resilience in wholesale sales trends and contractor backlogs.