Artificial intelligence (ai) - Articles

Registration Open for AIM/R 54th Annual Conference

May 25, 2026

The AIM/R 54th Annual Conference takes place at The Meritage Resort & Spa. The theme is The Perfect Blend. Just like a fine wine, success for the manufacturers’ rep is about the perfect blend — of experience and innovation, relationships and technology, tradition, and transformation.

Bluon Welcomes Harvard Business School Professor to Board of Advisors

Stanton serves as the Marvin Bower Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where his research focuses on the intersection of technology and labor markets.

Supply House Times Editorial Staff

May 13, 2026

In his position with Bluon, Stanton will advise the company on its AI and data strategy, helping guide the development of Bluon’s native AI platform and related tools designed to support the trades.

Guest Column | Savanna True

AI at work: Hide or thrive?

As automation handles routine tasks, creativity, critical thinking and ethical leadership will define the most valuable employees.

Savanna True

April 29, 2026

By learning to use AI wisely in our daily work, prioritizing ethical use, and nurturing essential human skills, we’ll not only get more done and spark innovation, but ultimately build a more effective and rewarding future for ourselves and our organizations.

ASA News

How fast AI has changed since last year

April 27, 2026

One of the clearest ways to understand what has changed since last year’s Applied AI for Distributors event is this: some of the things that were being discussed as next are now showing up as current.

Marketing Matters | Alicia Branham

AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Security Policies

Artificial intelligence gives companies power to grow, but not without risk.

Alicia Branham

April 17, 2026

AI is evolving faster than the policies, security systems, and safeguards designed to manage it. The smartest companies won’t ignore AI, they also won’t hand over the keys to their business until the technology proves it can be trusted with them.

The State of AI in Distribution

Why speed, not scale, will define the next era of PHCP-PVF; steps distributors can take now.

Natalie Forster

April 8, 2026

According to recent research from McKinsey & Company, AI adoption has surged over the past two years, with a growing share of organizations reporting measurable impact on revenue, cost reduction and customer engagement.

The page for Sloan new Sink Configurator.

Sloan launches enhanced Sink Configurator featuring AI Guided Design

The latest Sink Configurator aims to help streamline the specification process.

March 31, 2026

The system intelligently generates tailored sink configurations based on current design trends, proven fixture pairings and comprehensive data from similar projects.

And So It Flows Podcast

AI adoption in distribution starts with action, not perfect data

Brooks Hamilton says speed, decision-making and sales impact will define winners in the next wave of AI

Natalie Forster

March 30, 2026

Artificial intelligence has quickly moved from buzzword to boardroom priority across PHCP-PVF distribution, but for many companies, adoption still feels stalled before it even begins. According to Brooks Hamilton, principal at AI Strategy Advisors, that hesitation often comes down to a long-standing misconception: that AI requires perfectly clean data before companies can get started.

A graphic showing the Daikin and Outerport logos.

Daikin Industries selects Outerport to make unstructured engineering design data AI-ready

The Outerport platform has been fully deployed to streamline Daikin's design engineering operations.

March 19, 2026

Built by a team of former research engineers who led AI development at major US tech giants such as NVIDIA and Meta Platforms, Outerport was selected by Daikin for its leading extraction accuracy and its ability to meet information security standards required for high-security manufacturers.

Computer chip labeled 'AI' on a circuit board, illuminated by a cool blue glow, highlighting circuit pathways and components.

ASA News

Women leading the way in AI adoption across the ASA community

February 13, 2026

AI is helping women streamline complex or time-consuming tasks, such as preparing commercial quotations, entering sales orders, managing email and calendars, and organizing large volumes of product information. It is also becoming part of daily life, supporting everything from cooking and budgeting to travel planning and quick problem solving.