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Emerging leaders are motivated but often struggle to understand what senior leaders want before assuming more responsibility. In plumbing distribution, credibility is crucial; senior leaders prioritize those who execute well, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions under pressure.

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.

Digital revenue penetration tiers show concentrated distribution patterns and progression across three measurement periods. Firms achieving more than 10% e-commerce revenue increased from 28% in 2023 to 33% in 2024 and 41% in 2025, representing a 13 percentage point gain over two years. The more than 20% tier grew from 13% to 19% and stabilized, while the more than 30% tier progressed from 8% to 10% before declining to 7% in 2025.

Data sources, even high-quality ones, do not inherently guarantee consistency. Two sources may provide data for the same category but define attributes differently, apply different units of measure, or populate fields in inconsistent ways. Even within a single source, definitions and data quality can vary over time or across product lines. Without a shared standard, organizations must repeatedly interpret, normalize, and reconcile that variability internally.

At the American Supply Association's recent LEAD retreat, the need to transfer industry knowledge from retiring veterans to the next generation was highlighted as a critical issue in the PHCP-PVF sector. To address this, ASA's Business Intelligence Unit has commissioned a survey among its members, in line with the objectives of its Operational Excellence and Embracing the Future councils.

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.

While the risk of Legionella exists across many types of buildings, healthcare and long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable. These buildings often have large, complex plumbing systems with extensive pipe networks, variable water usage, and numerous fixtures, all of which can create conditions conducive to bacterial growth if not properly managed. As a result, even well-designed and well-maintained systems require ongoing attention to minimize risk.

Lifting objects is a necessary part of many jobs, but it’s easy for employees to develop bad habits that can harm their backs and put them out of commission. According to a September OSHA report on back disorders and injuries, as one of the leading causes of disability for workers, back injuries can develop over time from long-term repetitive activity or result from a single mishap.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across every department — from warehouse to accounting to the front counter. A phishing link clicked in one branch can disrupt dozens of locations. The good news is that building resilience doesn’t require massive budgets — just leadership commitment and steady improvement.