PHCP-PVF Top Stories

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In this episode of And So It Flows, Jennifer Harrison and Kaytee Gray from SupplyHouse.com discuss how digital merchandising and fulfillment are evolving to empower contractors with expert product information, simplifying decision-making in the field.

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.

Lock Supply Co.’s Tim Savage breaks down how practical AI tools are accelerating quoting, closing knowledge gaps, and strengthening contractor trust — without replacing the human side of sales.

The water heater market is growing steadily as it moves into 2026, with increased demand in commercial and multifamily sectors. Reliability and efficiency are prioritized, influenced by regional policies and regulatory changes that promote informed system selections.

According to a report published by Bluefield Research, a water-focused market research firm based in Boston, Mass., by 2030, yearly investment in water and wastewater management will be more than $62 billion U.S. The firm attributes this to the explosion of AI-powered technology (driving the need for more data centers), the push to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S., energy transition, and national security.

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.

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.

Manufacturers exhibiting at AHR Expo 2026 are bringing forward solutions that prioritize intelligence, flexibility and practicality, addressing real-world challenges faced by contractors, engineers, distributors and building owners.