The concept of human-in-the-loop AI and why it matters for distributors Distribution companies are intrigued by artificial intelligence, but most struggle with implementation approaches that either remove human expertise too quickly or fail to leverage AI capabilities effectively. The “human-in-the-loop” strategy offers a practical middle ground that minimizes risk while delivering immediate value. This approach, sometimes called “augmented AI,” keeps humans in charge of critical decisions while delegating specific tasks to AI systems. It’s not about replacing workers with technology but rather enhancing human capabilities through automation and streamlining the bottlenecks. Ashwin Rao, Chief AI Officer at QXO, during the recent MDM AI Summit, explicitly advocated for this method: “Today we should focus on what’s called augmented AI and not…

Introduction: Breaking Down the Wall Between Agencies and Clients If you’re about to embark on your first agency partnership or you’re already in one that isn’t working as smoothly as you’d hoped, this article is for you. As an agency owner with years of experience, I’ve seen how communication often determines the difference between project success and frustration. Rather than another list of “best practices,” I want to share a real perspective on what happens behind the scenes at agencies, what we wish every client understood, and most importantly – how we can build a true partnership that serves both our interests. The Reality of Agency Work: What You Need to Know Agencies are specialists brought in to help your…

It’s fascinating to watch distributors tackle digital transformation, but there’s one consistent sticking point that keeps business leaders up at night: customer-specific pricing. I’m not a platform vendor with an agenda – just someone who’s been in the trenches helping distributors navigate this complex terrain. What we’re seeing across the industry right now is a genuine struggle between the promise of eCommerce and the practical realities of B2B pricing complexity. Every conversation with distribution executives eventually circles back to the same question: “How do we make our intricate pricing work online without breaking everything?” The Pricing Predicament Let’s cut to the chase on why this is such a headache: Our team recently worked with a distributor who described their pricing…