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…

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…

BigCommerce has unveiled a groundbreaking update that introduces advanced features tailored specifically for B2B selling. With a focus on efficiency, scalability, and customer experience, these enhancements empower businesses to streamline operations, personalize pricing, and gain a competitive edge. Discover how BigCommerce is reshaping the future of B2B sales with these game-changing capabilities.