EMDA is pleased to provide two new series of complimentary webinars. The timely sessions focus on technology disruption and transformation, and on economic inputs to guide your strategy to make the right decisions at the right time. Registration information is found on the Education Opportunities Calendar.
The first series is in cooperation with NAW – the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors.
Each month through January 2021, NAW will post one Research Report and follow it up with a Webinar in the same month. Driven by research conducted with wholesaler-distributors, manufacturers and distributor customers, each Research Report and Webinar will provide the intelligence you need to formulate new strategies and ensure that your company thrives through this era of technology disruption and transformation.
9/24/2020–How Distributor Customers Will Use Technologies from their Suppliers and Who is Winning: Leading technology companies are offering customers new ways of ordering — by voice or product image. Additionally, leading retailers and distributors are using AI-enabled business intelligence to understand customer needs better and are applying autonomous vehicles, including drones, for deliveries. On this webinar, which is based on original research, Author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group will delve into how important all of this is to customers and whether distributors need to build a whole new set of technological capabilities to remain competitive.
10/20/2020–Distributors Suppliers Speak out on Disruption, New Channels, and Who will Win: Manufacturers are reevaluating their distribution strategies in real time as channels undergo technology-driven disruption. Some suppliers are choosing to sell directly to end users, while others are betting on marketplaces — or relying on traditional distributors. On this webinar, which is based on original research, Author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group will discuss how manufacturers now see emerging technologies transforming distribution channels.
11/17/2020–New Technology Frontiers for Distributors: Sizing up Marketplaces and Becoming Digital Companies: Many distributors have struggled to build great e-commerce capabilities, and now the marketplace phenomenon threatens the industry as well. Some distributors are responding by transforming themselves into digital companies, and distributor-led marketplaces are emerging. On this webinar, Author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group will delve into answering this question and more: What is the right strategy for a distributor during this time of disruption?
12/15/2020–Value-Added Services as a Survival Strategy – Real Value isn’t Free: Many distributors historically gave away services as part of selling products. Now that assortment and availability have been commoditized, distributors are finding that a strong service menu can differentiate them from their competitors. However, “free” services are usually poorly developed and managed — not to mention, they include costs without clear revenues. Author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group says there is a better alternative, and he’ll tackle that and more in this webinar.
01/21/2021–Managing Strategic Change During Disruption: Get Leaner, Smarter, Faster, and Stronger: In this capstone webinar for the NAW Series: How Technology Will Transform Wholesale Distribution, Author Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group will integrate the thinking of distributors, customers, suppliers and experts. He’ll offer suggestions not only for specific actions distributors should take, but also for how distributors should adapt their businesses to ensure that they can successfully navigate the change.
In a second series of webinars, starting on 10/14/2020, EMDA, in partnership with several other distribution-focused associations as part of the AEA – Association Education Alliance, is pleased to offer a monthly interview-style presentations to help your company plan during these unpredictable times.
There is no crystal ball, but forecasting is the next best thing you can do to predict your business’s economic future. Join economist and forecasting expert Alex Chausovsky, Senior Business Advisor, ITR Economics, who will provide data and analysis on what to expect for the remainder of the year and Q1 2021. During this six-month series, Alex will cover industry trends, business to business activity, trade, inflation, interest rates and more. Using leading indicators, attendees will learn how to identify where they are in the business cycle and which inputs should guide their strategy to make the right decisions at the right time.
EMDA will continue to provide these valuable opportunities – if you have suggestions for future webinars, just let the staff know.