Can distributors find common cause with the tech sector and work to turbocharge innovation in our economy, solving the big problems for the greater good of customers and society?
Mark, it is amazing how many companies out there want and crave a solution to liaison between the physical and tech distribution solutions however, leaping off the comfortable but old and tedious strategy seems a century away. I am currently evaluating a few distribution avenues of approach and will keep reading on best practices for transitions to more efficient and technologically advanced solutions for sector. Thanks for the read! Cyleste C.
Cyleste, Yes, conversations between distribution and tech are difficult. I published a guide to kickstarting a conversation in an earlier edition, below. If you'd like to chat live, please reach out. r/ Mark
So, how are things re-invented, innovated and changed? I worked on a project two decades ago from another end, from the supplier to OEMs. My friend had reinvented the wheel, literally. He re -invented the metal rim that an automobile tire is mounted on. Of course, OEMs had curiosity that went only as far as to say that can you or our suppliers give us the final product to test? Going to the suppliers (rim manufacturers) with the concept, they recoiled at one of the key benefits: the rim would become an integral part of a car’s suspension. They did not want to take on that change responsibility. The rim manufacturers existed by making cheaper wheels to be profitable in regular OEM, or visually attractive upscale rims. They were not prepared for suspension performance. In the end, the product did not work out as envisioned. But we were asking the suppliers and the OEM to get into each other’s core activities—and they both rejected going beyond their current structure.
It is an old story, but showed the difficulty of getting buy-in from others that see it as “not my job”. Currently I am working to get my company’s ultra-light product more broadly distributed, preferably with value-added consultative representation to prospective customers.
Hi Russ - Great insights, much appreciated. This edition is very much an attempt at "disequilibrium" as described at the top -- an idea or event that makes one notice how things work. Tech / distributor partnerships are happening at the company, buying group, and association level. I'm wondering if we can think bigger -- in a way that might create positive PR for distribution. One of the characteristics of a world class ecosystem is that it attracts the best practitioners, innovators, scientists, etc. A tech/distribution collaboration might do that for distributors. Food for thought, as always.
Mark, it is amazing how many companies out there want and crave a solution to liaison between the physical and tech distribution solutions however, leaping off the comfortable but old and tedious strategy seems a century away. I am currently evaluating a few distribution avenues of approach and will keep reading on best practices for transitions to more efficient and technologically advanced solutions for sector. Thanks for the read! Cyleste C.
Cyleste, Yes, conversations between distribution and tech are difficult. I published a guide to kickstarting a conversation in an earlier edition, below. If you'd like to chat live, please reach out. r/ Mark
https://markdancer.substack.com/p/bringing-digital-and-real-world-companies
So, how are things re-invented, innovated and changed? I worked on a project two decades ago from another end, from the supplier to OEMs. My friend had reinvented the wheel, literally. He re -invented the metal rim that an automobile tire is mounted on. Of course, OEMs had curiosity that went only as far as to say that can you or our suppliers give us the final product to test? Going to the suppliers (rim manufacturers) with the concept, they recoiled at one of the key benefits: the rim would become an integral part of a car’s suspension. They did not want to take on that change responsibility. The rim manufacturers existed by making cheaper wheels to be profitable in regular OEM, or visually attractive upscale rims. They were not prepared for suspension performance. In the end, the product did not work out as envisioned. But we were asking the suppliers and the OEM to get into each other’s core activities—and they both rejected going beyond their current structure.
It is an old story, but showed the difficulty of getting buy-in from others that see it as “not my job”. Currently I am working to get my company’s ultra-light product more broadly distributed, preferably with value-added consultative representation to prospective customers.
Hi Russ - Great insights, much appreciated. This edition is very much an attempt at "disequilibrium" as described at the top -- an idea or event that makes one notice how things work. Tech / distributor partnerships are happening at the company, buying group, and association level. I'm wondering if we can think bigger -- in a way that might create positive PR for distribution. One of the characteristics of a world class ecosystem is that it attracts the best practitioners, innovators, scientists, etc. A tech/distribution collaboration might do that for distributors. Food for thought, as always.