Procurement push
=Commoditization

Supply Chain process killing
creativity in race to bottom

The paperless office trend & secular OP market decline; exacerbated by global economic slowdown & toxic tariffs has fuelled the power of 'low-pricing' procurement people. This has accelerated the commoditization trend, killing innovation that drives higher productivity and lower operating costs. Later today

Will hot desking
kill your business?

Forbes writer rails against
old workplace organisation

Forbes contributor Simon Constable opines "How Hot-desking Will Kill Your Company". Where has he been for the past 10 years? New collaborative and flexible workspaces are really hot right now....

Paper market
crashes off cliff

Economic slowdown, price
hike failures, kill demand,
margins squeezed = losses

A perfect storm hits the printed paper market! The paperless office trend, the slowing global economy; higher producer prices; business users rejecting increases; have all killed demand. The market is awash with unwanted paper. We discuss what's next? Updated

Are broadliners

narrowing focus?

Wholesalers discuss future
direction at annual events

After attending three of the biggest distributors partner events in May, CRN's Marian McHugh concludes they no longer consider themselves as 'just a broadliner' anymore. We discuss and comment on their plans... Updated

Personalisation

powers sales

Forbes report highlights
AI as essential ingredient

The majority of executives interviewed in a survey conducted by Forbes Insights and Arm Treasure Data say artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology are important in executing their personalization strategy for growth....

When will half-
source 'holesalers
become Whole?

'93 Stockless Dealer vision
blinded in business supplies

In 1993, US#1 wholesaler United led the 'stockless dealer' revolution. Most progressive dealers in US/UK followed. Today, only Amazon & Essendant to a lesser extent, maintain a broadline business supplies service. Meanwhile, the 'narrowliners' are failing, threatening small dealers' survival. We review latest positions... Complete

Lack of vision
drags disties
digital drive

MDM attacks inertia in
business supply markets

Modern Distribution Management's Mark Dancer has published a White Paper on the '2019 Outlook for wholesale distribution'. "Distributors are facing a 'vision cliff' that is holding back progress", he writes. We discuss...

JanSan Report
junk information

Apruve ratings exc. leading
performers eg. AMZN Bunzl

Apruve the B2B payment solutions provider, has published a welcome performance report on 70 JanSan Industry webstores. Unfortunately, the well intentioned analysis loses credibility, by excluding leaders like Amazon, Bunzl and Grainger; and by overrating unfriendly user experiences like Office Depot? We critique...

Depot turnaround
or tailspinning?

Analyst argues ailing ship
is holed but not sinking?

Seeking Alpha analyst Daniel Tacken opines that "Office Depot is valued for distress, but the business is turning around". We review his case that the patient is "transforming itself into a relevant business retailer". Complete

Adveo's autopsy?

Is vulture capitalist capable
of resurrection rhetoric for
ex-Europe OP wholesaler?

Vulture capitalist Sandton’s acquisition of former $1.5Bn in sales, wholesaler Adveo’s subsidiaries in France, Belgium & The Netherlands has been approved by the Spanish courts. Will the Phoenix fly or flop? Do we believe its "long term investment" promise, or is it just another typical 'flip & flog' exercise?