Podcast
The MDM Podcast
Hosted by Modern Distribution Management · EN
The distribution industry is changing, with new players and technologies that will shape how you compete and sell. Stay ahead of your competitors with this regular series from Modern Distribution Management, and learn the trends and strategies that will keep you in the lead for the long haul.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Field Sales Is Far From Dead - It's Evolving
6d ago00:25:46Tap to summarizeMap My Customers’ JT Rimbey joins the podcast to discuss the evolving role of field sales in distribution — exploring territory management, account segmentation, CRM adoption and why relationship-driven outside sales remains a critical competitive advantage despite growing digital buying trends and advances in AI-powered sales technology.
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Tom McFadyen on How AI is Reshaping B2B Commerce
2w ago00:22:28Tap to summarizeAI is reshaping B2B commerce faster than most distributors are prepared for. Tom McFadyen of McFadyen Digital joins the MDM Ampify Podcast to break down why AEO & GEO are suddenly critical web search components, AI use cases and the rise of agentic commerce — and what it all means for distributors right now.
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From Static to Dynamic: The Evolution of Pricing Science in Distribution
3w ago00:33:48Tap to summarizePricing has taken center stage in distribution. Zilliant’s Jim Vaughn joins the MDM Amplify Podcast to discuss how AI, volatility and smarter segmentation are reshaping pricing strategy — and why understanding customer value is more critical than ever.
Transcribe →Build the Back-End First — Why Strategy Beats Tech Any Day
3w ago00:18:15Tap to summarizeMax Meister, Co-CEO of Germany-based power transmission distributor Ludwig Meister, joins the MDM Podcast to break down why innovation is less about adopting new tools and more about execution discipline. He explains the risks of rushing into AI without strong data, the importance of sequencing transformation efforts, and previews his upcoming SHIFT conference session. Ludwig Meister was the subject of MDM's latest Case Study report published in April.
Transcribe →The Power of Storytelling: Why Every Distributor Has a Story Worth Telling
Apr 900:14:23Tap to summarizeMany distribution companies assume they're not interesting enough for social media. Kevin Keigley, Marketing Manager at IPS Packaging and Automation, disagrees. In this episode of the MDM Podcast, Keigley shares how he built a brand presence for a 50-year-old packaging distributor and emphasizes the power of storytelling in connecting with customers and attracting talent.Takeaways:Authentic storytelling builds brand trust and attracts top talent.Brand storytelling is more urgent than ever, especially in the age of AI and digital marketing.Kevin Keigley will be presenting "The Power of Storytelling" at NAW's SHIFT Conference in Denver on May 13. Register here: https://www.naw.org/events/shift-2026/
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AI's Customer Service Impacts, and How to Evaluate Tech Partners
Apr 300:40:05Tap to summarizeIn this sponsored MDM Amplify podcast episode, Canals Co-Founder and CTO Erez Arnon joins to unpack what MDM’s latest AI research reveals about customer service as one of distribution’s highest-impact use cases. Just as importantly, Arnon shares practical guidance on how to vet AI vendors in a crowded, hype-filled market, including key red flags and must-have proof points.
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Tech Platform Strategy, AI Adoption and CRM that Actually Works
Feb 1600:51:03Tap to summarizeAI is reshaping distributor CRM — but only when backed by the right platform strategy. In this episode of MDM Amplify, LeadSmart Co-Founder CEO Kevin Brown breaks down smart AI adoption, data integration and how distributors can turn customer intelligence into measurable growth. We also touch on his 30 years of perspective in the industrial supply channel and share takeaways from NAW's 2026 Executive Summit.
Transcribe →Coordinated Autonomy: How Singer Industrial Scales While Staying Local
Feb 400:29:03Tap to summarizeAs platform acquisitions continue to reshape industrial distribution, Singer Industrial is taking a different path. In this episode of the MDM Podcast, President Pete Haberbosch explains the company’s “coordinated autonomy” model — a strategy designed to preserve local leadership, legacy brands and entrepreneurial culture while still capturing the benefits of scale. The conversation covers Singer’s M&A philosophy, leadership development, systems integration approach and what the company is seeing across its core industrial end markets as it looks toward 2026.
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Tariffs as a Structural Cost - Strategies for 2026 and Beyond
Jan 2200:44:25Tap to summarizeTariffs are no longer episodic shocks — they are structural operating costs for transportation and distribution companies. With margins tight and sourcing uncertainty set to last, the question now is how leaders manage them profitably. In this sponsored MDM Amplify podcast, three Grant Thornton leaders cover how T&D organizations are managing tariff exposure, protecting cash flow and building flexibility under sustained pressure.
Transcribe →From Grainger to Growth Platform: E&R Industrial Charts Its Independent Future
Jan 1400:31:37Tap to summarizeDivested from Grainger in late 2023, metalworking and industrial supplies distributor E&R Industrial is entering a new chapter marked by independence, modernization and rapid expansion. CEO Joe Stephens stops by to tell us about what the company’s next couple of years might look like, as well as his broader thoughts on relationship selling, what it means to be tech-enabled and the role of vending today.
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