It has become increasingly clear that digital tools address many of the challenges at hand, but distributors need a transparent and targeted strategy — one that defines goals and provides a means to address the critical issues holding them back from scaling.
For 76 years, Industrial Distribution has polled its readership annually for its “Survey of Distributor Operations” report, asking respondents to share everything from their primary concerns to their growth, development and investment goals.
Drawing on the 2026 survey results and insights from Jeremy Centner, senior director at Sikich, this whitepaper offers a snapshot of the business environment for distributors amid economic and geopolitical disruption. It explores how distributors can align technology investments with their goals to scale growth, strengthen supply chain resilience, meet rising customer expectations and offset labor shortages.
