The MDM Podcast

Hosted by Modern Distribution Management

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Episodes

112

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 5, 202620 min

Inside Supply Technologies' $50M Investment in the Future

Engineered assembly components distributor Supply Technologies, a subsidiary of ParkOhio, is making the largest investment in its history. What does it take to launch a implement a new ERP system and open a $20 million distribution center at the same time? Supply Technologies President Brian Norris — who became president in 2021 after a long career at Grainger — joins MDM Senior Editor Vesna Brajkovic to explain how the company is tackling both while preparing for the future of industrial distribution.

June 2, 2026Episode 1231 min

How Epicor Sees AI Moving ERP Toward Business Outcomes

Epicor CMO and SVP of Product Kerrie Jordan joins the MDM Amplify Podcast to discuss ERP’s shift from a system of record to a system of outcomes, the company’s latest agentic AI announcements and what distributors should prioritize as business software enters its next chapter.

May 11, 202625 min

Field Sales Is Far From Dead - It's Evolving

Map 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.

May 4, 202622 min

Tom McFadyen on How AI is Reshaping B2B Commerce

AI 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.

April 29, 202633 min

From Static to Dynamic: The Evolution of Pricing Science in Distribution

Pricing 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.

April 23, 202618 min

Build the Back-End First — Why Strategy Beats Tech Any Day

Max 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.

April 9, 202614 min

The Power of Storytelling: Why Every Distributor Has a Story Worth Telling

Many 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/

April 3, 202640 min

AI's Customer Service Impacts, and How to Evaluate Tech Partners

In 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.

February 16, 202651 min

Tech Platform Strategy, AI Adoption and CRM that Actually Works

AI 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.

February 4, 2026Episode 229 min

Coordinated Autonomy: How Singer Industrial Scales While Staying Local

As 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.