The wholesale distribution and manufacturing (WD&M) landscape is entering a new era. B2B customers increasingly expect a commerce-like experience. Self-service and flexible, omni-channel fulfillment are the new gold standards. Erosion of regional restrictions means whoever has the product on hand gets the deal, and e-commerce distributors and marketplaces are muscling in. Margins are under unprecedented pressure.
The industry arena is more demanding and fast-paced than ever. WD&M faces an existential moment where the usual workarounds to legacy challenges are no longer viable in the face of cascading and unprecedented threats.