AI4ID Consortium

Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Distribution

The AI4ID Consortium brings together industry partners, faculty, and graduate researchers at the Texas A&M Read Center to explore practical AI applications in the distribution industry. We help companies understand AI, identify high value use cases, and test prototype solutions that support real business needs.

Learn About Our Work Join the Consortium

AI4ID Partner Summit

May 21st, 2026 – Texas A&M University

This exclusive summit brings together our industry partners and researchers to review current prototype progress, share insights from recent AI use cases, and define the consortium’s roadmap for the coming year.

The summit will feature keynote discussions, interactive group exercises, prototype demonstrations, and executive networking opportunities centered on real-world business challenges. Attendees will gain insight into emerging AI capabilities, implementation strategies, operational risks, and how organizations can successfully integrate AI into their long-term business strategy.

Industry Voices & AI Pioneers

Robert Gaspard

Sales Enablement Manager

SRS Distribution

Karthic Madanagopal

Senior AI Scientist

Thomson Reuters

Program Overview

08:00 – 08:30 AM

Networking Breakfast

08:30 – 08:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

08:45 – 09:00 AM

From the CEO’s Chair: One Leader’s AI Journey in Distribution

09:00 – 09:40 AM

Group Exercise: Build vs. Buy AI – Making the Right Call

09:40 – 10:00 AM

Group Exercise Insights

10:00 – 10:20 AM

Executive Networking Break

10:20 – 11:00 AM

Delivering AI: Prototypes Built for Your Business

11:00 – 12:00 PM

AI: Predictive Insights That Drive More Revenue and Operational Efficiency
Robert Gaspard, SRS Distribution Inc.

12:00 – 01:00 PM

Lunch – University Club

01:00 – 01:20 PM

AI in Action: Build vs. Buy from the Data Team

01:20 – 02:30 PM

When AI Gets It Wrong: Risks, Hallucinations & What to Do About It
Karthic Madanagopal ‘09 ‘14 ‘23, Thomson Reuters

02:30 – 02:50 PM

Make the Connection: Networking & Conversations

02:50 – 03:00 PM

Final Remarks & Thank You

What is AI4ID

AI4ID stands for Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Distribution. It is a research consortium led by the Texas A&M Read Center that works with distribution companies to understand how AI can improve their operations.

The consortium focuses on turning AI from a buzzword into something concrete and useful. We help our members explore real use cases in areas such as logistics, pricing, inventory management, document processing, and customer service.

Why AI for Distribution

Distributors work with large amounts of data, complex product catalogs, and fast moving customer expectations. Many processes still depend on spreadsheets, manual data entry, and individual experience. AI can help distributors:

Automate repetitive tasks

Improve forecasting and decision making

Enchance customer experience and personalization

Support employees with better tools instead of replacing them

What We Work On

AI Literacy and Training

We design and deliver AI literacy sessions for executives, managers, and technical teams. The goal is to build a shared language and realistic expectations about what AI can and cannot do.

Use Case Identification

We work with each member company to map their processes, pain points, and data assets. Together we identify high value AI opportunities that fit their current systems and resources.

Prototype Development

We build small, focused AI prototypes that show how AI can support real distribution workflows, from logistics planning to finance and document processing.