Optimizing Manufacturer Market Access Strategies
The Thomas and Joan Read Center will conduct its next Research Consortium on Manufacturer Channel Strategies. Following the very successful Optimizing Business Analytics consortium, this initiative will conduct research and develop practical methodologies and tools that can be used by the consortium members to develop sound value propositions for their channel, distributors and customers. A five-day education-strategy channel planning session will be developed based on the resulting knowledge, methodology and tools to share with the consortia members.
Talent Development Council
The Industrial Distribution Program at Texas A&M University will form the Talent Development Council to identify and advance talent best practices, practical methods, and applied tools for Distributors to implement. The Talent Development Council will act as a best practice sharing, learning and networking forum for distributors from various channels. Each year, the Council will focus on one talent area. For 2019, the focus area will be Talent Acquisition.
Digitizing the Sales Process
A team consisting of professional researchers from Texas A&M’s Global Supply Chain Laboratory and Talent Incubator Program led by Dr. F. Barry Lawrence and Dr. Esther Rodriguez Silva will analyze growth opportunities with consortium members to determine how to optimize the sales process through the use of digital tools. Best practices in this area will be included in the analysis.