Last week, I was reviewing some customer data when something hit me. We talk a lot about margins, pricing optimization, cost volatility—all the tactical stuff that keeps your business running.
You know how Netflix killed Blockbuster? It wasn't because they had better movies. Blockbuster had every movie you could want. Netflix won because they understood something Blockbuster missed: the real value wasn't in the DVDs on the shelf. It was in knowing what customers wanted to watch next.
I've been watching what's happening with the big players. Fastenal's got 20,000 vending machines collecting data on when manufacturing facilities need fasteners. Grainger's AI can predict what customers need before they know they need it. Watsco's connecting directly with homeowners through contractors, seeing the entire HVAC decision process.
These companies aren't just distributors anymore. They're intelligence platforms that happen to distribute products.
And you? You're already collecting the same type of data. Every quote you generate, every price adjustment you make, every customer interaction—it's all intelligence about market behavior that your competitors would kill for.
But here's what I keep seeing... Most distributors are using this data like it's 2005. Excel spreadsheets. Manual analysis. Gut feelings based on last quarter's numbers.
Let me give you an example from one of our customers. They thought they had a straightforward industrial supplies business. Then we started analyzing their transaction patterns.
Turns out, they weren't just selling industrial supplies. They were sitting on a real-time barometer of construction and MRO activity across three states. When certain contractors started ordering more weatherproof connectors, it meant outdoor projects were ramping up. When panel orders spiked in specific ZIP codes, it signaled new development before the permits were even public.
This wasn't just useful for inventory planning. It was market intelligence worth millions.
Your pricing decisions, your customer interactions, your inventory turns—they're all telling a story about market behavior. The question is: are you listening to what the story's saying?
Here's where it gets real. You can keep thinking of technology as an expense—something that helps you process orders faster or reduces manual work. That's the Blockbuster approach.
Or you can recognize that you're not really in the distribution business anymore. You're in the intelligence business. You just happen to deliver that intelligence with physical products.
The distributors who figure this out first are going to own their markets. The ones who don't... Well, we've seen how that story ends.
I was talking to a customer last month who said something that stuck with me:
"Nelson, I didn't realize we were collecting this much insight about our market. We were just focused on filling orders."
That's exactly the point. You're already collecting market intelligence. You're just not using it strategically.
Your transaction data shows demand patterns before they hit industry reports. Your pricing decisions reveal margin opportunities your competitors miss. Your customer interactions surface needs that haven't become market trends yet.
This month, we're highlighting how your current Intuilize platform is already capturing the intelligence I'm talking about. You might not realize it, but you're building your own Netflix-style recommendation engine every time you:
Schedule your Q4 2025 review to understand how we’ve been safeguarding and optimizing your business behind the scenes. We’ll provide a detailed walkthrough of your specific metrics and highlight new growth opportunities tailored to your goals.
Contact us at support@intuilize.com or (469) 844-5505 for any questions. Let’s uncover the full potential of your business together!
Thank you for your continued partnership with Intuilize. We're committed to delivering value that goes far beyond what meets the eye.
Best regards,
Nelson Valderrama
CEO, Intuilize
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