Distributors with thousands of SKUs in their catalogs consistently face the daunting task of accurately setting prices for the products they sell to ensure they are appealing to customers while meeting the business’s financial goals for each item. Despite the significant amounts of data they generate through the buying and selling of products and services, many distributors continue to rely merely on their intuition or collective wisdom when making pricing decisions. Modern AI-powered price optimization tools can help distributors apply data-driven pricing strategies across their entire catalog and significantly increase gross margins. However, the distributor first has to pick a pricing model and move away from legacy models. Below is a quick look at three pricing models available to distributors: the cost-plus model, the price-on-demand model, and the competitive model.

AI is no longer a buzzword in our space—it has become a competitive necessity in wholesale distribution. Strategies and tactics for adopting AI were discussed by experts and peers at the 2025 Evergreen Partnership Conference in March. Intuilize Founder/CEO Nelson Valderrama and The Distribution Team's Principal Jason Bader contributed to the discussions at the event, leading an insightful AI Workshop that outlined clear strategies and proven tactics to help distributors maximize efficiency, enhance decision-making, and uncover significant new opportunities for growth.

This month, Intuilize has been honored to collaborate on a 5 Minutes with ID video for Industrial Distribution (ID) magazine. Without a doubt, in the ever-evolving world of industrial distribution, technology has revolutionized the way distributors manage their operations. For over a century, Industrial Distribution has been at the forefront.

For years, distribution leadership has been a blend of industry experience, market intuition, and quick decision-making under pressure. The best executives trusted their gut—until AI came along. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings once said that while the company heavily invests in data analytics, the ultimate decisions come down to Smart Intuition. While AI analyzes our viewing history to personalize recommendations and keep us glued to our screens, the final call on content strategy is always an informed gut decision. Distributors are facing the same reality—constantly trying to predict how to convert a quote into an order by playing with millions of product, price, and quantity combinations. Are we using Smart Intuition in distribution?

An aging workforce can be considered an important challenge, but it also presents enormous opportunity for distributors.

The HARDI Annual Conference 2024 in Atlanta was nothing short of a powerhouse event, a reflection of the HVACR industry’s resilience and growth. With record-breaking attendance and a bustling Atlanta venue, it was clear that HARDI’s influence has strengthened, drawing distributors, manufacturers, and thought leaders together in unprecedented numbers. As Phil Samuels of Intuilize observed, “This association has grown tremendously—it’s almost outgrown the venue itself. The energy and optimism among attendees were palpable.”

Profitability in distribution isn’t just about selling more—it’s about pricing smarter. Yet, many distributors unknowingly let revenue slip through the cracks due to outdated or manual cost update processes. When standard costs aren’t consistently refreshed, the impact on margins can be significant.

In today’s fiercely competitive market, distributors need cutting-edge solutions to enhance efficiency and maximize profits. Enter AI and machine learning—powerful tools that can revolutionize how you manage inventory and optimize pricing. Here’s how AI-driven inventory optimization can transform your business.

Tariffs rattle the supply chain and distribution economy, testing a company’s resilience and agility. But they need not be a death blow. Future-built distributors can survive and thrive in a tariff-burdened economy by leveraging AI technologies to optimize pricing.