Proton.ai has launched the first industry cloud platform purpose-built for distribution, offering a unified suite of AI-powered products that replaces the patchwork of disconnected tools most distributors rely on today.

Elite technicians demonstrate the advanced skills required beyond basic repair to succeed in the future of the trade.

The partnership aims to elevate contact center performance, unlock advanced data capabilities and enhance customer experience to drive profitability.

Wholesale distributors in the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping (PHCP) industry operate in one of the most complex order fulfillment operations in the modern supply chain. 

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 95% of generative artificial intelligence (AI) pilots at companies fail to deliver revenue impact (https://yhoo.it/4nHjebz). 

In a market where labor remains scarce despite rising demand, Travis Voss argues that the most successful contractors in 2026 will be those who replace "downstream firefighting" with model-driven workflows, prefabrication, and AI-enhanced data analytics.

After three years of analyzing and forecasting AI's potential, this year’s Applied AI for Distributors is laser-focused on practical implementation. Distribution leaders have moved past the “what ifs” — now they need to know how to get things done.

The partnership will support HARDI member companies as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent across the tools, platforms, and processes shaping wholesale distribution.

There’s a tax being levied on your business right now. It doesn’t appear on any financial statement. Your accountant can’t quantify it. But it’s compounding daily, and the rate just increased.

As data centers grow in scale and complexity, PHCP-PVF wholesalers and manufacturers are evolving to meet the intense demands for high-volume chilled water systems, rigorous material traceability, and precision logistics.