In our previous installment, we reviewed the salesforce analysis completed by CEO Gordie McGrath on Sioux Falls’ outside sales effort.

In our last installment, we reviewed the Change Management Process for Digitization of the distribution firm. We now apply the process to Sioux Falls Supply for their use in changing the firm to take advantage of their online technology.

In our first installment, we reviewed the “ugly” numbers of distributors as online commerce grows; only 2 in 10 distributors show sustainable online progress.

As e-commerce and digitization of PHCP channels increases, the need for yesteryear’s complement of sellers and branches is lessened.

As technology makes search and ordering easier, the salesforce will be driven to deliver new and different value streams. While new sales models require different management and technology supports, they will, in many areas, supplant generalist sales efforts.

In our previous installment, we discussed the types of selling that will become prominent as digital commerce grows in distribution.

As online New Age competitors grow, we believe many firms will undergo a rationalization of sales and location services as price falls.

In the previous parts of this series, we’ve reviewed competitive changes wrought by e-commerce outside of traditional distribution.

In the first article in this series, we discussed New Age competitors and the Commodity Skirmish Line as wholesalers move online.

The interest in e-commerce as a means of organic growth is prescient. Wholesalers are waking up to find that outside entities, including new models of distribution and manufacturer direct shipments, are taking share.