Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution - Episode #189

What Happens When AI, Supply Chains, and Economic Uncertainty Collide in Wholesale Distribution? As interest rates remain under scrutiny, supply chains face new disruptions, and artificial intelligence continues to reshape business operations, wholesale distribution leaders are being forced to make smarter decisions with less room for error. In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton welcome Will Quinn, warehouse leadership expert, supply chain educator, and author of Modern Warehouse Management: Steel-Toed Leadership That Drives Performance. Together, they explore the current economic landscape, tariff uncertainty, warehouse strategy, AI adoption in distribution, and the growing importance of supply chain visibility in an increasingly complex global market. What You'll Learn: Why the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate decision has major implications for manufacturers, distributors, and supply chain planning How tariffs, import uncertainty, and global trade disruptions are influencing inventory strategies and purchasing behavior What warehouse leaders can learn from military logistics, operational discipline, and real-world distribution management Why AI-enabled supply chain management is becoming one of the fastest-growing skill sets in distribution How organizations can improve inventory visibility, forecasting, and operational decision making without chasing every new technology trend Why successful AI adoption starts with solving business problems first rather than purchasing shiny new tools How CRM-ERP integration, unified data systems, and intelligent business platforms support long-term growth and resilience Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution and introduction to warehouse leadership expert Will Quinn 07:10 – The Federal Reserve holds rates steady: what distributors and manufacturers should watch next 15:45 – Retail spending, inflation pressures, and what economic signals mean for wholesale distribution teams 22:30 – Tariff refunds, import activity, and why companies are accelerating inventory purchases 31:50 – Why supply chain resilience remains one of the most important business capabilities in modern distribution 38:40 – Lessons from Modern Warehouse Management and the role of steel-toed leadership in warehouse performance 48:15 – AI in supply chain operations: where organizations are seeing real value today 58:20 – Why AI-skilled supply chain professionals are becoming one of the most in-demand roles in distribution 1:06:40 – Understanding AI models, governance, security, and vendor due diligence 1:17:30 – Practical guidance for distribution leaders building an AI strategy that actually delivers results Meet the Guest: Will Quinn is a supply chain executive, warehouse leadership expert, educator, and author of Modern Warehouse Management: Steel-Toed Leadership That Drives Performance. With decades of experience across leading distribution organizations, Will specializes in warehouse operations, supply chain strategy, workforce development, and operational excellence. Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned: Modern Warehouse Management Framework Steel-Toed Leadership Supply Chain Visibility Strategies Inventory Visibility Tools Collaborative Planning & Forecasting (CPFR) AI-Powered Supply Chain Analytics CRM-ERP Integration Smart CRM Strategy Enterprise Growth Platform Digital Readiness for Succession Future-Proofing Distribution AI Governance and Vendor Due Diligence Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Why This Episode Matters: The future of wholesale distribution will be shaped by organizations that can connect people, processes, data, and technology into a single operating strategy. From AI-powered decision support and inventory visibility tools to supply chain resilience and leadership development, the winners will be those who combine operational excellence with digital readiness. “Don't start with the technology and look for a problem. Start with the problem and find the right solution.” — Will Quinn Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/ Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live:   / leadsmart-technologies   Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter:   / around-the-horn-newsletter-718408580727455...   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:    / @leadsmarttechnologies   Follow us on Facebook:   / leadsmarttech   Twitter:   / leadsmarttech   Instagram:   / leadsmartceo   TikTok:   / leadsmartchannelcloud