2025 Agenda
Applied AI For Distributors
Join distribution leaders June 24-26, 2025, to discover how AI is already creating market leaders and leaving others behind.
Agenda
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Optional Workshop
Pre-Show Strategy Session | Distribution 2030: AI-Driven Transformation
The first 75 conference registrants are invited to an exclusive pre-conference strategy session. Jonathan Bein, PhD, and Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group will outline how distributors can leverage AI to stay competitive and thrive through 2030.
Ian Heller, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer
Distribution Strategy Group
Jonathan Bein, PhD, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Distribution Strategy Group
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM
Welcome + Agenda Review
Conference hosts Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein preview the conference!
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Keynote – Designing an AI-Enabled Business
In today’s fast-paced business environment, leveraging generative AI isn’t just a trend—it’s a game changer. With potential productivity boosts of up to 200% and $14 trillion in new value on the horizon, businesses face a crucial decision: adapt or fall behind. Yet, many leaders are stuck navigating a sea of hype without clear, actionable guidance on integrating AI effectively.
Join Trent Gillespie in this engaging keynote, where he cuts through the noise to deliver practical steps for transforming your business into a powerhouse of AI-driven growth and innovation. Drawing on his vast experience—from spearheading global growth at Amazon to leading Stellis AI’s cutting-edge AI advisory work—Trent demystifies generative AI, offering a clear roadmap to build organizations that can harness its power. Attendees will be ready to turn AI potential into real, tangible success.
Trent Gillespie, CEO
Stellis AI
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Welcome Event Innovation Partners!
A brief introduction round for event sponsors where each sponsor is given 1 minute to introduce themselves, share their core offerings, and explain how they align with the event’s mission.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Official Exhibit Hall Opening and snack break
Connect with your peers and Sponsors in the Exhibit Hall for a networking break. Enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks as you mingle, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to make meaningful connections.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
A Series
Get ready to customize your conference experience with our dynamic lineup of concurrent sessions! With three sessions running simultaneously, each offered by leading tech innovators, you’ll have the chance to choose the topics that resonate most with you. The conference includes a total of 9 concurrent series available for you to chose from.
Track 1
Track 2
More information
6 Ways AI Is Being Utilized in E-Commerce to Make Money or Save Money
This session explores practical AI applications to help distributors make money or save money by using things like AI-powered product descriptions, recommendations, search, translations, meta tags, and more. Learn how AI and agents can transform your commerce workflows and boost your revenue.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover six practical AI applications in e-commerce that help distributors increase revenue and reduce operational costs.
- Learn how AI-powered tools—such as product descriptions, search, recommendations, and translations—can optimize commerce workflows.
- Understand how AI agents can enhance customer experience and drive efficiency across your e-commerce platform.
Track 3
More information
Revolutionizing ERP: How AI and Automation Are Transforming Business Operations
In this session, we will explore how AI and automation are reshaping traditional ERP business processes, enabling organizations to streamline operations, reduce manual workloads, and enhance decision-making. Through real-world examples, we’ll demonstrate how AI-driven technologies and intelligent agents are being applied to optimize core functions, driving efficiency and preparing businesses for the future of intelligent automation. Discover how integrating AI into ERP systems can elevate performance, improve customer experiences, and deliver measurable results across the enterprise.
Key Topics:
- AI-Powered Document Processing: Automating accounts payable with intelligent document recognition (OCR).
- Computer Vision for Asset Verification: Using image recognition to enhance accuracy in asset identification.
- AI Agents for Customer Service: Improving support response times and satisfaction through automation.
- Machine Learning for Delivery Optimization: Applying predictive analytics to increase delivery efficiency.
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Passing Break
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
B Series
Details Coming Soon!
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4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Passing Break
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
C Series
Details Coming Soon!
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5:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Kick off the conference in style at the Applied AI 2025, Welcome Reception! Join us for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration as you mingle with fellow attendees in the Exhibit Hall.
Enjoy a delectable selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres and a variety of drinks while you network and set the stage for an unforgettable event. Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to make new connections and reconnect with colleagues!
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
All Attendee Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Welcome + What We Learned
Join Ian and Jonathan to kick off day 2! Hear about yesterday’s highlights and what day 2 has in store.
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
Keynote – AI in Action: Delivering Real Value for Distributors
AI has moved from hype to a strategic priority, but many early adopters struggle to realize its full potential. How can distributors implement AI today in ways that drive real business value? This session will explore Sonepar USA’s approach to AI adoption, covering the foundational elements of success—data, governance, and culture—as well as practical applications that are making an impact. Learn how to identify high-value AI opportunities, foster innovation through citizen development, and prepare for what’s next in AI-driven distribution.
Learning objectives:
- Understand how distributors can pinpoint and prioritize AI applications that drive real business value.
- Learn the key elements for successful AI adoption, including data management, governance, and cultural readiness.
- Explore strategies to empower employees in AI-driven innovation and prepare for the future of AI in distribution.
Don Sarno, Senior Vice President, Digital Enterprise Americas, Sonepar
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
Panel Discussion: Combining Human and Artificial Intelligence to build the next Competitive Edge
Award-winning technology and finance executive Janet Zelenka will lead a fascinating discussion with a group of technology and HR leaders about how to combine the best of AI and human intelligence to create an intelligent, adaptive, and future-ready organization. Leveraging the unprecedented capabilities of artificial intelligence with the innate intuition, empathy and insights only humans possess can help leaders build capabilities that can enable superior value propositions and empower better organization cultures. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion that will explore the new boundaries of organizational design and effectiveness.
Janet Zelenka, Board Member, Former CFO/CIO
Stericycle and Essendant
Paul Kennedy, President & Chief Executive Officer
DSG Supply
Deana Stanton, Vice President of Global Compensation
Kyndryl
Tracy Deull, CIO/VP of IT
Bostwick Braun
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Beverage Break
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
D Series
Details Coming Soon!
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10:45 AM- 11:00 AM
Passing Break
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
E Series
Track 1
Track 2
More information
AI-Powered Automation for Distributors
What and Why: Distributors are burdened by slow, error-prone order entry and quoting processes, leading to wasted time, increased overhead, and lost revenue. AI agents are a new paradigm shift in automation, eliminating manual data entry, reducing errors, and freeing up personnel to focus on what they were hired to do.
Key Points to Cover:
- Order processing has evolved from phone and email to AI agents, enabling automation and efficiency.
- Manual order entry is slow, error-prone, and labor-intensive.
- AI agents streamline distribution by automating orders, reducing costs, and delivering strong ROI.
Track 3
More information
A New Era: AI Workflows Revolutionizing Wholesale Distribution
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept in wholesale distribution—it is actively transforming critical workflows today. This session delves into the significant shift from traditional software solutions to AI/ML-driven approaches, highlighting how this evolution is revolutionizing key processes such as sales and accounting. Tools specifically designed for distributors, like Canals AI, are reshaping the landscape by automating time-consuming tasks like sales order entry, where recalling part numbers and entering orders line-by-line are now seamlessly handled by AI. These solutions preserve vital institutional knowledge through machine learning, delivering it to sales teams precisely when needed, freeing up human capacity for strategic problem-solving and value-added activities. The result? Increased efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
11:30 AM- 11:45 AM
Passing Break
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
F Series
Track 1
More information
Stop Reacting, Start Selling: How to Turn Your Team into Proactive Sellers with AI
What if your sales reps could stop reacting to orders and start proactively driving revenue? In this session, you’ll see how distributors are already using AI to help their teams identify opportunities, focus on high-impact activities, and confidently grow sales.
Benj will share real-world examples of how distributors are using AI to empower their teams and grow their businesses. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how AI can help your team sell smarter, increase revenue, and change the way you approach sales.
You’ll learn how to:
- Spot and act on sales opportunities before customers even have to ask
- Use AI to show your reps where to focus for the biggest impact—without wasting time on low-value tasks
Double down on what’s working and steer clear of what’s not
Track 2
Track 3
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
All Attendee Lunch
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Keynote – Details Coming Soon!
Details Coming Soon!
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Passing Break
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
G Series
Details Coming Soon!
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3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Beverage Break
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
H Series
Details Coming Soon!
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3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Passing Break
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
I Series
Details Coming Soon!
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4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Break
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Keynote – Scaling Responsible AI: From Enthusiasm to Execution
Renowned AI strategist Noelle Russell brings visionary insights to this session, exploring how industries are transforming through generative and applied AI technologies. Drawing from her book Scaling Responsible AI: From Enthusiasm to Execution, she shares real-life case studies and practical frameworks to harness AI’s potential ethically and profitably. Russell highlights over a dozen applied AI models that drive growth and innovation while addressing challenges like bias, privacy, and cybersecurity. This session offers organizations the tools to build an ethical AI culture, mitigate risks, and unlock true AI value, making it the ideal starting point for responsible innovation.
Noelle Russell, Founder and Chief AI Officer
AI Leadership Institute
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception and networking
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
All Attendee Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Welcome + What We Learned
Wrap up the event with Ian and Jonathan! Revisit all the note-worthy events from the 2 previous days and review what today has in store.
8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
Tech Leader Panel | AI in Action: Real-World Applications Driving Distribution Success
Join distribution technology leaders who are moving beyond AI theory to implementation. This executive panel showcases practical AI applications delivering measurable results today in wholesale distribution.
Our experts will share candid insights on:
- Revenue-generating AI implementations in sales and customer experience
- Inventory and supply chain optimization through predictive analytics
- Integration strategies that work with existing distribution tech stacks
- Realistic ROI measurements and implementation timeframes
Whether you’re exploring AI possibilities or enhancing existing initiatives, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to improve operational efficiency and gain competitive advantage in your distribution business.
Kristen Thom
SVP of Customer Experience, White Cup
8:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Speed Networking
Maximize your conference experience with this fast-paced and fun speed networking session! This interactive event gives you the opportunity to make meaningful connections with solution partners. In a series of quick, one-on-one conversations, you’ll have the chance to exchange ideas, discuss industry trends, and explore potential collaborations.
10:45 AM 11:00 AM
Beverage Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Keynote
Details Coming Soon!