| February 15, 2013 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Cardinal Health to buy medical supplier
Cardinal Health will spend $2.07 billion to purchase AssuraMed in a deal expected to close by early April. "This is a platform opportunity for Cardinal Health products and services which will be increasingly important as the delivery of care migrates to more cost-effective settings," said Chairman and CEO George Barrett. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires
(2/14)     
| Operations and Technology | | |
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- How to evaluate a strategic investment
You should evaluate potential investments differently depending on whether they represent incremental changes or strategic adjustments, writes Jonathan Byrnes. Strategic investments "require a very different assessment process -- one that goes beyond traditional cost/benefit analysis to reflect the strategic relevance, the prospective cost of capital, and the payback period," he writes. Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink blog
(2/10)
- How to pick the right 3PL
When choosing a third-party logistics provider, there are four areas to help evaluate whether your business and the 3PL will have a productive relationship, writes Adrian Gonzalez. In particular, look for 3PLs that have modern IT systems and talented employees and that can provide insights about your business. Logistics Viewpoints blog
(2/13)
- Report cites 13% savings for IT in 2012 from cloud adoption
User demand for cloud services is driving adoption in the enterprise, and cloud systems delivered 13% savings for IT budgets last year, CDW's 2013 State of the Cloud Report says. "Organizations' adoption of cloud computing has steadily increased, which comes as no surprise given the growth of mobility and the consumerization of IT," CDW's Stephen Braat said in a statement. eWeek
(2/12)
| Sales and Marketing | | |
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- How sales managers can get effective feedback
Sales managers should regularly offer coaching and feedback to their sales teams, and sales representatives should provide feedback to their managers as well, writes Richard Ruff. Managers should let salespeople know that feedback is welcome and use the input to help them improve their leadership, Ruff writes. SalesTrainingConnection.com
(2/11)
| The Business Leader | | |
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- 5 keys to building a front-line-focused organization
Senior leaders who are committed to a front-line-focused organization must establish a vision that puts customers first, respect and encourage insight from front-line employees, and "obsess over talent," among other steps, write Noel M. Tichy and Chris DeRose in this book excerpt. Executives "must imagine what the ideal customer interaction will look like and ask where breakdowns may occur throughout the process, from generating customer awareness to building post-sale relationships," they write. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(2/12)
- Leadership is about bringing dreams together
Good leadership is about hiring the right people, then mentoring them "in a way that marries their accomplishing their dreams with our company accomplishing its dreams," says Lawrence F. Flick IV, chairman and CEO of Prudential Fox & Roach and The Trident Group. To accomplish that, leaders must learn to "connect the dots and create a vision," Flick says. PassionOnPurposeBlog.com
(2/11)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Optimizing Distributor Profitability -- 47 best practices from 84 real distributors
Optimizing Distributor Profitability: Best Practices to a Stronger Bottom Line features 47 best practices and 50 action steps, and every one was developed from actual experiences with 84 real wholesale distribution firms. This groundbreaking research study is not academic model or theory. It is a powerful weapon for you to use to enhance your shareholder value. Don't wait; order it today.
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Why is everyone talking about the "cloud"?
Cloud computing is achieving substantial traction among our industry due to the advantages of the operational and financial benefits that come with migrating to the "cloud" (quicker time to market, elimination of capital expenses, etc.). To discuss how the cloud could have a positive impact on your company, schedule an appointment with an expert in this field.
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