Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape labor markets in ways that will directly affect wholesale distributors. From automation in warehousing and logistics to AI-assisted roles in sales, customer service, and procurement, the workforce implications are real and accelerating. Understanding what is changing, and at what pace, is essential for distribution leaders making decisions about hiring, operations, and long-term workforce strategy.

This session features a friendly debate between two leading voices in distribution economics. Ian Heller, Chief Strategy Officer with Distribution Strategy Group, and Alex Chausovsky, President of 3DM Consulting, will bring opposing perspectives to the question of how significantly AI is reshaping labor markets, and what it means for distributors right now. You'll leave with a clearer picture of where the evidence points, where genuine uncertainty remains, and what steps distributors can take to prepare.

Key Takeaways

• Current labor market conditions and the emerging influence of AI on employment patterns
• Which distribution roles and functions face the greatest near-term disruption
• How AI adoption is affecting wage dynamics, productivity expectations, and workforce planning
• Strategies for reskilling and repositioning your workforce ahead of structural shifts

What You'll Learn

• How AI is affecting labor market conditions broadly, and what the data shows about employment trends in distribution-adjacent sectors.
• Which roles and functions within distribution are most exposed to automation and AI-assisted workflows in the near term.
• How AI adoption is influencing wage dynamics, productivity expectations, and the overall cost structure of distribution operations.
• Practical approaches to workforce planning, reskilling, and organizational design that account for an AI-influenced labor environment.

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About our speakers:

Ian Heller

Chief Strategy Officer

Ian Heller joined Grainger as a part-time truck unloader in college and left fifteen years later as the VP Marketing. Since then, he's held senior executive positions at four other publicly-held firms, consulted with dozens of distributors, and continues to write and speak extensively on how AI, strategy, channel evolution, and other major trends affect the industry. Ian holds a B.A. in History from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

Alex Chausovsky

President, 3DM Consulting