Skip to content
DSG-Logo-Email-Header
DSG-Report-The-2025-State-of-AI-in-Distribution-Cover

The 2025 State of AI
in Distribution 

By Jonathan Bein, Ph.D.

In this report, we share the results of our State of AI in Distribution research, which looked at where distributors are on their AI journeys and their plans for the next three to five years.
 
We found that:
  • Distributors overwhelmingly see AI as important. It’s no longer theoretical – it’s actively being deployed.
  • Usage is rapidly increasing, especially in marketing and website applications.
  • Efficiency is currently a key driver of AI investment for distributors.
  • Distributors are reaping the greatest efficiencies from automation in fulfillment, warehouse operations, the order-to-cash cycle and sales processes.
  • Generative AI (GenAI) is already embedded in the daily work of nearly three-quarters of distributors’ teams.
  • AI will reshape the workforce in the wholesale distribution industry, reducing headcount by as much as a third or more over the next five years as staff move from repetitive tasks to higher-value roles.

When you submit your data, your information will be shared with the sponsors of our program. We will also send you communications from Distribution Strategy Group, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. Our privacy policy can be found at distributionstrategy.com/privacy-policy.

Authors
Jonathan-Bein

Jonathan Bein, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Distribution Strategy Group

Thank you to our sponsors:

Infor_R-Logo_RGB_300px_101320
Endeavor Logo

About the authors:

Jonathan-Bein

Jonathan Bein, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Distribution Strategy Group

Jonathan Bein, Ph.D. has worked with over 100 distributors to apply advanced analytics and AI to improve customer experience, define value proposition, estimate sales potential and create digital strategy. Before Distribution Strategy Group, Bein successfully led and was part of executive management for software product and services companies in information technology, healthcare and communications. Bein earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Colorado with a focus in Artificial Intelligence and a BA in Computer Science at Indiana University.