The mission of NAED’s Strategic Technology Task Force is to:
- Provide a roadmap for the industry to respond to technology innovations;
- Offer recommended solutions to common technology issues;
- Educate the industry on how to use technology as a competitive weapon to cement the viability of the channel into the future; and…
- Develop a mechanism to evaluate and measure the ongoing level of technology usage as a channel.
The Task Force’s efforts will benefit the electrical industry by:
- Identifying best-in-class performance to be equaled or exceeded;
- Developing tools for customers to conduct business electronically with electrical distributors from mobile devices, etc.;
- Building an awareness of issues so we are more technically competent and the preferred channel for both customers and manufacturers; and…
- Allowing individual distributors to leverage their unique competitive advantages.
Task Force Deliverables
- Strategic Technology Benchmarking Survey
The study benchmarks Technology Priorities, Challenges, and Opportunities; Website Functionality; E-Commerce Capabilities; and the Adoption of Mobile Devices/Technology by the electrical industry. It also includes Back Office Technology Implementation.
- Customer Survey Template
Assists distributors in understanding how individual customers use (or want to use) technology to make their business relationship more effective.
- Executive Guide #1: Strategically Managing Your Company's Online Presence
Designed to assist distributor executives in understanding the key, strategic questions to ask in order to create an online presence that reinforces their companies' strategic priorities.
- Expanded IT metrics for PAR Report (Coming Soon)
- Recommended Industry Vocabulary, Recommended Applications (Apps), Functionality, etc. (Coming Soon)
Video Resources
Technology Panel Discussions
NAED 2011 Eastern Region Technology Panel Video Highlights
This Technology Panel was comprised of electrical contractors and distributors discussing their expectations and requirements for doing business together electronically, as well as how technology can be used to deliver more value. Hear how end-customers want to conduct business in today’s changing environment and learn the value of viewing technology as a strategic investment.
Panel Moderator: Bethany Sullivan
Panelists: Andrew Esce, City Electric Company; Michael Vandergriff, Control Solutions; Greg Wooten, Jr., Merit Electric Company; Justin Emanuel, WESCO Distribution
NAED 2011 National Meeting Social Media Panel Video Highlights
Presented during the Manufacturer's Council, this panel discusses how social media has revolutionized the way that news is delivered to the electrical distribution industry, how it can be used to listen and serve their customers, how the panelists are using it to market their businesses and the best way to implement a social media strategy.
Panel Moderator: Jeff Greene of Technology Curve
Panelists include: David Keller, Leviton; Carrie Johnson, Graybar; Troit Freeland, IDEAL Industries
Insights from Technology Task Force Members
Technology & Electrical Distribution: David Rosenstein , president of ConneXion , discusses how his company is using technology and how other electrical distributors can move their companies forward:
What You Can Do
We want to hear from you! Submit your comments, ideas, and questions to NAED’s Member Services department: 1-888-791-2512 or memberservices@naed.org .
Connect with the tED Magazine Think Tank Group on Linkedin to get involved in the ongoing Technology
discussion.
Follow the TedTechRoom blog that is designed to keep distributors
abreast of today's logistic, warehouse, pricing
and inventory
technologies.