The NAED Digital Center of Excellence (DCoE) is focused on driving industry transformation through digital innovation.
Its mission is to provide education and develop solutions using cutting-edge technologies to optimize operational efficiency and improve customer experiences.
Learn more about how the Next Level Now donor community is powering the DCoE.
12-18-2024
Next Level Now Donor Update — Call Recap from Scott Wagner
Below is a brief recap of the key points covered in the 12/18/24 Next Level Now donor meeting from Scott Wagner:
- • Update on donations, and welcome Wesco to the Next Level Now community!
- • New Members of the NAED DCoE Team:
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• Banu Ozkaya-Akbay – NAED Director of Digital Transformation
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• Jessica Avery – NAED Foundation Project Manager
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• The big news for this quarterly update is the Bessemer Alliance (BA) “Where’s my stuff?” Blueprint kickoff on 12/4
• Kickoff meeting attendees, if you haven’t yet identified your scheduling coordinator (12/10 email) please do so as soon as possible – jeremy@bessemeralliance.com
• If you need the 12/10 email sent again please let me know.
• We reiterated our commitment to being at the forefront of industry transformation through digital innovation, aiming to optimize supply chain processes and enhance customer experiences for NAED members. We provided an overview of the DCoE Project Focus Areas:
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Sales Production Line
• Operations, Logistics, and Warehousing
• Back-office Functions
• Timeline:
• Q1 2025: Work continues on “Where’s my stuff?” Blueprint, Applied AI Whitepaper, launch DCoE website.
• Q2 2025: Complete “Where’s my stuff?” Blueprint, decisions on solution, Applied AI topic #2, Warehouse Practices & Technology topic #1.
12-10-2024
Executive Summary: Digital Transformation in Warehouse Operations Webinar
The webinar hosted by the Eclipse User Group brought together industry experts to explore the transformative power of digital technology in warehouse operations. Scott Wagner - Director of Industry Transformation at NAED, Perry Hoover - Senior Director of PMO at Rise Now, and moderator David Mascitto –Senior Manager Project Marketing at Tecsys shared their insights on how leveraging advanced technologies can revolutionize supply chain processes and address the increasing demands of today’s marketplace.
The discussion began with defining digital transformation, which was described as the integration of technologies such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), IoT, AI, and robotics to optimize processes. These tools are critical in enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and visibility, particularly as businesses strive to meet rising customer expectations and adapt to market disruptions. The panelists emphasized that the core of digital transformation lies in its ability to make operations adaptable and competitive.
Addressing the challenges warehouses face, Perry Hoover highlighted the frequent issues caused by inaccurate inventory data and inefficient manual processes. Without real-time tracking, businesses risk inventory loss, backorders, and missed fulfillment promises, all of which erode customer satisfaction and profitability. The panel discussed how digital systems, such as automated barcode readers and AI-driven tools, can alleviate these problems by improving inventory accuracy and streamlining operations.
One of the key topics was how supply chain leaders can justify the return on investment (ROI) for transformation projects to stakeholders. Scott Wagner emphasized the importance of tying technological investments to improved customer performance, sales support, and operational dependability. He also noted that eliminating hidden costs, such as rework, errors, and other inefficiencies, often reveal the true value of digital solutions. By reducing dependency on manual decisions and enhancing repeatability, businesses can achieve not only cost savings but also long-term reliability and growth.
The panelists explored the ingredients for a successful digital transformation. They stressed the need for thorough planning and collaboration, involving both management and frontline workers to identify pain points and future requirements. Perry highlighted the importance of documenting current processes ("as-is") and defining clear goals ("to-be") to guide implementation. The choice of technology was another critical factor, with scalability, user-experience, and strong vendor support being essential considerations.
Looking ahead, the panelists shared their vision for the future of warehouse operations. AI and machine learning are expected to play a central role in predictive analytics and process optimization, while cloud-based WMS solutions are gaining popularity for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Robotics and low-code customization tools are also emerging as key trends, enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks and driving continuous improvements in efficiency and accuracy.
The session concluded with a reminder that digital transformation is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey. Businesses must commit to continuous improvement and optimization, even after systems are implemented. By aligning technology investments with strategic goals and involving employees in the process, companies can build a culture of innovation and adaptability.
12-6-2024
The "Where’s My Stuff?" project kickoff workshop, held on December 4, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt DFW Airport, marked a significant milestone for NAED and the electrical industry. This highly successful event brought together approximately 35 attendees, including outstanding representation from the Next Level Now Donor community and a few special guests.
NAED President & CEO Wes Smith opened the session by welcoming participants and emphasizing the importance of this groundbreaking initiative.
The day began with a Contractor Context Setting discussion led by Gael Pirlot (Inglett & Stubbs) and Josh Bone (Electri). This session provided invaluable customer perspectives on how scheduling information is critical to the execution of construction projects. The interactive Q&A session that followed further enriched the discussion.
The workshop then transitioned into introductions and facilitation by Jeremy and Russ from Bessemer Alliance, who led participants through dynamic activities, including:
- • Why Are We Here?
- • Value Chain Exploration
- • Stakeholder Identification
The level of engagement from the group was extraordinary, as industry leaders collaborated to address shared challenges and opportunities. The energy in the room was electric as participants brainstormed and aligned on the need for an integrated, transparent supply chain process.
The meeting concluded with a powerful Commitment Context Setting discussion, reaffirming the mission to move away from manual, resource-intensive practices toward a seamless, integrated flow of information across the supply chain. The ultimate goal? To empower the industry to enhance productivity, improve access to critical data, and achieve peak performance—staving off disruption from potential new entrants seeking to address this issue.
One of the workshop's key takeaways was a call to action: access to frontline stakeholders within each represented company. These individuals, integral to the day-to-day operations of the supply chain, will play a crucial role in shaping actionable insights through upcoming research interviews.
This event was truly unprecedented. Rarely, if ever, has the industry united so many leaders in one room to tackle a singular issue collaboratively. The workshop not only laid a solid foundation for this transformative project but also underscored the collective commitment to achieving an industry-wide solution.
We’re excited to build on this momentum in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates as we engage with stakeholders and advance this critical initiative!
11-1-2024
The “Where’s My Stuff?” project is a collaborative electrical industry “supply-chain” visibility effort. Electrical industry association participants include the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA). The effort is led and funded by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) through its Digital Center of Excellence (DCoE). The goal is to improve supply chain transparency and efficiency across the electrical industry through the creation of required data definitions and standards, along with real-time communication methods that enable seamless access to real-time information, revolutionizing how orders are tracked, managed, and communicated throughout the supply chain—between manufacturers to distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, and end-user customers.
The Problem
• Tracking electrical equipment through the supply chain currently depends on manual information gathering, causing inefficiencies and delays.
• Unlike industries like food delivery or ridesharing, where real-time tracking is standard, the electrical industry lacks comparable visibility, creating uncertainty, labor deployment, and project management challenges.
• Today’s supply chain has approached the problem by attempting to build point-to-point data exchanges. Given the vast number of stakeholders—including manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, and customers—this approach is inefficient and unsustainable.
• The current supply chain model is labor-intensive and fragmented, limiting access to critical scheduling and tracking information. This results in delayed project execution, reduced productivity, an inability to meet customer demands, increasing undue risk across all stakeholders. Additionally, this lack of transparency leaves the industry vulnerable to disruption by emerging players offering more integrated solutions.
The Solution and Expected Outcomes
The “Where’s My Stuff?” project is designed to address the challenges by replacing manual, brute-force efforts with an event-driven, real-time, seamless flow of information across the supply chain. This transformation will empower companies to optimize their operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and strengthen the industry’s competitive position.
Value Proposition
• Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility: Real-time data access for all stakeholders.
• Streamlined Processes: Reduced inefficiencies caused by manual workflows.
• Empowered Frontline Employees: Improved tools and access to actionable information.
• Boosted Productivity: Better outcomes for contractors and customers.
• Industry Resilience: A stronger competitive position, safeguarding against disruption from new entrants.
Deliverables
The “Where’s My Stuff?” project will produce an industry framework and standard for sharing supply chain information digitally. This framework will serve as the benchmark for providers to develop software solutions that support seamless execution of the standard.
Key deliverables include:
• A clearly defined set of data standards and communication protocols to enable real-time information sharing across the supply chain.
• A “blueprint” for technology providers to create tools that align with the framework, ensuring interoperability and widespread adoption.
• Tools and methods to grant stakeholders access to critical, real-time data for better decision-making.
• A unified approach that connects manufacturers, distributors, representatives, and customers to streamline processes.
These deliverables aim to transform the electrical industry’s supply chain by providing clarity, efficiency, and resilience while reducing risks and enhancing customer satisfaction.
What Do We Need From You?
Success of the “Where’s My Stuff?” project requires access to the people directly involved in the day-to-day order processes within your company—those who are hands-on in the “chain of custody” for each order. These individuals hold critical insights into pain points and opportunities, which will shape the development of a solution that works for everyone in the value chain.
This project presents a rare opportunity for manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, and contractors to collaborate on a shared vision that will transform the industry. By granting access to your team members and supporting their participation, you’ll contribute to a sustainable, industry-wide solution that benefits all stakeholders and, most importantly, the customer.
To download this report as a pdf, click here.
For more information, reach out to Scott Wagner, NAED's Director of Industry Transformation by scanning the QR code below.
You can also email Scott at SWagner@naed.org.