Why Distributors Are Behind in Ecommerce & How to Catch Up with Paul Gatens, ECI Software Solutions

Before most distributors had even heard the word ecommerce, Paul Gatens was already building it. Now, as Vice President of Global Sales at ECI Software Solutions — Paul brings a rare, ground-level perspective on why electrical, plumbing, and HVAC distributors are still having the same conversations about ecommerce adoption that the office products industry was having 20 years ago. In this episode, he gets honest about what's holding distributors back, what's actually working for the ones who are growing, and why the gap between where distributors are and where they need to be is closing faster than most realize.From the critical role of ERP integration in any successful ecommerce business strategy, to the very real ways AI is helping distributors act on their data, Paul makes the case that the online business opportunity in front of distributors right now is massive, as long as they're willing to move. If you're a distributor trying to figure out where to start in B2B ecommerce, what to prioritize, or how to get your team bought in, this conversation is for you.