Proton blog
Modern distribution, written plainly
Interviews with distribution leaders, honest buyer's guides, and field notes on AI-powered selling — from the team that builds for distributors all day.
New posts every other week. No fluff, ever.
Shelby Kinney87 posts, showing 12
Industry insightsHow Larry Cohen grew Benco Dental from $200K to $100M
Benco Dental's Larry Cohen on handing off the sales territory he built, and why he was glad his sons changed the business.
AI in distributionThink big, start small: 4 lessons on AI in distribution from Benj Cohen
Proton.ai founder and CEO Benj Cohen explains why AI has to change the whole workflow, why seasoned reps may adopt agents fastest, and how distributors can start without trying to fix everything at once.
AI in distributionEpicor Prophet 21, explained: what your ERP knows and what it can’t tell you
Epicor Prophet 21 records orders, invoices, pricing, and inventory. See how Proton turns that P21 data into prioritized work for sales reps.
Industry insightsTesting your way to better CAC: 4 lessons from Kevin Weadick of TricorBraun
He settled the oldest argument in distribution marketing — does any of it actually help the branches and the reps — with a method billboard buyers invented decades ago.
AI in distributionProton ends the re-keying era with agentic order & quote entry automation
Emailed POs and part lists become drafted orders in your ERP. Reps review, not retype.
Industry insightsBest distribution management software in 2026: an honest guide
What each category actually does, where the overlap is, and which problems still need a human.
Industry insightsBest ERP software for distributors: an honest 2026 buyer’s guide
The tradeoffs nobody puts in the RFP, from a team that integrates with all of them.
Industry insights6 lessons on where distributors should invest, from ORS Nasco’s Kevin Short
Running a master distributor: the PE journey, partner economics, and a sharper value prop.
AI in distributionQuote automation software for distributors: from inbound request to sent quote in one step
What the software does, how it works end to end, how it differs from CPQ and proposal tools, and why the payoff shows up in win rate — not just saved keystrokes.
AI in distributionRFQ automation software: respond to every inbound RFQ in minutes, not days
The inbox is the bottleneck. This is what happens when an agent works it first.
AI in distributionSales order automation software: every PO entered the way your best rep would enter it
Where automation earns trust — and the review step that keeps it honest.
Sales strategy6 lessons for distributors offering solutions to customers, from MSC Industrial’s Erik Gershwind
Moving from spot-buy catalog supplier to a mission-critical partner on the plant floor.
- Top 6 CRM software for wholesale distributors in 2026: an honest comparison
- B2B sales enablement tools for distribution: the complete 2026 guide
- E-commerce for distributors: the complete guide to selling online in 2026
- 6 lessons for distributors adding solutions, from Benco Dental’s Chuck Cohen
- What to look for in an AI product information management (PIM) system
- Product information management: best practices
- Product information management software: comprehensive buyer’s guide
- Proton attacks point solutions with the first industry cloud for distributors
- What is PIM? A complete guide for distributors
- What to look for in a product information management (PIM) system
- 7 lessons for family-owned distributors from Ewing’s Doug and Jack York
- Why most AI chatbots fail distributors and what Proton does differently
- How to sell to customers in rural markets: distribution sales lessons from DSG CEO Paul Kennedy
- 5 tips for building a successful inside sales team: lessons from Ali Hasham
- Proton and Revenue Optics partner to fix distribution’s broken inside sales model
- How to push your reps without burning them out: advice from Gary Corless
- Merchandising strategy lessons from Grainger’s chief product officer
- Proton declares war on bad product data with new AI PIM for distributors
- Larry Stoddard on what every distributor should know about working with PE firms
- The complete CRM security guide for distributors
- Proton.ai launches Pronto: AI assistant tackling sales admin for distributors
- Proton becomes first distribution CRM to achieve SOC 2 Type II certification
- Turning a haphazard sales approach into a systematic, strategic account planning process
- Proton reveals Pronto, distribution’s first conversational AI chatbot prototype
- Proton.ai founder Benj Cohen honored in Forbes 30 Under 30
- Navigating the AI landscape: distinguishing the “locals” from the “tourists”
- How AI-powered tools can help you retain your sales reps
- The key to successful software implementation in distribution
- Sales management software for B2B distributors
- Business intelligence vs. artificial intelligence in distribution sales
- Best events for B2B distributors
- How to be the coach your distribution sales team needs
- Best software for distributors: fewer vendors, strong partners
- The exciting future of AI in B2B eCommerce
- The futuristic secret weapon for churn prediction is already here
- Will Proton work for my distribution business?
- Maximizing rebates: the smart distributor’s guide to optimizing the product mix
- Evolving your outside sales team to thrive in today’s realities
- Why distributors should invest in modern distribution software
- 5 tips for successful adoption of CRM for wholesale distribution
- Proton becomes Affiliated Distributor (AD) service provider
- 6 ways a good CRM improves the customer experience
- The role of AI in distribution CRM
- How to select the best CRM for distributors
- The importance of a solid quote follow-up strategy for distributors
- Sales challenges industrial distributors face (and how Proton helps)
- 3 proven tactics for boosting revenue and improving margins in distribution sales
- 2 things Amazon does better than anyone else
- eCommerce vs. distribution sales reps: why they need to work together
- What are product recommendation engines?
- AI basics: how to spot real, helpful AI
- 5 key proactive inside sales metrics for distributors
- How reorder models can increase revenue
- Why actionable data is crucial for distributors
- How to build a killer inside sales team with AI
- All aboard: increasing the adoption rate of new technology for distributors
- Practical applications of AI in B2B distribution
- Artificial intelligence and big data: how they work together
- AI in distribution: how artificial intelligence can drive growth
- How VPs of sales can ramp new reps faster with AI
- Q&A: Benj Cohen on AI’s future in distribution and distributors' value
- Q&A: Benj Cohen on sales AI in distribution
- Q&A: Mike Marks on AI and tech adoption for distributors
- Increase revenue with Proton’s simple 10-minute NetSuite integration
- Q&A: distribution industry consultant Jonathan Bein on tech and strategy
- How to help sales reps succeed in a hybrid remote/in-person model
- Q&A: Benco Dental’s Chuck Cohen on the secret to long-term success
- Q&A: UnleashWD founder Dirk Beveridge on the distribution industry’s future
- Using technology to create a strong first impression with sales reps
- Distributors need new sales toolkits post-pandemic
- Why sales reps don’t value traditional CRM solutions
- How distributors can get an immediate ROI from AI
- Three ways to use AI to get the most from your website
- How to build an inside sales dream team
- Q&A: retired NAW CEO Dirk Van Dongen on building distributor resiliency
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