Built for distribution: Real results in an age of uncertainty

Distributors know the playbook: Stay lean, anticipate demand, and deliver on time—even when everything around you is in flux.

But lately, that’s easier said than done. From rising last-mile delivery costs and inventory uncertainty to acute labour shortages and supply chain reorganisations, distribution leaders are navigating a landscape that keeps getting harder to predict. Despite huge investments in new technology that promises to help, most organisations still fall short of achieving real value. Based on our research last year, 75% of business leaders believe advanced technology will drive their future success—yet only 30% of digital transformation projects actually meet expectations.

That gap between investment and outcomes is what we at Infor™ call the “value void”. And closing it—for good—means rethinking how we approach transformation. At Infor, we believe it starts with specificity: Technology built for your industry, your workflows, and your unique pace of change.

The new rules of distribution

Distributors are absorbing rapid change on every front. Across our global customer base, we’re seeing five major forces reshaping the industry:

1. Logistics and e-commerce are accelerating: Customers today expect frictionless fulfilment and two-day delivery. But for most distributors, speed coexists with complexity. Last-mile delivery now accounts for over 50% of shipping costs, and 84% of consumers say they’d avoid a company after a bad delivery experience. One Infor customer used our CloudSuite™ Distribution ERP platform to reduce their average order return time from 19 days to only four.
2. Global supply chains are less predictable than ever: Increasing geopolitical risks and shipping volatility make planning harder and margins smaller. Nearly three-quarters of companies have shifted to dual sourcing, and 60% are regionalising their supply chains to improve resilience. Infor CloudSuite Distribution ERP software helps boost forecasting accuracy and control costs. Today, more than 2,500 manufacturing and distribution customers across 72 countries rely on it to stay ahead.
3. Digital disruption: As customer expectations move toward self-service and subscription models, distributors need new tools to manage mixed-mode fulfilment, real-time product data, and omnichannel selling. Infor CloudSuite Distribution management software unlocks faster, smarter online search and filtering—critical for staying competitive in the age of digital-first buying.
4. Personalisation goes mass market: From pricing to support, customers want to be known and understood—not just served. But of course, personalised products mean personalised parts and even more supply chain, inventory, and vendor relationships for distributors to keep track of. Infor CloudSuite Distribution includes lifecycle management dashboards that give sales and support teams a 360° view of every account, so they can tailor service in real time without adding manual work.
5. Labour is tight, while demand is higher than ever: Most companies are being asked to do more with less—which is why automation becomes crucial. In 2024, 43% of companies with warehouses reported revenue loss due to staffing shortages. Infor’s Robotic Process Automation and warehouse tools have helped customers reduce manual steps by up to 85%. One customer increased productivity by 15% in their warehouse and cut sales order processing time by 30%.

These aren’t one-off challenges. They’re structural shifts that require a new approach to digital transformation—starting with smarter, industry-specific tools like distributor software.

What works: Industry Cloud Complete for distribution

Infor’s Industry Cloud Complete is designed to help distributors not just react—but lead in the face of these and other headwinds. We start with industry specificity, embed advanced technologies where they’ll have the biggest impact, and support adoption not just during the first implementation, but at every step of the way.

With one solution, Infor CloudSuite Distribution ERP software helps distributors reduce delays and confusion in their supply chains by enabling real-time communication and order visibility. It also lets operations leaders adjust plans on the fly to meet shifting customer demands and collate together key performance indicators (KPIs), product data, and workflow insights in one centralised view for maximum decision-making impact. And now, with Infor Velocity Suite, CloudSuite Distribution customers can continue automating and optimising tedious processes as new needs arise.

The result? Tools that work in real distribution centres with real outcomes.

The bottom line

Infor’s approach is simple: We build for distribution.

That means no bloated platforms, no buzzwords, and no complicated customisations that drain resources. It means faster time to value, deeper insights into your operations, and a transformation journey that actually moves your business forward.

We know what it’s like to operate in a high-pressure, low-margin world. That’s why we’re committed to delivering tools that are purpose-built for the distribution industry, results-driven, and ready to use.

If you’re ready to close the “value void”, we’re here to help—with powerful, scalable ERP for distributors.