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AI Foundations for B2B

Understanding where AI fits in your operations

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What This Session Covers

Every B2B company is hearing about AI, but most are stuck between the hype and the reality. This foundational session cuts through the noise and gives you a clear, practical understanding of which AI technologies actually matter for distribution, manufacturing, and trades companies.

You will learn to identify the highest-ROI opportunities hiding in your existing operations. We are not talking about theoretical possibilities. We walk through real examples from companies like yours that have automated order processing, eliminated manual data entry, and freed their teams to focus on revenue-generating activities.

The build vs. buy decision is one of the most expensive mistakes B2B companies make with AI. We will give you a proven decision framework so you know exactly when an off-the-shelf solution will work, when you need customization, and when to build from scratch.

You will leave this session with a clear map of where AI fits in your operation, realistic expectations for timelines and costs, and a framework for evaluating every AI opportunity that comes your way.

Topics & Exercises

The current AI landscape: what technologies actually matter for B2B companies
Identifying high-ROI automation opportunities in your specific operation
Build vs. buy: when to use off-the-shelf tools and when to invest in custom solutions
Setting realistic expectations: timelines, budgets, and measurable outcomes
Common AI pitfalls in distribution and manufacturing — and how to avoid them
Assessing your data readiness: what you need before implementing AI
Live case study: how a mid-market distributor achieved 3x ROI in 90 days
Framework for evaluating AI vendors and platforms

Who Benefits Most From This Session

Business owners and GMs who want to understand AI beyond the buzzwords
Operations leaders evaluating where to invest in automation
IT directors assessing infrastructure needs for AI implementation
Anyone building a business case for AI investment at their company

Ready to Build Your AI Foundation?

This session is part of Forge Lab: Virtual.

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Questions? Call (877) 371-5530

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