ISA 360 – Disruption: Obsessing over the Business Customer - ISA

ISA 360 – Disruption: Obsessing over the Business Customer

Available at the ISA Convention 2018

April 15, 2018, ISA Convention 2018 – Baltimore, MD

Part of the ISA 360 series.

Speaker: Rob Green, Director of Amazon Business Marketplace

With Amazon Business increasingly discussed in B2B circles as a disruptor, it’s important to understand how the marketplace model has grown and evolved as a trusted solution for customers (and a growing number of businesses) looking for a better purchasing experience. As more consumer behaviors are migrating to the workplace, Amazon is innovating on behalf of the business buyer, and also creating new opportunities for sellers looking to add and grow incremental channels. Participants will take away:

Insights into how Amazon starts with the customer and works backwards
The Virtuous Cycle and the foundation of the marketplace model
The customer feedback that led to Amazon Business and Amazon’s venture(s) into B2B
The growing opportunities for third-party sellers
Thoughts about continued innovation on behalf of our customers

About the Speaker

Rob is the Director of Amazon Business Marketplace. The AB Marketplace enables suppliers from SMB’s to large enterprises and multinational industrial manufacturers to wholesale distributors to serve Amazon Business customers in the US, Europe and Asia. Since launch in April 2015, Amazon Business has attracted over 1 million business buyers and more than 85,000 business sellers. Rob leads teams domestically and internationally focusing on merchant acquisition and selection expansion to meet the growing demands of Amazon Business customers. Prior to Amazon, Rob spent more than 20 years at Oracle in development, services and sales leadership roles.

To all ISA Members and ISA Atlanta 2020 Attendees,

After continuous monitoring of the evolving situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and much deliberation, the Industrial Supply Association (ISA) is announcing today that the ISA Board of Directors have voted to cancel ISA Atlanta 2020 scheduled to take place April 20-22 in Atlanta, Georgia. Everyone at ISA understands and appreciates the time, effort, and resources that you have put into preparing for this event. Like you, we have been working hard, and were looking forward to coming together to Engage, Learn and Lead.

This decision was made after careful review of the most recent facts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), the Georgia Department of Public Health and other local authorities. Ultimately, the health, safety and well-being of our members, management team and the community at large led to this decision. Although difficult, as this decision comes at a significant cost to ISA which is a nonprofit, we know it’s the right thing to do.

With that in mind, it’s important to note that ISA is YOUR ASSOCIATION and ISA is OUR INDUSTRY. With over 118 years of history, our mission is to provide the strategies and tools to help companies remain relevant throughout industry change. This global pandemic, combined with the accelerating disruption we all are facing, demonstrates now more than ever the need for ISA to continue its pursuit of Leading the Channel Forward®.

The good news is that we have the financial strength to weather this storm. We plan to access our financial reserves to make that happen. These reserves are intended to protect ISA in times like this and for investing in value added programs that benefit ISA members and our industry.

With this decision, we are prepared to refund 100% of all registration, booth and sponsorship fees. However, recognizing the significant impact on our reserves, we are asking for your consideration in donating your registration, booth fees and/or sponsorships to the ISA Foundation, all or in part, at the level your organization is able to support. Foundation funds will only be used for education, research and/or scholarships and your organization will be recognized as a supporting patron of the Foundation helping ISA continue its mission critical purpose. Your donation will help continue the momentum and fuel the future of the Industrial MROP Channel. We recognize the magnitude of this ask, but if each company can help in some way, together, we will strengthen ISA, our community and industry overall.

In the coming weeks, a member of the ISA team will contact all ISA Atlanta 2020 participants to discuss refunds and or donations. Due to the large number of companies and attendees we ask for your patience as we begin this process. This is a priority and will be given the urgency it deserves.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone that has reached out with overwhelming support and positive feedback regarding the path and mission we are on. To all, please keep an eye out for upcoming announcements regarding the Lifetime Achievement Award, Innovation Impact Awards, Phase 2 Analytics for Distributor, Manufacturers and IMRs, Scholarships and so much more.

On behalf of the ISA Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your patience throughout this decision-making process and your commitment to your association – ISA.

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