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Pallet C e nt ral • July -Aug u st 2 0 25 45 Patented screws driven with your pneumatic nailer. Saving the world one SCREW at a time!™ Are you tired of screwing the old way? Try our free samples anytime! NailScrews.com • By 2027, 50% of organizations will use AI to negotiate supplier contracts. • Environmental transparency is becoming a key selection criterion, with many buyers willing to pay more for vendors with strong sustainability metrics. Chatbots Are Accelera ng Both Sides, With Caveats Chatbots are increasingly common on both ends of the transaction. Buyers use them to check specs, place reorders, and answer questions 24/7. Suppliers use them to automate customer service, provide status updates, and reduce email volume. e benefits—speed, scale, and availability—are real. But chatbots aren't without limits. ey struggle with nuanced requests, particularly around custom pallets or environmental constraints. Over-automation can degrade customer relationships if not carefully managed. Used strategically, however, chatbots enhance human interaction, not replace it. What It All Means AI is more than a back-office upgrade. Buyers are empowered with real-time tools, smart benchmarks, and predictive insights, and they expect their suppliers to keep up. Winning in this new landscape isn't about having the flashiest tools; it's about aligning with the intelligence of your customers. It's about being faster, more transparent, and more responsive every step of the way. AI isn't replacing relationships. It's redefining them. In 2025 and beyond, the manufacturers who thrive will be the ones who treat AI not just as internal tech but as a bridge to smarter, stronger partnerships.

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