Contribute Your Product Knowledge to Develop the Industry’s Harmonized Data Model (HDM)

Have you heard about the industry’s Harmonized Data Model (HDM) initiative? IDEA, in partnership with NAED, is calling all product experts to get involved and be recognized by the industry. People who join the Product Expert Task Force will impact the future of the electrical distribution channel.

In the next 6 months, subject matter experts (SMEs) will be harmonizing the categorization for dozens of product categories. It’s an opportunity for industry experts to participate as a SME in the HDM initiative.

For more information Go Here.

Accreditation Helps Us Walk the Talk on Our Way to a More Sustainable Future

Climate change poses very real risks to people and the environment. Extreme weather events like the destructive storm we just saw in Ottawa that left thousands without electricity for days, and damaged homes and critical infrastructure, are a stark reminder that we must take action, now.

Countries around the world agree – achieving a more sustainable future is a top priority. Commitments like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the landmark Paris Agreement and the ISO London Declaration, bring nations into a common cause to undertake the ambitious efforts it takes to tackle one of our time’s most critical challenges.

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Selling Services … Diversifying Revenues & Adding Value

By David Gordon, President, Channel Marketing Group

As every distributor knows, there is a labor and driver crisis in every market. It affects hiring warehouse staff as well as drivers. Today’s competition for labor is further exacerbated by competitive environments that can pay $20 / hour plus benefits (aka Amazon and others.) Further, within the electrical industry, many electrical contractors are faced with their own staffing challenges.

Industries have talked about fee-based services and many industry leaders are seizing upon the opportunity to diversify their income stream, improve profitability AND add a valuable service to their customers.

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Schneider Electric Recognized as the 2022 Microsoft Energy & Sustainability Partner of the Year

Schneider Electric recently announced it has won the Energy & Sustainability 2022 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. Schneider was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for its innovative EcoStruxure software solutions provided to customers that were powered by Microsoft technology, including Azure Cloud and Dynamics 365.

The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based applications, services and devices during the past year. Out of over 3,900 submissions from more than 100 countries across various categories, Schneider Electric was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in energy and sustainability.

In 2021, Schneider’s EcoStruxure solutions helped customers reduce their carbon emissions by 84 million tonnes which amount to 347 million tonnes saved or avoided since 2018.

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IDEAL ELECTRICAL and RIVET Work Join Forces to Offer Support and Innovative Planning Tools for Labor Schedulers

IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. recently announced that IDEAL ELECTRICAL will serve as the exclusive electrical partner of RIVET Work, a provider of workforce management software for specialty contractors. The partnership brings electrical contractors transformative visibility, access to labor and equipment planning tools and real-time utilization of company assets that result in improved profit margins.

Commercial and industrial electrical contractors nationwide are maintaining and scaling incredible infrastructure requiring complex planning, scheduling, communication and collaboration as phases and tasks progress. The RIVET platform provides automated forecasting for project teams that plug into job rosters, schedule gantts and location-aware maps for back-office managers to assign the right people to planned positions. Schedulers and equipment teams can even attach the dispatch of tools and equipment so contractors know where equipment is, and who’s using it, in real time. RIVET can also be used to quickly review worker profiles, field labor requests and create interactive job maps, as well as transfer workers where they are needed on demand.

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AD and Torbsa Limited are announcing an agreement to merge the two groups. The merger is expected to close July 1, 2022. Established in Ontario in 1966, Torbsa is a shareholder-owned group made up of twenty-seven independent building supplies distributors, with 48 locations across Canada.

Rob Dewar, president of AD Canada, discussed how Torbsa's strong leadership and financial success made the buying group an ideal match for AD. Rob Dewar, president of AD Canada, discussed how Torbsa's strong leadership and financial success made the buying group an ideal match for AD.

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EFC Organizational Announcement: New VP of Marketing and Channel Development

Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) is pleased to announce that Tom Mason has been appointed Vice President, Marketing and Channel Development and will report directly to Carol McGlogan, President & CEO. This change has taken effect on June 20, 2022.

Tom will be responsible for the overall planning, development, and marketing of channel-related programs, including initiatives that centre on workforce development, talent management, industry research, events, and regional engagement. The Marketing and Events teams will report directly to Tom. He will also work closely with other partner associations to promote collaboration across the electrical channel in Canada. Tom will be responsible for also leading the National Advisory Council (NAC), an operational committee that takes guidance from the Board to help steer EFC programming.

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Nedco Appoints Nathalie Parisel as New General Manager for Nedco Quebec Division

Nedco/Rexel Atlantic is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathalie Parisel as General Manager, Quebec division effective July 4th, 2022.

Nathalie brings to the organization a wealth of knowledge in the Electrical industry and in leadership development.

Most recently, she ran her own consulting firm helping companies during their transformation journey to deliver profitable growth, sustainability and greater customer experience by building a talent pipeline. Prior to Parisel & Associates, she was Senior Vice President Canada, EES Division for Anixter. Over her 30-year career in the industry, Nathalie has worked in sales, marketing, customer service and engineering where she built high performing teams that achieve business objectives.

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Franklin Empire Announces New Headquarters by Montoni to Support its Growth

Franklin Empire Inc., the largest independently owned electrical distributor in Canada, and MONTONI are excited to launch the construction of the company’s new headquarters designed to support future growth. This family-owned 4th generation company is also celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. In summer 2023, Franklin Empire employees will move into their new facility of nearly 190,000-square-feet, conveniently located along Autoroute 40 at the junction of Autoroute 13 in Saint-Laurent and close to the Ericsson and VSL campuses developed by MONTONI. The building, which will be targeting a LEED certification, will triple the firm’s warehouse space and double its office area, while improving the customer experience and providing employees with a work environment adapted to the new reality of today’s job market.

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IDEA Announces 2022 Board Of Directors, Stern Named Chair

The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA), the electrical industry-endorsed technology service provider and eBusiness standards body, announces its 2022 Board of Directors. Larry Stern, President of Standard Electric Supply, is the IDEA Board Chair for the coming year.

“Larry’s experience and strong leadership are a driving force to tackle industry challenges and pursue IDEA’s roadmap. Today, with the increasing complexity and the increasing volume of data that needs to be exchanged, IDEA is focused on our mission to facilitate the exchange of complete, high-quality transactional and eCommerce product content and serve as the standards body for the electrical industry.” said David Oldfather, President and CEO of IDEA.

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