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By Anna Harkins | Aug 3, 2026

Reimagining Distributor Engagement: Why Manufacturers Need More Than a Traditional Partner Portal

Table of Contents The problem with partner portals. Why distributor networks running on disconnected systems (ERP, ecommerce, spreadsheets, email) create friction, and fragmentation. A partner automation platform. How CDS Partner Exchange™ moves beyond traditional PRM and ecommerce tools. The business case. The operational and commercial impact for manufacturers. Over the past several years, I've had countless conversations with manufacturers looking to improve how they engage distributors, dealers,

By Anna Harkins | Mar 3, 2026

Why Every Manufacturer Needs a B2B Digital Portal, and How It’s Transforming Customer and Distributor Relationships

Why Digital Portals Are the Cornerstone of Modern Manufacturing Commerce Having spent years working alongside manufacturers of all sizes, seen firsthand how the right digital foundation can change everything. No matter the industry or the complexity of the products, one truth always stands out: companies that invest in a robust B2B digital portal are the ones best positioned to thrive in a fast-moving market. Time and again, I’ve watched manufacturers struggle with outdated systems that rely on manual processes, resources, PDF catalogs, and endless email chains to serve their customers and distributors. The outdated experience leads to frustration, delays, and missed opportunities. When

By Anna Harkins | Jan 27, 2026

From Downtime to Uptime: How a Spare Parts Portal Helps Food Processing Equipment Manufacturers Delight their Customers by Delivering Faster Service

Unplanned Downtime Doesn't Just Cost Money, It Erodes Customer Trust Unplanned downtime can jeopardize contracts, damage reputations, and result in regulatory penalties. It can be the enemy of productivity in the food processing and packaging industry. According to a recent 2025 Sapio Research and ABB report, 47% of survey respondents say unplanned downtime can cost food and beverage manufacturers anywhere from $10,000 to $99,999 per hour, while 29% report costs ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. A spare parts portal that enables users to quickly identify and buy As we head into the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) this week

By Anna Harkins | Jan 13, 2026

Five Goals Every Industrial Manufacturer Should Have on Their 2026 Roadmap to Accelerate Sales and Improve Efficiency Across Equipment Lifecycles

Leading Industrial Equipment Manufacturers are Reimagining How They Engage with Customers The new year is a chance for industrial manufacturers to reassess and reimagine how they compete in selling and servicing equipment. No matter the scale, manufacturers focused on winning in 2026 all invest in transformation technology across the product lifecycle, from purchase consideration to replacement parts and service. The question isn't whether you need to evolve. It's whether you'll evolve strategically, guided with a clear roadmap that guarantees measurable improvements in sales efficiency, customer retention, and operational effectiveness at every step of the way. With this in mind, let's examine five

By Anna Harkins | Dec 16, 2025

10 Ways Modern Spare Parts Management Software Can Help Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Delight Customers in 2026 – Part 2

Spare Part Management Software is Transforming Sales and the Customer Experience Check out Part 1. Welcome back to our two-part series on how modern spare part management software like CDS Partable is helping industrial equipment manufacturers sell more spare parts and delight their customers in 2026 and beyond. As discussed last week, the industrial spare part market is growing and now is the opportunity for manufacturers to improve their spare parts business customer experience. In Part 1, we covered the foundational ways that digitizing and automating your parts operations can transform the customer experience. From accurate part identification to streamlined

By Anna Harkins | Dec 9, 2025

10 Ways Modern Spare Parts Management Software Can Help Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Delight Customers in 2026 – Part 1

Here’s Why Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Should Prioritize Their Customers’ Experience in 2026 The real test of the relationship between industrial equipment manufacturers and their customers starts after the initial sale. When a machine goes down, or a customer needs a critical spare, they’re not thinking about your sales pitch from the initial capital equipment purchase; they’re thinking about how fast and how confidently you can get them back up and running. In this two-part series, we will explore the top 10 ways our customers are digitizing their parts operations to delight their customers. Whether you’re in food processing and packaging,

By Anna Harkins | Nov 18, 2025

Why a Digital Exploded View Parts Catalog is Essential for Modern Industrial Manufacturers

Why Digitizing Your Spare Parts Catalog Should Be a Priority Many industrial equipment manufacturers are already familiar with exploded-view parts catalogs, those detailed diagrams in printed manuals or PDF catalogs that show how assemblies break down into individual parts. While these visuals have long been essential for parts identification and service, traditional formats often fall short in terms of speed, accuracy, and ease of use. The demands of after-sales are changing, and the industrial parts market is growing, all creating a sense of urgency with digital transformation. Your customers expect instant access to accurate information, and regardless of your part

By Anna Harkins | Nov 4, 2025

The Industrial Spare Parts Market is Growing: Will You Seize the Opportunity to Capture More Revenue?

As the Spare Parts Market Grows, Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Are at a Decision Point The industrial equipment market is changing rapidly, and the shift in spare parts sales is more dramatic than ever before. According to industry research, the global spare parts market is projected to nearly double by 2031, driven by customers keeping equipment longer, rising demand for uptime, and a massive move toward digital self-service. For equipment manufacturers, the growth drivers are a unique opportunity to unlock new, recurring revenue streams from your parts and services business. Capturing this growth is not automatic, and the manufacturers who win

By Anna Harkins | Oct 21, 2025

CDS Visual Launches Mentor 3.0: The Connected Worker Platform Closing the Gap Between Work Instructions and Real-Time Insights

WATERTOWN, MA., Oct. 21, 2025: CDS Visual, a Dover company, is a leading provider of visual-based digital software solutions for manufacturers, today announced the launch of CDS MentorTM 3.0, a new connected workforce platform that unifies the entire shop floor lifecycle through digital work instruction authoring, execution, quality, skills management, and real-time insights. CDS Mentor 3.0 is a cloud-based, AI-powered software as a service (SaaS) solution that has been engineered to close the operational gaps of the manufacturing industry by transforming frontline work instructions into a single source of truth and command center for the modern shop floor to

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