ASA’s Powerful Business Intelligence Tools Support Member Decisions
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure”
DATA TO HELP YOU WIN
One of ASA’s many great value propositions for our members is the vast suite of business intelligence tools we offer.
Our promise is to provide timely data and relative statistics tailored for each member by offering a variety of benchmarking reports inclusive of performance, sales and compensation.
For starters, ASA’s Operating Performance Report is a 90-page document regarded as the gold standard of industry benchmarking tools. This annual report is jam-packed with measurements on more than 40 critical data points and is frequently cited by members as an essential part of their strategic planning.
Our long-running ASA Monthly Sales Report tracks member-provided segments (including industrial PVF) data in nine different categories, including monthly sales, gross profit margin and inventory levels. Data is broken out into different market segments and geographical regions.
ASA’s monthly Advisor report, written by ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl and his team at Armada Corporate Intelligence, is a nearly 20-page document loaded with the most current trends, analysis and forecasts on economic topics of keen interest to ASA members.
To address the urgent and mushrooming talent and labor issue in our industry, ASA commissioned two PHCP-PVF compensation studies before the end of 2021, the first dealing with compensation and benefits levels for warehouse associates and drivers. Both studies will be released prior to ASA’s participation in the cross-industry compensation study with nearly other 20 distribution-focused trade associations this coming spring.
ASA also continues to provide its members with the current pulse of the economy through live monthly webinars hosted by Dr. Kuehl, who also provides a 5-10-minute economic update podcast for ASA members on the weeks he does not do a webinar.
Additionally, members of our Industrial Piping Division are kept abreast of constantly changing commodity conditions through a monthly ASA Commodities Report that provides price changes, trends and analysis on nine metals and plastics categories — all written by ASA members doing business in the industrial PVF space.
Investing in ASA’s business intelligence tools helps our members in gaining competitive advantages over the course of time through acceleration of the decision-making process, increasing operational efficiency and identifying market trends. ASA has a dedicated team of professionals and experts who collaborate to provide top-class products, always keeping in mind the everchanging landscape in which we operate.
Data is a powerful tool, and ASA’s business intelligence unit is here to provide the firepower for our members to help them continue to win in the markets they serve.
Mike Miazga Vice President Sales-Membership American Supply Association mmiazga@asa.net
ASA’s chief economist providing clarity on economic trends
ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl hosts a live monthly webinar for ASA members, keeping them informed on the latest changes in the economy, hot-button topics to keep an eye on, plus rolling updated economic forecasts throughout the year. Started during the height of the pandemic, this monthly session has become appointment viewing for ASA members.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Dr. Kuehl delivered weekly live economic update webinars for members.
Since the webinar’s beginning, more than 400 ASA member companies have tuned into Dr. Kuehl’s monthly presentations.
In 2021, more than 4,000 individuals registered for Dr. Kuehl’s economic webinars.
ASA’s monthly Advisor economic report is a nearly 20-page document and is available as a free benefit to all ASA member companies (distributors, manufacturers and manufacturers representatives). The Advisor, prepared by ASA business intelligence partner Armada Corporate Intelligence, is loaded with the latest economic and commodities data, plus the latest Producer Price Index statistics, as well as detailed monthly construction outlooks. The Advisor also breaks down economic data specific to the PHCP and PVF supply chain — all available each month at the click of a button.
Three times a month, ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl drops an easy-to-listen-to 5-10-minute podcast for ASA members. Each episode of Dr. Kuehl’s “Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl” podcast zeroes in on a specific topic of great interest to ASA members doing business in the PHCP-PVF supply chain. The podcast, another free ASA member benefit, is available on all popular podcasting platforms.
60% 2,780 4,000
About 60% of listeners to Dr. Kuehl’s podcast are main decision-makers (president, CEO, CFO, VP, directors).
This podcast series has attracted 2,780 unique listeners since its inception.
Since its launch in the summer of 2020, “Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl” has been downloaded almost 4,000 times.
ASA members trust our economic and business intelligence reports. We’re here to help!
3 powerful BI tools to help you make sound decisions
ASA Operating Performance Report
The must-have business intelligence report for the PHCP-PVF supply chain. This annual report is jam-packed with almost 100 pages of critical benchmarking data designed to provide easy-tounderstand guidelines for identifying business performance improvement opportunities. The report includes comparative financial ratios and statistics by type of firm, sales volume size and high-profit firms.
ASA’s Monthly Sales Report provides member distributor firms with a snapshot of performance for the PHCP-PVF industry and how it relates to the broader economy. This flash report offers timely and actionable information designed to improve business intelligence about the market and industry segments in which a given company operates.
Compensation Report
Every other year, ASA partners with more than 20 different distribution-related associations to publish the Cross-Industry Benefits and Compensation Report, which represents the most detailed look at compensation and benefits for wholesaler-distributors throughout the U.S. Companies that participate in the survey receive a confidential company-specific report.
All ASA member firms participating in the OPR survey automatically receive a confidential company performance report with data displayed alongside appropriate industry comparatives — worth the price of participation alone.
Published 12 times a year, key data-tracking categories include sales, gross margin, YTD profit before taxes, inventory, FTEs and average DSOs.
“My company finds great benefit from ASA providing me a voice in Washington; the ability to train my team through ASA University; as well as connecting my company with exciting networking programs not offered anyplace else. But it’s the strong business intelligence programs such as ASA’s monthly economic forecast, the ability to measure my company in the annual ASA Operating Performance Report and biannual compensation study that have made me a stronger owner.”
Scott Robertson
President, Robertson Heating Supply Alliance, OhioASA Monthly Sales Report Cross-Industry
100 12
The 2020 report was based on surveys from 905 distribution companies representing more than 10,000 locations.
905
ASA Business Intelligence Calendar
2023 Industry Economic Forecast
Friday, Nov. 11, 2022
Chicago
(NETWORK2022)
2024 Industry Economic Forecast
Friday, Nov. 10, 2023
Orlando (NETWORK2023)
2022 Cross-Industry Compensation Report
Data collection begins: January 13
Report available: May 31
2025 Industry Economic Forecast
Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
Chicago (NETWORK2024)
$269 (ASA member companies that participate in the survey)
$439 (ASA member companies that do not participate)
$659/$859 (non-ASA members)
Note: ASA partners with 20-some other distribution-oriented associations for this comprehensive study. In 2020, more than 900 distribution companies representing more than 10,000 locations participated in the survey.
2022 ASA live economic update webinar tentative dates (Generally the third Wednesday of each month)
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
May 18
June 15
Free ASA member benefit.
July 20
August 17
September 20
Weekly ASA Economic Update Podcast
“Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl”
October 19
November 16
December 14
Three times a month, ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl drops a new economic update podcast for ASA members. The podcast can be accessed on all popular platforms, including iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Available: Every Friday except on the week Dr. Kuehl hosts his live ASA webinar and free to ASA members.
Monthly Economic Report
Each month ASA business intelligence partner Armada Corporate Intelligence produces the nearly 20-page ASA monthly Advisor economic report, loaded with data, trends and analysis related to the economy, commodities, construction and many other items of interest to those who do business in the PHCP-PVF supply chain.
Available: First week of each month as a free ASA member benefi t.
