What if, in the next 3 to 5 years, designers could not only specify the products in their projects, but actually take a more active role in delivery from start to finish?<\/p>\n
This talk explores a major shift in the role of the designer or specifier. Instead of simply making recommendations, they may soon be able to guide the entire process through to final purchase.<\/p>\n
With emerging tools powered by AI, better access to structured product data, and direct integration with quoting systems, the landscape is changing quickly.<\/p>\n
Designers will soon be able to:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Start projects by defining design intent, without searching across hundreds of websites or sending dozens of emails This brings forward an important question. As better procurement and product recommendation technology takes hold, and designers can better carry the spec all the way to order, do they become competitors to traditional agents? Or are we seeing the rise of a new hybrid model, where roles shift and new value is created?<\/p>\n We\u2019ll look at where the industry is now, what\u2019s around the corner, and how different players in the supply chain need to respond. Whether you’re a manufacturer, rep, distributor, or part of a design team, this session will help you understand how your role is evolving and what new opportunities are emerging.<\/p>\n Learning Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Use AI to determine the best products based on application, performance, and budget.
\n\u2022 Collaborate directly with manufacturers to build product codes and confirm availability, connected to their inventory and configuration tools
\n\u2022 Generate a bill of materials and send it to approved manufacturers for pricing
\n\u2022 Deliver a quote to the GC or owner that can be acted on immediately<\/p>\n\n