HARDI Is Equipping Distributors for Data-Driven Confidence in 2026

Two of the most impactful services HARDI offers — the Unitary Market Intelligence Program and Customer Satisfaction Survey service — will be front and center.  

The Unitary Market Intelligence Program is an SKU-level benchmarking initiative that gives participating distributors detailed insight into what’s moving in the marketplace and where. By tracking unit sales for products like ducted and ductless air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and boilers, the program delivers a real-time snapshot of product trends by state and region. Participants can see how consumer preferences are shifting in residential and commercial markets, and how product efficiency levels are evolving across the country. The refrigerant challenges of 2025 underscored how critical it is to anticipate change before it hits. The level of granularity possible through this program helps distributors plan and stock strategically.  

While having robust product data tells one side of the story, a strategic approach to collecting and acting on customer feedback will complete the picture for distributors that employ it. HARDI is debuting its Customer Satisfaction Survey service, built on years of its Voice of Contractor research. Leveraging HARDI as a third party gives contractors the confidence to be candid and generates more accurate and reliable feedback than surveys conducted directly by the distributor. The survey covers critical areas like business performance, purchasing habits, distributor preferences, and services provided. With customizable questions and expert analysis, members can turn survey data into action to refine sales strategies and uncover opportunities for growth, even in a flat or declining market. This approach aligns with one of the conference’s major themes: When distributors listen closely to their customers, they build stronger, more resilient relationships that last beyond just one sales cycle.  

HARDI’s emphasis on helping distributors bring the most value to their customers is demonstrated by a conference agenda that features sessions on leadership during transitionary periods, as well as on developing and retaining talent. Attendees will also get a first look at the latest Voice of Contractor survey results, offering fresh insights into contractor sentiment heading into the new year. In an environment where margins are under pressure, the most successful distributors will be those who focus on what they can control: their people, their operations, and their grasp of the data guiding it all.  

As distributors gather this December, the message will be one of focus and discipline. It’s a chance for everyone to refocus, retool, and recommit to the fundamentals that drive long-term success. HARDI’s data and feedback tools are designed to support that kind of leadership by giving members the data, tools, and perspective they need. We encourage all members to engage with these programs and come to Las Vegas ready to learn, share, and collaborate.