TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Do it Best Group received the 2026 Mark Michael and NEI Innovative Company of the Year Award for technology developed to support independent hardware retailers. The company cited tools including its HardwareIQ AI assistant, expanded Retail Pulse analytics and mobile apps in development; the planned apps are scheduled for early 2027.
Do it Best Group has received the 2026 Mark Michael and NEI Innovative Company of the Year Award from the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community, recognizing technology it has developed for independent hardware retailers. The Fort Wayne-based company was cited for work involving artificial intelligence, retail data analysis and mobile applications, according to Hardware Retailing’s November 5 report.
The award was presented through the community’s annual Innovation@Work awards, which recognize companies using innovation to support business growth in northeast Indiana. Do it Best Group’s cited initiatives include HardwareIQ, an AI-powered tool the company developed internally to help store associates find product and project information. The company previewed HardwareIQ at its Fall Market in Indianapolis.
Do it Best Group has also expanded Retail Pulse, a platform that provides store-performance information to Do it Best and True Value members with compatible point-of-sale systems. New capabilities introduced at the Fall Market include SKU-level analysis of pricing, product assortments, margins and inventory productivity, giving participating retailers more detailed information about individual items.
The company is developing a loyalty and e-commerce mobile app that it says is scheduled for early 2027. Planned features include product search, real-time inventory availability, rewards, purchase histories, fulfillment options and mobile payments. A separate Best Rewards app is intended to offer similar capabilities to independently branded stores. The report does not say that either app is currently available.
Technology for Independent Retailers
The award puts attention on how a retailer-owned group is applying digital tools across stores that retain their own identities. For independent hardware retailers, access to product information, sales analysis and inventory data may support decisions about what to stock, how to price items and how to assist customers. The report describes the tools’ intended uses, but does not provide measured results such as sales gains or cost savings.
The proposed apps could extend these capabilities to the customer-facing side of retail, bringing inventory checks, rewards and purchasing options into one mobile experience. Their planned release matters to members considering digital investment, but early 2027 is a stated schedule, not confirmation that the apps have launched or that all planned features will be available at release.
Do it Best Group’s approach also has implications for stores that cannot build extensive software systems on their own. Shared platforms can offer members access to technology developed at group level, while implementation and adoption still depend on each retailer’s systems and operations. The company says its initiatives are intended to help members improve operations while maintaining local ownership and store identities.
Products Worth Considering
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum – Corded, 290 AW, De‑tangling Motorbar Cleaner Head, 3 Suction Modes
Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit with Bridge and 4 White and Color A19 Bulbs
Sonos Era 100 SL Compact Microphone-Free Speaker, White
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Tools Shown at Fall Market
Do it Best Group is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and serves independent hardware retailers, including Do it Best and True Value members. The award recognizes company activity in northeast Indiana; the source does not provide details about the award’s selection process, the number of nominees or other recipients.
At the 2026 Fall Market, the company both previewed HardwareIQ and introduced an Innovation Hub, where members could see technology demonstrations and speak with company representatives about implementation. These activities provide the immediate setting for the award’s recognition: the company presented several tools to members, while its mobile applications remain in development.
The initiatives vary in their current status. HardwareIQ was previewed, Retail Pulse received additional capabilities, and the planned mobile apps have a projected early-2027 schedule. That distinction matters: the report confirms presentations and platform changes, but does not establish how widely each tool has been adopted or how it has affected member businesses.
“Technology creates value when it helps a member serve a customer, make a better decision or capture a sale.”
— Ken Widner, chief information officer at Do it Best Group
Adoption and App Timing
The report does not specify the award’s selection criteria, how many companies were considered, or whether the award came with funding or other support. It also gives no adoption figures for HardwareIQ or Retail Pulse, and no independent assessment of their effect on store performance.
For the apps, the company’s stated target is early 2027. The source does not provide a specific launch date, identify which features will be ready at launch, or explain whether availability will vary by retailer or point-of-sale system. It also does not say how stores will enroll or what the apps will cost.
Member Rollout and App Launch
Do it Best Group’s next reported milestone is the planned launch of its loyalty and e-commerce app in early 2027, along with a separate Best Rewards app for independently branded stores. The company has not announced a precise release date in the source material. Members can also seek implementation information through the Innovation Hub and company representatives, as described in the report.
Further details to watch for include launch timing, the final feature set, compatibility requirements and how broadly members adopt the platforms. The award recognizes the company’s technology work, but evidence about the tools’ business effects would require information beyond the announcement.
Key Questions
What award did Do it Best Group receive?
It received the 2026 Mark Michael and NEI Innovative Company of the Year Award from the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community through its annual Innovation@Work awards.
What technology was cited for the award?
The cited work included HardwareIQ, an internally developed AI tool for store associates, expanded Retail Pulse analytics and mobile applications in development.
What does Retail Pulse do?
Retail Pulse provides store-performance information to Do it Best and True Value members with compatible point-of-sale systems. New capabilities include SKU-level analysis of pricing, assortments, margins and inventory productivity.
When are the mobile apps expected?
Do it Best Group says its loyalty and e-commerce app is scheduled for early 2027. A separate Best Rewards app is intended for independently branded stores; the report gives no specific launch date for either app.
Has the technology’s effect on retailers been measured?
The source report does not provide figures on adoption, sales, savings or other business outcomes. It describes the tools and their intended uses, but does not establish their measured impact.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
