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Do it Best Group received the 2026 Mark Michael and NEI Innovative Company of the Year Award for technology initiatives aimed at independent hardware retailers. The company highlighted its HardwareIQ AI tool, expanded Retail Pulse analytics and mobile apps that are planned for early 2027.
Do it Best Group received the 2026 Mark Michael and NEI Innovative Company of the Year Award from the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community. The award recognized technology initiatives the company says are designed to support independent hardware retailers. It was presented through the organization’s annual Innovation@Work awards, which recognize companies using innovation to support business growth in northeast Indiana.
The award recognizes a group of initiatives involving artificial intelligence, retail data analysis and mobile applications. One is HardwareIQ, an internally developed AI-powered tool intended to help store associates find product and project information. Do it Best Group previewed HardwareIQ at its Fall Market in Indianapolis.
The company has also expanded Retail Pulse, a platform that gives Do it Best and True Value members store-performance information when they use compatible point-of-sale systems. New capabilities introduced at the Fall Market include SKU-level analysis of pricing, assortments, margins and inventory productivity.
Do it Best Group is developing a loyalty and e-commerce mobile app, with a launch planned for early 2027. Planned functions include product search, real-time inventory availability, rewards, purchase histories, fulfillment choices and mobile payments. The company also intends to offer a separate Best Rewards app for independently branded stores. The source report gives no release timing for the Best Rewards app.
Technology Aimed at Independent Stores
The Northeast Indiana Innovation Community recognized Do it Best Group for technology initiatives aimed at independent hardware retailers. The initiatives include product-information tools, store-level analytics and planned online purchasing functions. The source describes these tools and features but does not report their effects on retailer operations or business outcomes.
Do it Best Group says it is designing technology to help members improve operations while preserving their local ownership and store identities. The company’s CIO, Ken Widner, said its responsibility is to make capabilities easier for members to adopt, use and scale with confidence.
The planned mobile app features include inventory checks, rewards and fulfillment choices. The source describes these as planned capabilities; it does not report how or when they will be implemented for members.
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Tools Shown at Fall Market
The award was presented as part of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community’s annual Innovation@Work awards. According to the source report, the program recognizes companies using innovation to support business growth in the region. Do it Best Group is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
At its 2026 Fall Market, the company introduced an Innovation Hub, where members could see technology demonstrations and speak with company representatives about implementation. The Fall Market also served as the venue for previews of HardwareIQ and new Retail Pulse capabilities. These demonstrations show that the group is presenting the tools to members, but do not by themselves confirm broad rollout or adoption.
Do it Best Group’s stated approach is to develop technology that helps member retailers operate and serve customers while maintaining individual store identities. HardwareIQ, Retail Pulse and the planned mobile applications address different parts of that effort: access to product knowledge, analysis of retail performance, and customer-facing digital services.
“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
Rollout and Results Still Open
The source describes previews of HardwareIQ and expanded Retail Pulse capabilities at the Fall Market. It does not provide usage, cost or measured-outcome figures for these tools.
The loyalty and e-commerce app is planned for early 2027, and the source lists planned functions including product search, inventory availability, rewards, purchase histories, fulfillment choices and mobile payments. The company also intends to offer a separate Best Rewards app with similar capabilities; the source does not give release timing for that app.
The source report describes the award and the company’s technology initiatives, but does not discuss the award selection process or other recipients. The recognition confirms the group received the regional award; it does not, on its own, verify business outcomes from the initiatives.
Early 2027 App Plans
The next stated milestone is the planned early 2027 release of Do it Best Group’s loyalty and e-commerce app. Further announcements may clarify the launch date, participating members and which planned functions will be available at launch. The company has not provided a timetable for the separate Best Rewards app in the source report.
Members may also receive further information through company demonstrations and implementation discussions, following the Innovation Hub at the Fall Market. Until Do it Best Group provides rollout and adoption details, the extent to which these tools will be used across member stores remains unknown.
Key Questions
Which 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.
Why was the company recognized?
The award recognized technology initiatives for independent hardware retailers, including HardwareIQ, Retail Pulse analytics and mobile applications in development.
What does HardwareIQ do?
HardwareIQ is an internally developed, AI-powered tool intended to help store associates access product and project information. The company previewed it at its 2026 Fall Market.
When is the loyalty and e-commerce app expected?
Do it Best Group says the app is planned for early 2027. A specific release date and final launch features have not been reported.
Are the new tools already available to all members?
The report describes previews and expanded platform capabilities, but does not confirm general availability or widespread adoption. Rollout details remain unclear.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
