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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 highlighted its AI tool HardwareIQ, expanded Retail Pulse analytics and mobile apps, one of which is scheduled 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, recognizing technology the Fort Wayne-based company has developed for independent hardware retailers. The recognition highlights work spanning artificial intelligence, retail analytics and mobile applications, including products that are available, demonstrated or still in development.
The award was presented through the organization’s annual Innovation@Work awards, which recognize companies using innovation to support business growth in northeast Indiana, according to Hardware Retailing’s report published Nov. 5. Do it Best Group’s cited initiatives include HardwareIQ, an internally developed AI tool intended to help store associates find product and project information. The company previewed it at its Do it Best and True Value 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. Features introduced at the Fall Market include SKU-level analysis of pricing, assortments, margins and inventory productivity. The source does not specify how many members use the platform or quantify its effects on store performance.
Do it Best Group is developing a loyalty and e-commerce mobile app scheduled for early 2027. Planned functions include product searches, real-time inventory availability, rewards, purchase histories, fulfillment options and mobile payments. A separate Best Rewards app is intended to offer similar capabilities for independently branded stores. At the Fall Market, the company also introduced an Innovation Hub where members could see technology demonstrations and discuss implementation with company representatives.
Technology for Independent Hardware Stores
The award puts attention on a practical challenge for independent retailers: adopting digital tools while retaining local ownership and distinct store identities. Product information, inventory visibility and sales analysis can help store teams answer customer questions and make operating decisions, but the source report describes the intended uses rather than verified outcomes.
For Do it Best and True Value members, the mix of analytics, AI and planned mobile services could offer ways to connect store operations with customer-facing services. The mobile app’s planned inventory, rewards and fulfillment features would bring several functions together for shoppers, while SKU-level Retail Pulse analysis is directed at retailers’ pricing and inventory decisions. The award recognizes the company’s innovation efforts; it does not establish how widely the tools have been adopted or what financial results they have produced.
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Fall Market Showcases New Tools
Do it Best Group is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and serves independent hardware retailers through the Do it Best and True Value member networks, as described in the report. The technology initiatives were presented as ways to help member stores improve operations without giving up their local ownership or store identities.
The company used its 2026 Fall Market in Indianapolis to preview HardwareIQ, introduce new Retail Pulse functions and open an Innovation Hub for demonstrations and implementation discussions. These activities provide the immediate setting for the award: the recognition followed a cluster of technology initiatives, but the report does not say that any single product alone determined the award.
“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 Results Remain Unreported
The report does not provide adoption figures, performance data or financial results for HardwareIQ or Retail Pulse. It also does not clarify how many member stores use compatible point-of-sale systems, how the tools will be priced, or what support will be available during rollout. The stated benefits are the company’s goals, not independently measured results in the source material.
The mobile app is described as in development and scheduled for early 2027; no precise launch date is given. Its planned features may change before release. The report also does not provide a launch timetable for the separate Best Rewards app or details about which independently branded stores will be eligible.
Early 2027 App Plans
The next identified milestone is the planned early 2027 release of the loyalty and e-commerce app. Do it Best Group has outlined its intended functions, but the source does not report a specific launch date, final feature list or rollout schedule. Further information from the company would clarify availability for members and customers.
For the other initiatives, the report points to demonstrations and implementation conversations at the Fall Market, but gives no future rollout dates or adoption targets. The award establishes regional recognition; whether the technology leads to measurable changes for member stores remains to be seen.
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 as part of its annual Innovation@Work awards.
Why was the company recognized?
The award recognized technology initiatives intended to support independent hardware retailers, including AI tools, retail data analysis and mobile applications.
What is HardwareIQ?
HardwareIQ is an internally developed AI-powered tool designed to help store associates access product and project information. Do it Best Group previewed it at its 2026 Fall Market.
When is the new loyalty and e-commerce app expected?
The company has scheduled the app for early 2027. Planned features include product search, real-time inventory information, rewards, purchase histories, fulfillment options and mobile payments; a precise release date has not been reported.
Have the tools been shown to improve retailers’ results?
The source report describes the tools and their intended purposes but gives no adoption figures or measured business outcomes. Their effect on member stores is not yet clear.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
