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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 cited AI tools, retail analytics and mobile applications; a planned loyalty and e-commerce app 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, which recognized the Fort Wayne-based company’s technology work for independent hardware retailers. The award was presented through the group’s annual Innovation@Work awards, according to Hardware Retailing’s November 5 report.
The recognition cited initiatives involving artificial intelligence, retail data analysis and mobile applications. One example is HardwareIQ, an AI-powered tool developed internally by Do it Best Group to help store associates find product and project information. The company previewed the tool at its Do it Best and True Value Fall Market in Indianapolis; the report did not specify a public launch date.
The company has also expanded Retail Pulse, a platform that provides performance information to Do it Best and True Value members using compatible point-of-sale systems. Capabilities introduced at the Fall Market include SKU-level analysis of pricing, assortments, margins and inventory productivity. Access is described as applying to members with compatible systems.
Do it Best Group is developing a loyalty and e-commerce mobile app that it says is scheduled for early 2027. Planned features 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. The company also introduced an Innovation Hub at its 2026 Fall Market for member demonstrations and discussions about implementation.
Technology for Independent Hardware Stores
The award highlights a practical challenge for independent retailers: adopting digital tools that can support customer service and day-to-day decisions without requiring stores to give up their local identity. The initiatives described by Do it Best Group cover several parts of retail operations, from helping staff answer product questions to analyzing item-level sales and inventory information.
If the planned app features are delivered, shoppers at participating member stores could have access to tools such as inventory checks, purchase histories and mobile payments. For retailers, those functions may connect online discovery and purchasing with store inventory and fulfillment. The source report describes the app’s planned features, not measured results or confirmed adoption, so the eventual effect on sales and store operations remains unknown.
The award is also a regional business recognition: the Innovation@Work program recognizes companies using innovation to support business growth in northeast Indiana. Its selection of Do it Best Group brings attention to the company’s technology development, but the award itself does not establish how widely the tools are being used or what financial outcomes they have produced.
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From Fall Market to App Plans
Do it Best Group is based in Fort Wayne and serves independent hardware retailers through its Do it Best and True Value businesses, according to the report. The company presented several technology initiatives at its 2026 Fall Market in Indianapolis, where it previewed HardwareIQ, introduced new Retail Pulse capabilities and opened an Innovation Hub for demonstrations and conversations with members.
The award recognizes a set of projects rather than a single product launch. HardwareIQ is described as an internally developed AI tool, Retail Pulse as an existing performance-information platform with expanded analysis, and the mobile apps as projects still in development. The source does not give a detailed timeline for HardwareIQ’s wider availability or explain which members can use each current feature.
“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
Availability and Adoption Still Unclear
The report does not say how many stores currently use HardwareIQ or Retail Pulse, how many have access to the new SKU-level analysis, or whether the tools require particular fees or equipment beyond Retail Pulse’s stated compatible point-of-sale systems. It also gives no performance data showing changes in sales, margins, inventory levels or customer service.
The loyalty and e-commerce app is described as scheduled for early 2027, but no specific release date, supported devices, participating-store rollout plan or final feature list is provided. The separate Best Rewards app is described as intended for independently branded stores; the report does not say when it will be available. Details of the award selection process and other recipients are also not included in the supplied report.
Early 2027 App Rollout Planned
The next stated milestone is the planned release of Do it Best Group’s loyalty and e-commerce mobile app in early 2027. The company has not announced a specific date in the source report. Further details would be needed to confirm which features are ready at launch and how member stores will join.
Do it Best Group’s Fall Market demonstrations and Innovation Hub were intended to give members a way to see the tools and discuss implementation. The company may provide additional information on availability, rollout and member participation as development proceeds. Until then, the award confirms recognition of the initiatives, while their wider deployment and measurable results remain to be established.
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 the organization’s annual Innovation@Work awards.
What technology work was recognized?
The report cites the AI-powered HardwareIQ tool, expanded Retail Pulse analytics and mobile applications in development, along with other technology initiatives for independent hardware retailers.
What is HardwareIQ?
HardwareIQ is an internally developed AI-powered tool intended to help store associates access product and project information. Do it Best Group previewed it at its 2026 Fall Market; the report does not provide a broader release date.
When is the mobile app expected?
Do it Best Group says its loyalty and e-commerce app is scheduled for early 2027. A specific release date and rollout details have not been reported.
Does the award confirm the tools have improved store results?
No results data is included in the report. It describes the award and the company’s technology initiatives, but does not quantify their effects on sales, margins, inventory or customer service.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
