Episodes
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Alex Yaseen of Parabola talks about his founder journey; the future of spreadsheets; empowering teams with workflow control; and embracing AI.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.34] An introduction to Alex, his background, and the journey that led him to found Parabola.
“Most people seem to engage with new tech with fear and a lack of agency… People describe fighting against technology. And that’s a shame, because you could have such a positive, productive, empowering relationship with technology once you know how to use it.”
[12.48] The challenges Alex saw as a consultant at Deloitte, and the problems he still sees across the industry, when it comes to people and technology.
“Even at Fortune 50 companies, people were still doing incredibly non-scalable, crazy, manual processes on spreadsheets.”
[16.46] An overview of Parabola – who they are, what they do and how they help their customers – and Alex’s take on the mismatch between operations and IT that Parabola is helping to solve.
[21.09] The growing importance of AI, and how Parabola are integrating it into their solution with impact in mind.
“Combining two things together is important – the ability to grab the data, and the ability to action on it.”
[26.16] The ideal client for Parabola.
[28.23] A closer look at the Parabola platform, its intuitive drag-and-drop workflow, and how teams can use it.
[31.37] Why integration isn’t something you need to be scared of with Parabola.
“When people hear the word ‘integration’ they get scared. It’s normally a big long process, you have to work with your IT team and they’re going to get mad at you… We want to do things differently.”
[34.23] How the Parabola platform can help supply chain teams optimize processes from scorecarding and management to audits and track and trace.
[39.43] From improving productivity and facilitating growth, to saving time and giving teams ownership over their own workflows, the impact of that optimization on businesses and their bottom lines.
“Operations people are probably the most important people at a company – they know how things work and have great ideas… We’re trying to shine a spotlight onto them… And our best users have a track record of being promoted pretty quickly.”
[42.05] The impact of leveraging the power of Parabola on the industry.
[45.02] A case study detailing how Parabola helped a large retail brand achieve multiple levels of ROI – saving them money, but also boosting team engagement and job satisfaction, and helping the Director of Operations get a better seat at the table in leadership conversations.
[49.51] From AI to nurturing a better understanding of business problems, what we can expect from the industry in 2025.
“Increasingly, the hard thing within companies is actually understanding the problem... It’s that knowledge of what’s important within the company, and having people on your team who know where the bodies are buried! Companies who are great at cultivating and empowering their people are going to rise to the surface.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Parabola’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Parabola and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Alex on LinkedIn.
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Tiffany Brewer of Blue Yonder talks about synchronizing supply chain execution; building resilient businesses; & helping clients reduce spend & drive growth.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.23] An introduction to Tiffany, her background, and the expertise she brings to her role at Blue Yonder.
“I’ve been in the shoes of our customers, and I’m able to speak to the product teams and say: “Hey – this is what’s going on in the industry, this is what our customers need.”
[08.24] What synchronizing supply chain execution means to Blue Yonder and their customers.
“We’ve historically had point solutions that solve each problem, from warehousing to transportation… but they’re not really separate processes to the point that systems shouldn’t be talking to each other.”
[12.35] The macro challenges rocking the industry right now; why a lot of current tech architecture isn’t capable of keeping up; and how connected solutions can help.
[20.35] How those big challenges impact Blue Yonder customers, and the challenge of navigating the push and pull between the different perspectives on the right amount of synchronization.
[25.28] What it means to be a resilient and agile company; why it’s so important; and how synchronizing supply chain execution can help achieve that resilience and agility.
“What it comes down to is focusing on bringing the most value to the business.”
[30.09] The paradigm shift that’s needed to increase that resilience and agility; the benefits that will come out of it; and the importance of measuring the right things.
“Getting all of the opinions and perspectives into the room is key… How can we, as an organization, make these decisions together and figure out which thing is the most important for the business, instead of the most important for individual business areas.”
[34.27] An overview of Blue Yonder’s platform and solutions that are enabling a synchronized approach to handling supply chain execution and disruption for customers.
[36.55] The benefits of synchronizing supply chain execution, and how Blue Yonder are helping to reduce transportation costs by 30-40%, decrease labor costs by 10-15%, and lower inventory costs by 8%.
[40.14] What Blue Yonder’s recent Supply Chain Executive Survey can tell us about what teams are thinking about, and focusing on, for 2025.
“Over 80% of execs are getting ready to bring more AI/ML into their businesses.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Blue Yonder’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Blue Yonder and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Blue Yonder, check out 417: Fulfill Your Potential, with Blue Yonder.
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Missing episodes?
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Annie Torikian talks about her career journey; her passion for innovation; balancing professional and social responsibility; and being named a trailblazer.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.47] The journey that led Annie from Lebanon to Canada, and what she learned along the way.
“When I first came to Canada, I was really ready to embrace a new chapter in my life. I came looking for stability and security… It was a big shift… and it gave me a new perspective on life.”
[08.30] The surprisingly practical reason that led Annie to supply chain, and how she fell in love with the industry.
“Over the years… I realized how impactful and important the job I was doing was... As I discovered the complexities and global impact of supply chain, it became a no-brainer for me, I thought ‘I’m going to stay in this industry and thrive’… Sometimes, the most rewarding paths are the ones we never planned to take.”
[10.37] An overview of Tecsys, what they do, and how they help their customers.
[11.54] Annie’s role as Vice President of Enhanced Business Solutions at Tecsys, and how she became a driving force in innovation, spearheading initiatives and incorporating new automation technologies.
“Automation in itself is not a new concept, but there’s such a rapid shift in the technology that it’s become a gamechanger. And any company that needs to remain competitive has no choice but to deploy some kind of automation in their warehouses.”
[16.28] Annie’s 26 year tenure with Tecsys, how she evolved from analyst to VP, and some of her biggest challenges and achievements along the way.
“For anyone to stay so long in the same company, there needs to be an alignment between your personal and company values. For me, it was integrity, professionalism, respect and teamwork.”
[20.35] How supply chain and technology has changed over the course of Annie’s career.
“It’s cool to have a front row seat in this evolution.”
[23.07] With a historic lack of women in leadership, how the industry has changed for women.
[25.53] Annie’s take on mentorship.
[30.36] The importance of balancing professional and social responsibility, and why volunteering is key to good leadership.
“For me, it became an integral part of my leadership identity, and I think its crucial for any executive that wants to be impactful to do some kind of volunteering… You meet so many people, of different backgrounds, characters, and personalities… It sharpens your leadership skills and prepares you for complex roles.”
[33.57] Annie’s recent Women in Supply Chain Forum award win, and what it means to be named a ‘trailblazer’ in the industry.
“Never assume that you’ve reached your full potential.”
[35.17] The future for Annie.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:You can connect with Annie over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from women who have moved countries and continents to excel in supply chain, check out 389: Women in Supply Chain, Carmit Glik, 326: Women in supply chain™, Paige Wei-Cox, or 275: Women in supply chain™, Amani Radman.
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Jeff Beadle of Manhattan talks about their Unified Forecasting Method; how the hybrid approach is different; & the benefits to supply chain planning.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.28] An introduction to Jeff, his role at Manhattan, and how, as a physicist coming from a job at the “applied chaos lab,” he found his way to supply chain.
“As a data scientist, there’s not a better sandbox than supply chain – and especially at Manhattan, given the breadth of solutions we have across the space.”
[09.10] Why unification is key to both Manhattan’s approach to helping clients and to improving the industry; and its importance in forecasting.
“By unifying demand forecasting methods into a single composite model, it elevates capability, robustness, adaptability, and accuracy – and therefore all of the optimization of supply chain processes, and applications that are consuming that output.”
[12.32] An overview of UFM, how its hybrid forecasting approach differs from more traditional statistical models and standalone machine learning models, and why Manhattan have combined these approaches into one model.
“Hybrid forecasting combines statistical time series models with machine learning algorithms offering a uniquely powerful and balanced approach to demand forecasting.”
[17.38] The challenges with machine learning, and the benefits that UFMs hybrid approach brings to supply chain planning.
“There are still shortcomings to machine learning, and high failure rates… Machine learning builds knowledge strictly from the data it observes. So if it has an incomplete aspect of the data model… it can lead to misleading results.”
[23.56] How UFM allows organizations to make decisions that have benefits across all business areas.
“That combined hybrid approach takes on an inside-out, outside-in demand planning approach… this provides a very adaptive, accurate mechanism… and that impacts all cross-functional processes.”
[27.07] An overview of how UFM continuously learns and updates its forecasts in real-time.
[30.07] The low-management nature of UFM, and how that frees up teams to take on the more strategic and creative work.
“It’s very autonomous and hands-free – it doesn’t require special staffing or oversight.”
[33.30] The ideal client for Manhattan’s UFM.
“The better plans and forecasts we have, the less we have to react through execution systems – that’s sub-optimal. You want a better plan, a better projection, and the more accurate and tighter that is, the better the overall downstream impact.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Manhattan’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Manhattan and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Jeff on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Manhattan, check out 430: Unify Your Supply Chain Systems, with Manhattan Associates.
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Trace Haggard of TSG Fleet talks about his founder journey; the problem of overcapacity; avoiding delays; & the benefit of providing solutions under one roof.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.45] Trace’s entrepreneurial background, and the journey that led him to found TSG Fleets.
“I came from an agricultural family, and I wanted to get off the farm!... By coincidence, I did an internship at a 3PL… The general manager asked if I’d be interested in coming back for a job, and that sounded much better than law school!”
[14.10] An overview of TSG – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
[16.09] The ideal client for TSG.
“I prefer relationship-based customers… When things happen strategically, or when economics aren’t working out, you can sit down and have a discussion and accomplish something. Transactional customers come and go.”
[19.11] The current landscape of trucking and biggest challenges, from theft to over-capacity.
“The pandemic sent a tidal wave of capacity out there, we all thought the world was going to change… And it did for about 18 months… then everything snapped back. And that wave of capacity crashed.”
[23.01] The opportunities in US-Mexico trade, and why TSG are well placed to help clients maximize those cross-border opportunities.
[26.56] TSG’s terminal operations solutions and how they’re helping brands optimize their logistics processes, especially when combined with maintenance and repair services.
[32.36] TSG’s 24/7 secure storage, and how it helps to combat the rising issue of security and theft.
[37.45] Real-life examples of how TSG proactively monitor a range of factors for clients, from temperature and fuel to maintenance, to keep trucks on the move, avoiding delays and saving money.
“When minor issues happen, they cause big delays – and that costs money.”
[42.40] Trace’s perspective on what’s to come for the industry.
“Things are still unpredictable… the rate of motor carriers closing their doors is insane… but I’m cautiously optimistic.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to TSG Fleet’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TSG and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Trace on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about trucking, check out 404: Parking Your Truck Is As Easy As 1, 2, 3, with Truck Parking Club, 360: Deliver A Great Trucker Experience, with DCLI or 429: Women In Supply Chain, Kameel Gaines.
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Bryant Smith of Manhattan talks about supply chain unification; visibility, resiliency & cost; overcoming siloes; and delivering big results with their TMS.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.52] An overview of Manhattan – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
[08.20] The basics of supply chain unification, what it means, and the common misconceptions.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about unification… Sometimes you hear other companies express unification as integrations between different systems… that’s not our definition of unification!”
“There are a lot of different components and workflows that are associated with managing a supply chain… and we have a single platform that manages all those workflows in one central place.”
[10.39] A closer look at Manhattan’s transport management solutions and modernized tech platform, and how the platform has evolved over time.
“Supply chain execution is hard – but using the technology shouldn’t be.”
[18.20] Why supply chain has historically been so siloed, and how we can unify our fractured ecosystems.
“Supply chain tech started as on-premise, and that creates siloes… And the approach was very pointed. People would say “I have this problem, I need to create a software to solve it” – so now we have a bunch of software’s that do really specialized things.”
[23.10] Visibility: what it means to Manhattan, why it’s so important, and the huge potential it has for supply chain, from optimizing buying patterns to improved labor utilization.
“It’s not warehouse versus transportation any more. It’s inbound versus outbound.”
[29.39] The power of resiliency, and what it means for organizations as they face continued global disruption.
“Being resilient is about seeing and understanding, but also about being able to proactively – or reactively – resolve exceptions as they happen.”
[37.06] The impact of supply chain unification on cost, and the range of business areas in which companies can make significant reductions.
[41.30] A case study detailing how Manhattan helped a global specialist in energy management to unify, simplify their technology landscape, and reduce cost, resulting in a huge seven-figure return on investment.
[45.33] The ideal client for Manhattan.
“Our architecture allows you to scale up and down based on your complexity.”
[46.48] The future for Manhattan, and the big role generative AI and automation is going to play in supply chain unification.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Manhattan’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Manhattan and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Bryant on LinkedIn.
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Kameel Gaines talks about her career journey; her business Rig on Wheels; driver recruitment; & the importance of elevating African American women in trucking.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.37] Kameel’s career journey, and how she found her way from educational sales to trucking recruitment.
“Trucking chose me!”
[10.38] Why Kameel founded her own business, Rig on Wheels, and why she always had an entrepreneurial mindset.
“I came from an entrepreneurial family, so I wasn’t afraid of it.
[13.42] A closer look at Rig on Wheels; what makes it different; and Kameel’s reputation for innovation and taking a driver-centric approach to business.
“We are very much an advocate of the professional driver. Innovation is very important because evolution is coming, it’s here! We want to make sure that our drivers are ready.”
“Recruitment is changing, and social media is the new CB radio! We need to meet drivers where they are.”
[16.54] Rig on Wheels’ upcoming 15-year anniversary, and Kameel’s laidback approach to the celebrations.
“I’m just excited that my team is excited!”
[18.10] Why Kameel launched the first-of-its-kind Rig on Wheels podcast; her passion for ongoing learning; and why she’s always looking to improve.
“I started educating myself, and looking at other peoples shows. And, instead of looking at them as a spectator, I was looking to learn… How can we do this better? We’re not looking for perfection, but we are looking for excellence.”
[21.46] Kameel’s perspective on the rise of supply chain media, and the innate inclusivity in helping professionals from all walks of life to engage, learn, and communicate in new ways.
“There are a lot of voices, and there’s a voice for everyone – that’s what’s great. Everybody identifies with someone.”
[26.29] Kameel’s previous role as co-chairwoman of the African American Women’s Trucking Association, and the importance of elevating the representation and success of African American women in trucking.
“Representation matters. You can’t be what you don’t see.”
[29.31] The role of mentors in Kameel’s career journey, and how she maintained those relationships over time.
[34.33] Kameel’s advice for the young women looking to follow in her footsteps.
“Open up your eyes to new possibilities, get out of your comfort zone – the world is your back yard.”
[36.47] The one (unexpected) career achievement that Kameel is most proud of.
[37.47] The future for Rig on Wheels.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:You can connect with Kameel over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more women in trucking, check out 347: Women In Supply Chain™, Seretha Willingham, 275: Women In Supply Chain™, Amani Radman, or 205: Time To Make A Move, with Knichel Logistics.
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Amit Sharma of Narvar talks about leveraging intelligent communication to boost consumer trust, create memorable shopping experiences & maximize conversions.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.56] Amit’s career journey, and how it led him to establish Narvar.
[10.12] An overview of Narvar – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“Online, after we buy, there’s a waiting period. And often that waiting period is overlooked, or under-invested. We help businesses engage their customers with the intention of driving long term loyalty and advocacy.”
[12.54] The ideal client for Narvar.
[14.28] Amit’s take on the biggest e-commerce challenges right now, especially when it comes to the post-purchase experience.
“Once you buy a product, it’s a chore. ‘Find a tracking number; When can I get it?; Do I have to be at home,?; Will the package be secure?’… There are all these questions that lead to anxiety about the order you placed. So the challenge is to build the trust every step of the way.”
“There’s a disconnect... you have to understand the customers context and provide the right information at the right time.”
[17.13] Narvar’s mission to simplify the everyday lives of consumers, and why taking care of retail customers isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good business.
“Everything is “and” now. It has to be cheaper AND it has to be faster AND it has to be on time AND it has to be an amazing customer experience.”
“Consumers want returns policies and processes that are easy to understand and follow… and making it convenient is better for the retailer as well.”
[25.18] Why 60% of shoppers are more likely to choose a retailer that can tell them the exact date a package will arrive at the time of order; and the role of Narvar’s ‘Promise’ solution in helping retailers utilize intelligent delivery estimates to drive conversion and deliver transparency.
“Given a choice, customers select visibility and predictability of delivery dates versus faster delivery. And, from the merchant perspective, we then see consumers buy more, and make less customer service enquiries, because you’ve built trust and confidence…. There’s a big benefit from setting that expectation.”
[31.46] How Narvar helps retailers continue to communicate with consumers using post-purchase marketing and different touchpoints to keep them informed, but also boost trust, keep experience levels high and upsell.
[35.35] The challenge of returns, and how Narvar helps retailers to find the balance of retaining revenue and reducing costs, whilst also offering customers easy, convenient, positive experiences.
“All of the data and sophistication gets applied on the acquisition side, but not much on the retention side. Returns is an opportunity for that.”
[40.38] Why Narvar is fostering collaboration between retailers, and how a unique relationship with Kohl’s is setting a standard for smoother, cheaper, and more sustainable returns experiences for brands and consumers alike.
“Cheaper, convenient, and beneficial for everybody.”
[44.42] The upcoming trends and opportunities in the ecommerce industry that we should be looking out for.
“Using intelligence, the supply chain is going to get more and more intuitive, more consumer-friendly, and more cost-effective for all the players involved.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Narvar’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Narvar and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Amit on LinkedIn.
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Jeremy Reeves of Relish & Matt Montgomery of SAP talk about how technology can automate supplier data validation and mitigate risk; our data end games; & AI.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.15] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do.
[08.59] An overview of the landscape of supplier data and the challenges of validation.
“Supplier management needs to be thought of as the foundation for everything. It’s the knowledge that you need to have for every single decision you’re making.”
“As we look at solutions and talk about supplier data, we can’t just talk about ‘company name and address.’ We have to think: What do you need to know to make the choice to use that supplier, to make a better decision, to streamline processes? … How do you collaborate and drive efficiency so you can spend more time on the good decisions versus data collection?”
[13.25] The supplier data end game – what supplier data should look like, and what it should do for their businesses, if organizations have the right solutions to their challenges.
“Speed and efficiency are the name of the game.”
[17.11] How businesses should be measuring and validating supplier data, and the different techniques and strategies they can use to do it.
“You first have to understand where the problems are lying within the overall process, so measuring that information is key.”
[20.52] The role of technology in automating the supplier data validation process.
“Speed becomes a competitive differentiator.”
[23.26] Whether process drives technology, or technology drives process.
“Technology can really optimize that knowledge of region, industry, commodity, business unit… but as much as the technology can optimize, it becomes much more efficient when you can trust the data source.”
[28.27] How technology can help suppliers be active participants in the risk management process.
[32.51] The hidden prevalence of AI; where the industry is at on its AI journey; and what the future of supplier data validation and risk mitigation is going to look like.
“The term is overused – it means everything! People think Siri, ChatGPT – people’s perception of AI is the microcosm of how they’re experiencing it.”
[36.53] How SAP and Relish are automating supplier data validation, and what we can learn from their approach.
[43.44] The future for Relish and SAP, and for the industry, as we look towards 2025.
“The ability for technology to automate the speed of development – we’re going to see a lot more capabilities, delivered faster.”
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Thomas Bagge of DCSA & Thomas Morris of FINN Partners talk about digitalization in container shipping; drivers & barriers to change; and progress & priorities.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.45] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do.
“DCSA aims to help digitalize and make container shipping more effective. We’re open source and vendor neutral… and our members represent about 75% of the world’s containerized capacity.”
[10.13] An overview of DCSA’s new state of the industry report: what it’s about, why they commissioned it, and what they’re aiming to achieve.
“Decision makers are strongly advocating for more digital tools, more interoperability – they want to improve efficiency… So how do we convert these demands into firm commitments that will help drive digitalization forward?”
[13.41] A closer look at the methodology and analytics that were used in the creation of the report.
“We’re excited. Given the amount of ground we’ve covered, and the amount of research we’ve done – we think it’s one of the most comprehensive reports looking at digitalization within container shipping.”
[17.35] The landscape of digitalization in container shipping, and the historic issues with data, visibility and interoperability.
“There have been a lot of great initiatives and strides made in our industry… but we need to take the next steps. A lot of those previous digital initiatives were invented in siloes. So, the biggest issues we have today are a lack of data and interoperability.”
[21.32] The current sentiment in the industry towards digital, and whether or not that sentiment was a surprise; and the impact being made by increasing standardization.
“I was surprised by the level of manual interventions that we still see in the industry!”
“86% of cargo owners said that digitalization is a tool that would help improve efficiency and process, and they see the opportunity – we saw cargo owners talk about customer satisfaction, operational costs, and competitive advantage.”
[26.18] The key drivers and barriers to digitalization in the container shipping industry.
“Cargo owners are ready to go, but two thirds said they need help and support. Some are fearful of legacy systems… and there’s also some internal company resistance. We need to get the tech right, but businesses are made of people, and we need to bring them along on the journey as well.”
[30.55] Industry progress, and supply chain stakeholders’ priorities for further change.
“We have a complex industry, there are many stakeholders – this is a problem of a whole ecosystem…. Removing the barriers to trade is in everybody’s interest.”
[36.51] Why sustainability has to be one of the industry’s biggest priorities; how organizations are approaching increasingly stringent regulations and impending ESG deadlines; and how digitalization is going to make a difference.
“The fuel transition is not something that’s around the corner, we’re going to have emissions for many years to come… but the industry can save up to 14% on fuel through collaboration and implementation of just-in-time standards – and that’s work we can do today, we don’t have to wait for 2040.”
[39.23] What DCSA are currently working on to help address key industry priorities, and an example of how they helped a retailer save costs, standardize, and integrate quickly through effective digitalization.
[41.05] How enhanced collaboration can help to accelerate the adoption of digital tools.
“Almost a third of cargo owners talked about hesitancy to adopt new technology solutions before their peers or partners. It’s a classic case of ‘who jumps first?’!”
[43.40] DCSA’s vision for the future of container shipping, and how the industry is going to continue to evolve.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to DCSA’s website now to find out more and download the report. You can also connect with DCSA and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Thomas Morris on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about container shipping, listen to 340: Container Confusion: Are Shipping Trends Lost at Sea? with Steve Ferreira, or read The Use Cases and ROI of Container Tracking for Freight Forwarders.
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Josephine Coombe talks about her career journey; how marketing has changed; work/life balance; & why it’s never been a more exciting time to be in supply chain.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.26] Josephine’s career journey; her transition from the arts to technology and supply chain; and why embracing ambiguity is a good thing.
“I wouldn’t say my career was planned, or at least the first half was more serendipity than planning. But, around halfway through, I started being much more deliberate about where I was going as a professional. And, particularly for young women, allowing a little bit of the unexpected can take you down paths that are very positive.”
[08.49] How marketing has changed over the course of Josephine’s career; why it’s vital to bring creativity and analytics together; and why data isn’t everything when it comes to marketing.
“It’s been a very interesting time to see the shifts in marketing. Back then marketing was, to some extent, more of an arts discipline… And it’s changed dramatically, as digital marketing has enabled a much more analytical approach.”
“We can go overboard with trying to make the data tell us everything – and it can’t. I often see wild goose chases when it comes to attribution, but often what’s lost in those conversations is the influencing factors… Not everything can be perfectly measured but, just because it can’t, doesn’t mean that it’s not delivering value.”
[14.33] Josephine’s role as Chief Commercial Officer at Nulogy – what it involves, how she approaches the role, and the importance of bringing sales and marketing together.
“The ability to get out of your silo and into another area enables you to build empathy for other business areas.”
[18.37] Josephine’s experience of moving from North America to Europe for her latest job role.
[22.10] Nulogy’s vision of collaboration and co-innovation, and the big industry challenges they’re tackling with these core principles.
“More and more, we’re seeing a reliance on external providers to enable growth. But if you don’t know what’s going on out there, it’s going to be difficult to achieve. It’s a big supply chain issue.”
[25.02] The significant momentum driving women’s involvement in supply chain in the UK, and the different culture it’s creating for the industry.
“In the logistics industry in the UK, there’s been a deliberate effort to move beyond the historical reliance and dominance of men to enable more women in leadership positions.”
[27.40] Josephine’s experience as a woman in supply chain, and how things have changed for women over the course of her career.
[29.33] Why it’s never been a more exciting time to be in supply chain, and Josephine’s advice for younger generations, especially women, who may be looking to join the industry and take advantage of that excitement and momentum.
“The pandemic made very clear to the world that supply chain is critical to society. And it made very clear to big businesses that they couldn’t treat their supply chain organizations like an operational necessity, they had to recognize its highly strategic value to the business. So we’ve seen a tremendous focus and investment in supply chain.”
[31.29] The turning point in Josephine’s career; the influential people who played a part in her journey; and why you don’t ever stop learning.
[36.16] Josephine’s passion for the arts; achieving her diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music; and the importance of embracing creativity as part of work/life balance.
“For me, creative endeavors are part of work/life balance. It’s so important to make sure you’ve got that type of time to unwind and give your brain something fresh to think about.”
[38.41] The future for Josephine.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:You can connect with Josephine over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more inspiring women in the industry, check out 422: Women In Supply Chain™, Kiran Mann or 380: Women In Supply Chain™, Christine Barnhart.
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Larry Cuddy of Lynxis talks about transforming terminal operations; consolidating solutions; & his vision for the landside logistics facilities of tomorrow.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[05.39] Larry’s career journey and unrivalled passion for supply chain.
“My journey is so special because I love what I do. I have to pinch myself, because it’s really not a job for me… This journey started at five or six years old in a truck with my grandfather.”
[08.53] An overview of Lynxis – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“We’re designing a platform for the asset owner and the operator, and there are three things that are core to that: how do you move cargo; how do you do it in less space; and how do you reduce your operating costs? And the common denominator is optimizing terminals.”
[12.35] The ideal client for Lynxis.
[14.24] The biggest challenges currently faced by cargo terminals and landside logistics facilities, and Lynxis’ approach to tackling them.
“Yes: tech is important, automation is important. But we’ve got to look at the infrastructure and workforce side as well.”
[18.22] Lynxis’ aim to transform terminal operations from the ground up, and drive rapid transformation in the industry, by building teams that ‘think like operators, but act like tech experts.’
[21.14] The importance of consolidation in an inter-connected industry, and how Lynxis is working with customers to pull infrastructure, equipment, tech, and people together into one highly orchestrated model.
[24.50] How Lynxis is utilizing advanced technology to provide the mission-critical solutions that organizations need to tackle challenges, achieve orchestration, and eliminate the risks that slow the flow of cargo.
“It’s about building the tech to proactively monitor, using real-time vision systems, in order to keep the flow of goods moving well.”
“We are in the digital planning game. How do we model something and look at the differences between a hypothetical and real life, and which works better? And you can only do that with data.”
[30.42] The importance of orchestration and optimization, and two case studies showing how Lynxis has helped key clients achieve big results.
[35.24] Lynxis’ vision of the landside logistics facilities of tomorrow, and how they’re working towards making that vision a reality.
“Our goal is to democratize, and make manual terminals more automated, without spending millions of dollars on tech and infrastructure.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Lynxis’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Lynxis and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Larry on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Larry, listen to 325: Build Thriving Supply Chain Communities, with Envase Technologies.
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Ryan Zelhofer of Assent talks about PFAS management & evolving regulations; understanding risk; working with suppliers; & compliance as a competitive advantage.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.35] An overview of Assent – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“We’re a SaaS company, with a flair of personal touch!”
[07.31] The ever-changing regulatory landscape, specifically through the lens of PFAS, and the challenges it’s presenting for businesses.
“You’re seeing a flurry of activity in the U.S. alone, and each state has it’s own twist to the regulations… Companies are having to prepare for a federal reporting requirement, but they’re also having to keep a close eye on each state level.”
“For a lot of people, this isn’t their full-time job. They probably have a more traditional supply chain responsibility, and someone came along with a hat and said: “Wear this too!” So selecting a good partner in that journey is very important; having regulatory experts in your back pocket to help keep an eye on those timelines is huge… It’s becoming extremely burdensome and complicated to keep up with.”
[12.02] The other key drivers for organizations thinking about eliminating PFAS, alongside changing regulation, and how they complicate things for organizations that find themselves struggling with multiple priorities.
Ryan Zelhofer of Assent talks about PFAS management & evolving regulations; understanding risk; working with suppliers; & compliance as a competitive advantage.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.35] An overview of Assent – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“We’re a SaaS company, with a flair of personal touch!”
[07.31] The ever-changing regulatory landscape, specifically through the lens of PFAS, and the challenges it’s presenting for businesses.
“You’re seeing a flurry of activity in the U.S. alone, and each state has it’s own twist to the regulations… Companies are having to prepare for a federal reporting requirement, but they’re also having to keep a close eye on each state level.”
“For a lot of people, this isn’t their full-time job. They probably have a more traditional supply chain responsibility, and someone came along with a hat and said: “Wear this too!” So selecting a good partner in that journey is very important; having regulatory experts in your back pocket to help keep an eye on those timelines is huge… It’s becoming extremely burdensome and complicated to keep up with.”
[12.02] The other key drivers for organizations thinking about eliminating PFAS, alongside changing regulation, and how they complicate things for organizations that find themselves struggling with multiple priorities.
“You’re always going to have a regulatory driver that gets everyone into action but, with PFAS, the number one concern from a risk standpoint is part obsolescence. Most folks are craving data to identify where they have PFAS in their supply chain but, a lot of times, they may forget they need to be looking inside the four walls of their own manufacturing facility as well.”
[15.47] How organizations can cut through the complexity, start to identify real, tangible risks, and get an understanding of where to start when it comes to reducing that risk effectively.
“Every company is going to have a different risk profile and risk appetite, but it starts with data... without data you’re making blind choices.”
[18.45] How organizations can use a product compliance program as a profit opportunity and competitive advantage.
“Once you get to a state where you have high-quality data, you’re now in a position to make some competitive choices, you’re starting to showcase the level of supply chain partner you are... And, when it’s no longer about price, you can get that competitive advantage from product compliance and sustainability efforts; showing you’re proactive, you’re ready to support their organization and goals as well.”
[20.50] The importance of suppliers in your sustainability and compliance efforts; and how organizations should be treating suppliers, and nurturing partnerships, in order to get the best results.
“It’s collaborative in spirit and it’s forward-thinking.”
[23.23] How a range of factors, from technology and flexibility to setting clear expectations and working with a sense of fairness, can help organizations create transparent, collaborative win-win relationships for all stakeholders.
“Don’t be the parent that says: ‘Because I said so!’”
[30.53] How, with budgets top of mind, organizations can motivate suppliers, without demanding more whilst paying less.
“Are you pushing down demands, or are you having a collaborative conversation with your suppliers? Because the more you push down demands, the more risk you have of getting questionable data back. They’re not responding to what you really need, they’re just scrambling to respond to your perceived sense of urgency. Supplier relationships are pivotal to getting high-quality data.”
[34.57] A case study showing how Assent worked with a customer’s chemical compliance team to provide improved data, allowing them to uncover hidden risks and work collaboratively across their business to improve product design intelligence, and ultimately leverage their improved sustainability and compliance to win business.
[38.06] Assent’s upcoming Evolve Conference: what you can expect and how to find out more – PLUS a unique LTSC discount.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Assent’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Assent and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Ryan on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more about compliance, listen to 369: From Chaos To Clarity: Simplifying Global Customs Compliance or read What your freight broker isn’t telling you about quality and compliance.
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Kiran Mann talks about her career journey; her experience in the male-dominated auto industry; & why she left the corporate world to found her own business.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.20] Kiran’s early years, and how an unexpected opportunity led her to a successful career in automotive and manufacturing.
“It was a temporary situation that turned into 22 years! It felt like home. At some point I forgot about fashion designing, and became a full-time professional in automotive and manufacturing!”
[09.49] From viewing challenges as opportunities to setting an example for other immigrants, the things Kiran is most proud of across her career, and what she’s learned along the way.
“At the time, it felt normal. We all look for where we fit in, for opportunities, we grow. But, looking back now, it gives me a different feeling. A feeling of pride, a sense of accomplishment… who am I today is what I went through and what I learned.”
[16.41] Kiran’s experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry; and how the industry changed for women over the years.
[18.34] The question that led Kiran to quit her job and found her own business; and her experience of leaving the automotive industry after 20 years to go it alone.
“Women overlook what we’re good at, because we just think it’s default. But if it was default, every single person around you would be doing it. So you have to find that recipe.”
[22.53] How Kiran figured out how to use her skills in her new business; why she wanted to address the workplace challenges we all complain about; and her approach to fixing the gap between businesses and consultants.
“One of my favorite words is ‘choice’… There’s no right or wrong choice, but every choice has a consequence.”
[32.00] How Kiran came to take on the role of COO at Brar’s, alongside running her consultancy; how she balances her responsibilities; and why she’s come to realize that multitasking is not a good thing.
[38.59] Kiran’s experience in the close-knit community of the dairy industry, and how she gained their trust and earned respect.
[45.29] Kiran’s advice for young people as they start their careers.
“Come out of your comfort zone, but don’t go crazy – be realistic.”
[48.29] Why Kiran lives by the phrase Carpe Diem, and the importance of living in the moment.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:You can connect with Kiran over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show and want to hear from more incredible women in supply chain, check out 384: Show Me The Money: Why Women Need To Stop Working For Free, 270: Women In Supply Chain™, Sneha Kumari or 212: Women In Supply Chain™, Ana Lucia Alonzo.
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Evan Smith of Altana talks about his mission to fix globalization; the role of AI in making data actionable; & the changing face of supply chain visibility.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.59] Evan’s early fascination with global issues, and how that curiosity, combined with his unwavering work ethic, ignited a passion that has driven his career and led him to co-found Altana.
“I was kind of a weird kid, focused on big global issues – I actually wrote my high school senior thesis on the impending collapse of globalization… I was really curious about how the world works.”
[11.07] From geopolitical consequences to environmental and social impacts, how globalization has gone wrong; and Altana’s mission to fix it.
“The side effects, and unintended consequences of globalization, have resulted in its demise.”
[17.30] Exactly what a value chain is; an overview of Altana and what they do; and how Altana’s Value Chain Management System is helping them to work towards a vision of better global commerce for everyone.
“We need to create a ‘Google Maps’ of the world’s supply chain. There needs to be a common operating picture that everyone taps into, and you can only get so far with commercially purchasable data.”
[25.55] The ideal client for Altana, and how a variety of different organizations can leverage Altana’s data and tools to meet their needs.
“The blessing and the curse of Altana is that we can do so much for so many!”
[32.20] The changing face of supply chain and logistics visibility; how Altana are achieving more than twice the supply chain visibility of any other provider; and how organizations can translate that data into actionable insights.
“An outsourced just-in-time supply chain is only efficient when things are stable.”
[38.19] AI; its vital role in making data accessible and actionable; and how Altana utilizes active learning to make connections and create a single source of truth for customers.
[44.22] A case study showing how Altana helped a global apparel brand tackle a huge issue with detained imports, helping the brand to reveal a hidden forced labor problem, take action to fix it, and collaborate within their organization to optimize and develop ways to manage their whole value chain, not just their buyer-supplier relationships.
[52.14] The future for Altana.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Altana’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Altana and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Evan on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, and want to hear more about the power of data, check out Women In Supply Chain™: Procurement Leader, Stephany Lapierre on Using Supplier Data to Empower a More Connected, Diverse Supply Chain, Why Data, Focus and Follow-Through Are Shaping the Future of Supply Chain, or How To Leverage Your Logistics Data to Drive Demand.
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Eric Johnson of LogTech Live talks about the new FMC detention and demurrage billing rules - the changes, challenges & what they mean for businesses.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.58] The latest from Eric – an update from Home Delivery World, two upcoming events, and how to get involved with the Blended Pledge.
“Remember when everyone said ‘when the pandemic is over, everything will slow down’ – it didn’t, it never slows down!”
[11.52] The big industry news of the week.
“Now we’ve had Convoy and Transfix, within 6 months of each other, become defunct as brokerage brands… A lot of people are talking about whether the digital brokerage model worked on its own (as it was pitched to VC’s a decade ago).”
[17.31] An introduction to Eric’s guest, Alexandra Griffon, and her company BlueCargo.
“Historically truckers and drayage providers were the ones risking the per diem, detention, and demurrage costs, but this has changed. Shippers want to internalize this cost, and have control… Between 2020 and 2022, US importers, forwarders, and drayage companies paid $15 billion – that’s the lack of control they don’t want to go back to!”
[23.35] The new detention and demurrage rules issued by the FMC – the big changes and what they mean for businesses.
“Now it’s 30 days to issue an invoice, and another 30 days to issue a dispute or challenge – it’s a very strict timeline. And there are new data requirements that have to be on an invoice for it to be deemed valid.”
[33.03] From data to the burden of responsibility, the biggest challenges with the new rules and regulations.
“It’s very hard to make sure your data is accurate. Just something as simple as the start or end date sometimes varies based on the source…. Having the data is a good thing… but there are lots of gray areas.”
[47.16] When the new rules took effect, and how the dates impact what you can dispute now.
“You need to engage to get your own access to the original source of data.”
[50.57] Alexandra’s favorite song.
[53.18] Eric’s best ‘Dad Joke’ of the week!
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Explore more industry news over on Journal of Commerce, and connect with Eric on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, there are plenty more episodes of LogTech Live to explore. And if you want to hear even more from the super-knowledgeable Eric Johnson, you can also catch him on episode 238 and episode 300.
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Bill Catania of OneRail talks about inventory, visibility & shrinkage; empowering customers by normalizing data; & optimizing customer experience.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[07.07] An overview of OneRail, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“Don’t ever think of us like a parcel shipping solution! What we’re doing is delivering in localized markets – think about turning a store into a warehouse, turning a warehouse into a localized delivery zone.”
[07.52] The latest at OneRail, and some of the big challenges they’re focusing on right now.
“These days, you can’t hear an earnings call from a retailer without hearing about product shrinkage – and about 65% of that is theft.”
[08.38] Why inventory, visibility, and shrinkage – particularly related to theft – is a growing concern for retailers.
“It was easy when it was single-channel commerce. But now there’s so many different channels, so many different shipping options – customers have demands they didn’t have before. When product starts to move more, there’s more risk.”
[10.03] The recent survey, conducted by OneRail, dives deeper into the problem of inventory and shrinkage.
“Customers are counting on that product being at the store. But if it goes missing 500 miles ago, and the retailer doesn’t know it, there’s a mismatch in supply and demand. A lot of money goes into demand planning, and all that work goes out the window when items go missing.”
[13.53] How OneRail utilized their findings to develop OmniPoint Inventory Visibility, a brand-new solution for their customers; and how it tackles inventory and shrinkage challenges.
“When you look at what it takes to be competitive in 2024, you have to be operating from data.”
[17.17] The ideal client for OneRail’s OmniPoint Inventory Visibility solution.
[1946] The challenges with data; the importance of empowering customers with the right data; and how OneRail is adding an extra layer that helps systems to connect and normalize data, helping retailers to make the right decisions.
“An organization could be working with 50 to 100 couriers – all sending data in different ways, some of them aren’t even sending data! – and we’re normalizing that data layer, so they can make sense of it and decision on it.”
[22.25] The opportunity to be found in achieving improved inventory visibility and optimizing customer experience.
“Optimization is taking data and making iterative business decisions to reduce cost and improve experience.”
[25.15] Why OneRail is moving up the order stream with delivery management solutions, and how they’re helping customers to improve order decisioning and fulfillment logic.
“It’s so much more than visibility – it’s the ability to actually change an outcome.”
[28.02] A big announcement, and the future for OneRail
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Jon Phillips of Newage Software and Solutions & Chuck Simmons of E-Freight Solutions talk about collaboration, developing new software, & helping SME's compete.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[06.51] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do.
[08.33] How, and why, Newage was founded, and its evolution over the years.
“Our view has always been that a customer is looking for a forwarder to be their solution across multiple modes and activities – so how do we enable that?”
[13.27] Newage’s varied client base, and how their tools are helping small and mid-size companies to keep up in a competitive market.
“Our goal is to provide those enablement solutions to the small and mid-size forwarders that have always viewed them as unachievable.”
[15.14] The early days of Newage and E-Freight’s partnership; and how they decided that Newage was the right partner for them.
[16.27] Newage’s wide range of products and services.
[19.19] The big challenges Newage is helping customers tackle with their solutions.
[21.38] The challenges faced by E-Freight before their partnership with Newage; how they determined which solutions they needed; and why they partnered with Newage.
“Newage wasn’t just selling us a software. They were selling us a partnership.”
[24.34] The Newage solutions used by E-Freight, what they love about them; and how collaboration is key to both helping E-Freight tackle their biggest challenges and helping Newage to constantly innovate and improve their solutions.
“Collaboration has been really helpful for us. The landscape is changing all the time, we only know as much as we know, and the more feedback and information we’re able to get, the more we can quickly adapt and bring value for our customers.”
[27.13] Newage and E-Freight’s partnership; the importance of collaboration and customer experience; and Jon and Chuck’s advice for how organizations can achieve effective, collaborative relationships with their own supply chain partners.
“Effective collaboration is about finding a partner that will listen, but also act. That doesn’t just take your feedback, but implements the changes you want to see... It utilizes and leverages everybody’s strengths – and that’s a win for the industry.”
[31.23] The onboarding process with Newage.
[36.45] A case study showing how Newage helped E-Freight keep up with rapidly changing detention and demurrage rules, helping them to achieve 100% invoice compliance and avoid potentially costly liability.
[40.29] Newage’s recent launch of new solution NXT, and what we can expect; and why Chuck is so excited about getting to grips with the new software.
“One of the biggest challenges with operating systems is how the data is visualized… being able to tailor data allows us to be more efficient and reduces oversights.”
[46.11] The big trends and predictions to look out for in the second half of 2024.
“It’s the role of AI, and how it will continue to make our lives easier... ultimately these technologies are increasing our efficiency.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Newage Software and Solution’s website now to find out more, and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Newage and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Jon or Chuck on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more about logistics, check out Nicole Glenn on the Power of Hope and Transforming the Logistics Industry, 205: Time To Make A Move, with Knichel Logistics or 335: What You Need to Know About Space Logistics, with Ryan Duffy.
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Ann Marie Jonkman of Blue Yonder talks about using tech to solve labor challenges; empowering teams & organizations to fulfill potential; & future supply chains.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[07.42] An introduction to Blue Yonder, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“We’re your technology partner… if you want new innovation, advice on reducing your labor cost, reducing your tech stack debt… we have the chops and vision to execute with you.”
[09.19] The ideal client for Blue Yonder.
“Our clients are looking for innovation and differentiation; in this volatile market, they’re looking to reduce costs… and they’re looking for a partner.”
[13.02] The current landscape of supply chain, and the biggest challenges faced by Blue Yonder customers.
“2024 has been a slow recovery. When you look at transportation, post-pandemic, there was a lot of excess capacity… Now volume is down, we have a lot of healthy competition, and shippers were smart – they locked in rates… So people are looking to increase utilization with what they have. So labor and cost, as opposed to scale for growth, is driving most of the portfolio.”
[15.43] Blue Yonder’s transportation management solution, and how it’s helping customers to overcome challenges, as well as transform their transportation operations.
[22.10] The evolution of warehousing, and how Blue Yonder’s range of warehouse management and execution solutions are helping customers to keep up with rapid change, pivot, and set themselves up for the future.
“I’ve seen the most change in this space. We see heavy automation, automation cost investment - but we see the labor cost driving automation.”
[28.46] Blue Yonder’s Edge technology solutions, how they integrate into customer organizations, and the incredible results they can help customers to achieve.
“Robotics has been around for a while, but what we’ve seen in the last 2-3 years is an explosion.”
[34.42] How Blue Yonder helps customers with labor management, helping them to find the balance between people and technology, and achieve employee engagement as well as peak operational performance.
[40.25] A case study exploring how Blue Yonder provided solutions to allow a key client to better understand and utilize analytics, helping them to make operational changes and achieve a 25-30% reduction in labor cost, worth millions of dollars.
[43.50] Why Blue Yonder is committed to helping customers fulfill their potential, and the impact that empowering people and organizations is having on the industry.
“We want to be your technology partner, we don’t want to just sell you a product. We look at your utilization, and help you during implementation… we want you to be successful.”
[47.32] The supply chains of the future, and the Blue Yonder innovations that are helping to drive the industry forward.
“That’s the next vision – it’s not just the products and solutions, it’s connecting them. And it’s not just visibility – it’s decisioning, its orchestration, where we’re all working collaboratively.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Blue Yonder’s website now to find out more, and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Blue Yonder and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Ann Marie on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more amazing supply chain content, check out 377: How AI is Improving Supply Chain Sustainability, with Dyci Sfregola and Hope White or Nicole Glenn on the Power of Hope and Transforming the Logistics Industry.
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Ryan Walicki & Matt Montgomery talk about supplier management - data challenges; complex tech; taking a proactive approach to risk; & the potential of AI. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[06.43] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do.
“I completely nerd out about supplier management and third-party risk!”
[09.02] From collection and validation to ongoing maintenance, the current processes and challenges of supplier management.
“You’d think it was simple… but, in reality, suppliers get asked by a lot of customers to provide data in any number of ways – portals, emails, forms – and if you’re a big supplier, it can be thousands of different ways that you’re transmitting that information, through lots of different people and functions.”
“Big organizations use supplier information differently – in sourcing, contracting, supply chain, finance – and all of a sudden there’s multiple versions of this supplier that exists.”
[15.26] A closer look at the DNA of a supplier profile, and the importance of having visibility over that data.
[19.47] Supplier validation – the challenges of payments and banking, and finding the balance between security and maintaining speed and efficiency during the validation process.
“Efficiency is coming, and AI will be a part of that, but it’s really difficult – getting valid information for a supplier is the biggest roadblock for the onboarding process.”
[22.59] How Matt works with his suppliers, and the processes that help him find that balance.
“We’ve watched this evolution. Originally we were really just focused on data – ‘How do I pay this company?’, and collected just enough for that. Now it’s much more than that. Now it’s ‘Are they compliant with regulations?’; ‘Do they have certain certification levels?’; ‘Are they in a particular region?’… It becomes much less about the accounts payable piece and much more about the supply chain piece.”
[27.14] A case study exploring how Relish and SAP helped a shared client to prevent a case of fraud, worth a huge $2.1 million, and what we can all learn.
[33.11] The risk inherent in supplier management, and how organizations should work to identify, assess and manage risk proactively.
“Most companies are doing the assessment of risk… but the challenge is that it’s very reactive… You know there’s a risk, but what do you do with it? So how can technology help you to become more predictive?”
[34.36] The role technology, specifically AI, plays in this space now – and its potential for the future.
“AI is here… but without the context to answer the question properly, you’re going to get bad steering. The next evolution is how to put context to that data.”
[39.36] The complexity of the current IT landscape; why we should all be looking to simplify; and how organizations can find the right solutions for their supplier management.
“We’re going to stop thinking about supplier management as a module, and we’re going to start thinking about it the same way we think about user group management that goes across everything… Suppliers are so core to everything in procurement that you’re going to see it more as a horizontal rather than a vertical.”
[44.46] All about solutions: what’s to come in episode 430, our upcoming collaboration with Relish.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to Relish’s website now to find out more, and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Relish and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Ryan or Matt on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Relish, check out 408: Strategically Extend Your Enterprise Applications, with Relish.
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