Data visibility can reshape procurement and supply chain management. In this episode, hosts Scott W. Luton and Allison Giddens are joined by Ashley Greuel and Jeff Gillmer from OMNIA Partners to explore the critical importance of spend visibility for business leaders navigating the complexities of 2024. Tune in for practical insights on leveraging data integration and automation to minimize manual errors and maximize organizational impact. Learn about the strategic role of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) in complementing procurement efforts and uncovering cost-saving opportunities, especially for smaller businesses. With a blend of expert advice, future trends in AI and machine learning, and lighthearted banter, this episode provides actionable steps and encourages a community-driven approach to embracing technological advancements in the supply chain sector. This engaging conversation not only highlights current challenges but also offers a roadmap for aligning teams toward common goals and thriving amidst global uncertainties.

Cybersecurity is a global issue impacting almost every industry. Staggeringly, it’s estimated that cybercrime cost the world $8 trillion in 2023 – a figure exceeding the annual GDP of every country barring the USA and China. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson sit down with Allison Giddens, Co-President of Win-Tech, Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, to discuss the critical intersection between cybersecurity and manufacturing. Conversations begin with a focus on risk prioritization, with Giddens explaining the manufacturers need to start with the computers in their front office before worrying about the threats facing their connected equipment. “We’re telling manufacturers, hey, you need to know how to run a marathon and they don’t even know how to walk a 5K,” she states. Discussions then turn to the importance of multi-factor authentication, the need to balance investments in both people and technology, the criticality of understanding cyber even when outsourcing, the pros and cons of cloud migration, and much more.