Supply Chain Now

Prepare your supply chain for peak season success with actionable insights from industry experts. In this episode, hosts Scott W. Luton and Kim Reuter are joined by special guests Wes Arentson and Tony Thrasher from SPS Commerce to discuss essential strategies for navigating the busiest time of the year. From making the right investments in Q4 preparation to the importance of post-mortem reviews in Q1, our experts share invaluable advice on optimizing your logistics and retail operations. Gain insights into building strong vendor relationships, embracing automation, and leveraging data analytics for demand forecasting. Whether you’re a logistics professional or a retail supply chain enthusiast, this episode equips you with the knowledge to enhance efficiency, prevent disruptions, and, ultimately, delight your customers. Tune in for a comprehensive guide to mastering peak season logistics and making strategic decisions that drive success throughout the year.

Innovation and disruption are constants in the supply chain game. In this episode, hosts Scott W. Luton and Kevin L. Jackson, alongside special guests Greg Buzek from IHL Group and Vignesh Balasubramanian from Microsoft, dive deep into the pivotal role of generative AI in revolutionizing supply chain management. Understand the significant inefficiencies in current transportation logistics, with over 50% of trucks less than half full, and how AI can turn this challenge into a substantial efficiency gain. Our experts share real-world applications from Microsoft, highlighting AI’s role in enhancing planning and forecasting capabilities, adapting to changing data, and optimizing logistics to cut costs and improve delivery times. Vignesh’s personal anecdotes from the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the importance of preparedness and strategic adaptation in the face of geopolitical and weather-related disruptions. Looking toward the future, we discuss strategies like nearshoring, the lasting impact of supply chain disruptions on inflation and consumer experiences, and the critical importance of maintaining clean and ready data for AI optimization. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and a compelling call to action to embrace AI-driven innovations to stay competitive in today’s volatile market.

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience! In this week’s Digital Transformers edition of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson discussed a variety of news and developments across global supply chain, with a heavy focus on technology. Listen in as they discuss: What “Intralogics” means What procurement executives are prioritizing in 2024 Accelerating digital transformation in logistics How D-Day would have played out with modern technology And much more!

Today we continue the Supply Chain Leadership Across Africa series as host Scott Luton and special guest host Jenny Froome are joined by Pam Steele, founder and CEO at Pamela Steele Associates, and Rebecca Alban, Senior Manager of Health Systems at VillageReach to discuss the gender imbalance in the global supply chain, particularly in the public health supply chain workforce. Listen in as Pam and Rebecca highlight the importance of achieving gender balance in the industry, not just for equity, but also for improving supply chain performance. They also discussed the barriers women face in the industry, such as cultural norms, biases, and organizational cultures, and ideas for addressing the issues. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the role women play in the healthcare workforce, and the transformational impact they can have on it.

AI technology is capturing everyone’s attention and is already reshaping industries worldwide. You may wonder how AI will benefit your business, what its impact will be on your supply and demand planning, or why you should invest in AI as part of your tech stack. In the webinar, we’ll uncover the practical implementation of AI in your business for supply and demand planning and provide a clear and actionable insight into its untapped potential in this area. Gain valuable insights from Barry Kukkuk, CTO & Co-founder and visionary behind Netstock’s AI-powered supply and demand planning software, as he provides candid insights on the transformative impact of AI and best practices for your business. Discover how AI technologies can support unlocking inventory opportunities, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive overall business profitability. Webinar Abstract Key Takeaways: For the audience to have a clear understanding of what AI & Degenerative AI are and its impact on supply chains How AI software can help businesses be better prepared for external disruptions and better future-ready their supply chain The opportunities that AI software adds to supply and demand planning Best practices for businesses implementing AI software

In this new episode of Supply Chain Now, data is king! Join hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love as we take a dive deep into supply chain analytics with Tom Butt, Senior Manager of Customer Success at EasyPost. With nearly 15 years of experience, Tom provides insights into leveraging data for extraordinary outcomes, discussing real-time analytics, cloud storage, and the future of supply chain technology. Listen in and learn: Examples of real-time analytics impacting supply chain decisions How to aggregate data across sources for a comprehensive view How to assess and prioritize key metrics How to use data to drive sustainability and efficiency in supply chains Tune in to learn how to enhance your supply chain operations and delight your customers with modern data analytics.

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience! In this week’s episode of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton and Tandreia Bellamy discuss: The ongoing labor negotiations at the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports in the US How to prep your supply chains for a successful peak season The growing trend of smart warehousing and the utilization of AI And so much more!

This episode of Supply Chain Now dives into how Georgia-Pacific, a nearly 100-year-old company, embraces digital transformation. Listen in as hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson welcome Roshan Shah, VP of Applied AI and Products at Georgia-Pacific, to discuss how they use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve decision-making, reduce waste, and make their operations more sustainable. Join us for this captivating conversation as Scott, Kevin, and Roshan highlight the importance of human-AI collaboration, how technology can empower people, not replace them, and also share valuable insights on leadership and navigating change management within a large organization.

The secret to mastering retail and e-commerce supply chains is through repeatable, scalable processes and solid partnerships. Join hosts Scott W. Luton and Kim Reuter as they dive deep into the intricacies of retail and e-commerce supply chains with experts Wes Arentson and Tony Thrasher from SPS Commerce. In this episode, you’ll learn why repeatable processes are key to success and how having a well-defined onboarding procedure can prevent you from reinventing the wheel. Wes and Tony will also provide actionable strategies for integrating orders into warehouse management systems (WMS), embracing flexibility in warehouses, and the decision-making process behind building or outsourcing your company’s tech stack. If you’re aiming for a strong foundation in your business operations and want to navigate the complexities of omnichannel retail and inventory management, then this episode is a must-listen.