Supply Chain Now

The future of energy is changing fast — and Schneider Electric is leading the way. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton reflects on the recent Schneider Electric Innovation Summit North America 2025 in Las Vegas, where 2,500+ leaders gathered to tackle skyrocketing energy demand, AI-driven power consumption, and the urgent need to modernize our grid. Listen in as Scott shares his top takeaways — the why, the what, and the so what — including: How AI is driving massive new energy needs Schneider Electric’s breakthroughs in electrification, automation & digital intelligence Why energy efficiency is quickly becoming much more than a competitive advantage Discover why Schneider Electric is the trusted energy technology partner shaping the future.   This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Learn more about Schneider Electric Learn more about our hosts Want more Supply Chain Now? We know you can’t get enough Supply Chain Now! Don’t miss a single episode, livestream, or webinar: Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here Subscribe to Supply Chain…

Supply chain planning is undergoing a profound shift in a landscape shaped by rising geopolitical pressure, accelerating disruption cycles, and unprecedented investment in AI. Organizations are being pushed to deliver growth while navigating higher volatility, tighter margins, and increased expectations for speed and adaptability. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by special guest host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, and Noha Samara, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain at Gartner. Noha draws on her cross-industry experience from manufacturing and consumer goods to high tech to explore how planners can better connect strategy, ecosystems, and technology to meet the demands of 2025 and beyond. Scott, Mike, and Noha unpack the four essentials for elevating planning performance: aligning planning strategy with business priorities, collaborating across extended supply networks, defining a precise and targeted role for AI, and equipping people with the skills and confidence to lead through change. They also spotlight insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit, including the skills planners need, the expanding relevance of CPFR, and why the future of planning depends as much on talent and culture as it does on data and technology.   This episode is hosted by Scott…

As modern supply chains grow more complex, shippers are under increasing pressure to move beyond spreadsheets, emails, and manual decision-making. For Trove Brands, rapid expansion across multiple product lines created new challenges in parcel, LTL, truckload, and international shipping. Keeping up with customer expectations and rising order volumes required better automation, cleaner data, and greater visibility across every mode. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton speaks with Tanner Dastrup, Director of Logistics at Trove Brands, and Shannon Vaillancourt, CEO of RateLinx. They break down how Trove replaced outdated workflows with automated rate shopping, digital truckload auctions, integrated freight audit tools, and real-time container tracking. By connecting these capabilities directly to their ERP systems, Trove reduced manual work, improved accuracy, and provided teams and customers with more reliable information. Together, Scott, Tanner, and Shannon explore the broader shifts shaping transportation today, from the value of unified data to the cost of inconsistent carrier selection and manual settlement. Their discussion shows how flexible technology can streamline warehouse and 3PL workflows, strengthen customer experience, and help growing shippers scale with confidence.   This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.…

The future of supply chain is accelerating, and on today’s episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens are unpacking the global trends, disruptions, and economic shifts shaping what’s next for leaders everywhere. From declining imports to AI’s growing pains, this episode cuts through the noise to bring clarity to fast-moving industry headlines. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP! Scott and Allison dive into the biggest stories impacting supply chains today — and the ripple effects businesses need to prepare for. Together, they discuss: 📉 Why U.S. imports from China are falling sharply across electronics, furniture, toys, and more — and how tariffs and cooling consumer demand are reshaping sourcing strategies 🤖 The retail AI reality check: Why 95% of organizations see little ROI from AI investments, and how brittle workflows and lack of contextual intelligence are slowing progress 🔮 Top supply chain trends for 2026, including workforce and talent shortages, AI-driven transformation, and mounting geopolitical challenges 🛒 Thanksgiving meal costs drop 5%, but some items — like sweet potatoes and veggie trays — are bucking the trend with noticeable price increases 🌏 What all these signals mean for manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, and consumers heading…

In a year defined by trade turbulence, rapid innovation, and record levels of uncertainty, global supply chains are being tested like never before. From shifting tariff policies to evolving manufacturing strategies and breakthrough technologies, 2025 has challenged leaders to balance agility with long-term vision. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton sits down with Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, to unpack the current state of global supply chains and what lies ahead. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across energy, finance, and logistics, Chris shares why agility and data-driven visibility are now critical to global enterprise success. Scott and Chris discuss how organizations are adapting to ongoing trade volatility, the growing importance of supply networks, and the technologies reshaping decision-making, from AI-driven workflows to high-dexterity robotics. They also highlight key insights from the 2026 Supply Chain Outlook, including trade liberalization trends, changes in shipping capacity, and the renewed focus on reshoring.   This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Download the…

In an era where artificial intelligence dominates boardroom conversations, global supply chain leaders face a new challenge: separating hype from real, scalable value. As AI becomes an essential part of the enterprise toolkit, organizations are racing to implement it not just for efficiency, but also for empowering teams, making better decisions, and transforming entire value chains. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Anouk Schoenmakers, Managing Partner Consulting Solutions at Bluecrux, and Joy Taylor, Managing Director at alliantConsulting, to explore how organizations can move beyond the AI buzz and create meaningful, people-centered transformation across the value chain. Together, they unpack how supply chain leaders can use AI not as a shiny object, but as an enabler of better, faster, and more confident decision-making. Anouk shares why decision intelligence is now a survival skill for modern businesses, and how companies can build the agility and mindset needed to thrive amid constant disruption. Joy offers her perspective on change management and the human side of digital transformation, explaining why technology alone isn’t enough without trust, transparency, and a people-first culture. From decoupling data and decision flows to scaling AI adoption through trust and clarity, they explore actionable…

The future of supply chain is accelerating, and today hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson are unpacking the innovations and investments transforming the industry. From AI-driven visibility to the “zero distance” strategy by GE Appliances, this episode dives deep into what’s next for supply chain leaders. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP! Scott and Kevin are joined by Pam Simon, Conference Chair and EVP of Programming at Manifest, to explore how technology, leadership, and collaboration are driving a smarter, more resilient supply chain ecosystem. Together, they discuss: How Steph Curry’s investment in the AI-powered startup Burnt is redefining the intersection of supply chain and the food industry GE Appliances’ zero-distance supply chain initiative and its impact on efficiency, technology adoption, and reshoring The rising influence of artificial intelligence in e-commerce, predictive analytics, and logistics optimization New features coming to Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, including a dedicated procurement stage and expanded cold chain focus Why real-time visibility and autonomous systems are key to future-ready supply chains Listen in as Scott, Kevin, and Pam unpack the trends shaping 2026 and beyond — and share how today’s leaders can stay agile, connected, and innovative in a rapidly changing world.  …

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Kim Reuter welcome Bobby Holland, Vice President/Director of Freight Business Analytics at U.S. Bank, and Heather Shilt, Director, Global Logistics at Fortive, to unpack Q3 2025 findings from the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, one of the industry’s most referenced trucking indicators, informed by tens of billions in transactions. The panel explores why volumes are down even as costs rise, how tariffs and manufacturing softness are reshaping regional performance, and where rate pressure and capacity tightness are showing up first. Together, they dig into nine key takeaways from the national and regional views (West, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast): most significant sequential gains in the West in four years, persistent softness in the Southwest, and mixed signals elsewhere as consumer demand, housing starts, and labor dynamics tug the market in different directions. From shipper playbooks (carrier-mix depth, lane-level cost vigilance, and alternate modes) to practical watch-outs for Q4 and early 2026, this data-driven conversation equips operators to trend, plan, and pressure-test their assumptions in a volatile environment. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kim Reuter, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton and special guest co-host Tevon E. Taylor welcome Lori Boyer, Head of Content Marketing at EasyPost, to unpack the post-purchase experience (tracking, claims, and returns) and how owning these moments drives loyalty and repeat purchase. Drawing on fresh consumer research, Lori explains why reliability and flexibility now outrank “free,” why brands, not carriers, are held responsible for delivery outcomes, and how proactive notifications can double as high-performing marketing touchpoints. Together, the panel dives into practical plays shippers can run today: cutting “where is my order?” calls with automated, branded tracking; removing friction with one-click USPS claims filing; and turning adverse events into brand-building recoveries. They also explore modern return realities. From fraud and “keep-the-item” policies to sustainability pressures, and how to reduce returns at the source with better product information, sizing guidance, and segmentation. If you ship anything in 2025, this fast-moving conversation is a field guide to protecting your brand promise after the buy button. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Tevon Taylor, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned…