In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, for a conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of supply chains. Mike shares how leading organizations are expanding beyond logistics to connect planning, customer experience, and innovation. Drawing on lessons from the Ryder Cup, he highlights the power of preparation, teamwork, and resilience; qualities that define both top athletes and successful supply chain leaders. Mike also explores how AI can strengthen decision-making without replacing human expertise. He shares insights from Gartner’s Top 25 and previews the upcoming Planning Summits in London and Denver. From aligning people and processes to driving performance in uncertain times, this episode offers practical lessons for building smarter, more connected supply chains. 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: Connect with Mike Griswold Learn more about Gartner 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…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and special guest host Claudia Freed, President & CEO of EALGreen, welcome Chuck Johnston, Chief Strategy Officer at ReturnPro, for a deep dive into the “dark side” of supply chain: reverse logistics and returns management. They unpack why returns are a nearly trillion-dollar challenge in the U.S., how BORIS (buy online, return in store) strains store operations, and why many retailers still under-invest: leaders often can’t see the full cost across functions or make the ROI case for what’s treated as a cost center. Chuck shares how the space has evolved from yellow notepads to data-driven decisioning, highlighting intelligent algorithms that route items at the customer’s first return click, fraud mitigation with imaging and behavior signals, and how third-party innovation is compressing software build times. Claudia adds a nonprofit and circularity lens: donation channels, extended tax credits, and AI pilots (computer vision + MCP agents) that identify item condition and slotting in real time. Together, they explore where to start, why cross-functional “ambassadors” matter, and how partnerships across retailers, manufacturers, nonprofits, and 3PLs can turn returns from margin erosion into measurable value and social impact.   This episode is hosted by…