Amir Ghannad

Scope 3 emissions reportedly account for more than 70% of businesses’ carbon footprints. That huge percentage gives an indication of just how critical supply chain sustainability efforts are to the planet. Thankfully, a growing number of eco-friendly innovations are helping reshape global supply chains. Supply Chain Sustainability: An Industry Imperative in a Changing World It is becoming increasingly important for companies to accurately calculate their supply chain emissions and create an information-sharing ecosystem, according to Matthew Gardner, co-founder and managing partner of Sustainserv, a consulting firm that helps businesses implement sustainability strategies. Gardner said accounting for supply chain-related greenhouse gas emissions includes such challenges as: Data gathering of “materials, manufacturing processes, activities of second- and third-tier suppliers, and overall data governance and quality.” Calculation methodology that “reflects the realities of raw material sourcing, product manufacturing, transportation and distribution, and other life-cycle impacts that may affect reported greenhouse gas totals.” Supplier relationships, which can be strained as a result of emissions assessments. Businesses also need to keep in mind their relationships with consumers. PDI Technologies said 80% of U.S. consumers it surveyed were willing to pay more for sustainable products. “Between these statistics and the regulatory conversations that are happening in…

In today’s increasingly complex global supply chain landscape, Tom Moore keeps his message refreshingly straightforward: ProvisionAI helps large companies discover hidden costs and eliminate them. Organizations such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, and Unilever have leveraged the company’s technology to uncover and eliminate inefficiencies—particularly in transportation and warehousing—that traditional systems fail to detect. The outcome is significant and often delivers immediate savings. But Moore believes many of these problems stem from misunderstandings about the very technologies companies rely on.   Misnamed Systems & Misaligned Expectations Before the interview officially began, Moore reflected on the surprisingly inaccurate names assigned to modern supply chain technologies. ERP systems rarely plan resources across the enterprise, despite what their name suggests. Warehouse Management Systems, while certainly used in warehouses, don’t actually “manage” much at all. People behind keyboards still make most of the critical decisions. This disconnect in terminology shapes faulty expectations. Many organizations believe their planning systems will truly plan the supply chain, yet most tools merely react to demand signals. If ABC Company orders ten cases, the system automatically replenishes—without considering warehouse capacity, transportation availability, downstream implications, or cost-to-serve. Moore characterizes this as both an old problem and a new one, and it…