Delaney White

In schools and childcare centers, every dollar counts. But there’s another resource that may be just as precious: time. In a recent conversation with Scott Luton, Ashley Hubka, SVP & GM of Walmart Business, explored the often-overlooked role procurement plays in education. From preparing for the back-to-school rush to managing staff shortages and embracing AI, Hubka’s message was consistent: Simplifying routine purchasing can give educators and administrators more time to focus on the people they serve. And that opportunity may be substantial: according to a recent survey of more than 500 decision-makers at businesses with 10–500 employees, 37% of business leaders spend 4–7 hours each week on routine purchasing. Different Organizations, Similar Challenges A school district serving 30,000 students and a childcare center supporting 500 children may operate at vastly different scales, but Hubka says their procurement challenges often look surprisingly similar. Both organizations must stretch budgets, stay stocked, support multiple users and locations, and respond quickly when needs change. When purchasing is fragmented across suppliers and systems, they face increased complexity and reduced visibility. The back-to-school season magnifies those challenges. “Back-to-school condenses months of planning and purchasing into a very short window,” Hubka explained. At the same time organizations…

Another great week here at Supply Chain Now! Have you listened to all the episodes? If not, no worries! Check them all out here: On Monday, we welcomed Dan Reeve with Esker to the show to talk about how organizations can leverage AI effectively to win in uncertain times. Supply Chain Now · “Leveraging AI Effectively to Win in Uncertain Times: Dan Reeve with Esker”   We continued our Today in Manufacturing series on Tuesday, and welcomed Rebecca Bowman with The Clorox Company to Supply Chain Now, along with special co-hosts Jason Moss with Georgia Manufacturing Alliance and Laura Madajewsli with HLB Gross Collins.   Supply Chain Now · “Today in Manufacturing: Rebecca Bowman with The Clorox Company”   On Wednesday we published our popular Supply Chain Buzz, with Scott and Greg sharing and discussing the latest news and events in Supply Chain and beyond.   Supply Chain Now · “Pharma Supply Chain, Reshoring, & TP: The Supply Chain Buzz for May 18th”   Thursday we welcomed back Latia Thomas via livestream as she shared what the future of supply chain has in store. A bright future indeed!   Supply Chain Now · “Latia Thomas: Leading the Charge into the…