Doug Duvall

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton shared a cup of coffee with Max Garland, Senior Reporter at Supply Chain Dive, an Informa TechTarget publication, for a boots-on-the-ground perspective from one of the industry’s most plugged-in observers. Garland covers freight, logistics, retail fulfillment, and parcel delivery: the parts of the supply chain where strategy meets reality. And after a bruising 2025, he sees an industry that’s not just reacting anymore. It’s recalibrating.   From Plan B to Plan D If 2025 had a theme, Garland says it was contingency planning. “Last year was when a lot of companies were putting together those Plan B’s, Plan C’s, and Plan D’s,” he explained, pointing to tariff upheaval and shifting trade policy that forced leaders into constant reaction mode. Companies prioritized flexibility: diversifying sourcing, adjusting procurement strategies, and preparing for fires wherever they might spark. In 2026, that flexibility remains. But the tone has shifted. Now companies are “firming up their plans, fine-tuning, making sure those back-up plans are cost-effective as well.” It’s no longer just about avoiding disruption; it’s about operating efficiently within it. In other words, supply chain leaders aren’t just jumping over candlesticks anymore (like Jack from the old nursery rhyme). They’re…

This post is written by our friends at Winfosoft. Winfosoft is a globally recognized Microsoft Cloud Services Provider with more than 30 years of experience in ERP software solutions. Learn more at: https://winfosoft.com/   Choosing a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner is a major decision for any distributor. The right team can help improve inventory visibility, reduce errors and give leaders clearer numbers to work with. Using the wrong one can slow things down and create more manual work. This guide explores partners with proven experience in distribution and supply chain operations. Each has a slightly different focus, so readers can see which model fits their business best.   What Dynamics 365 Partners Specialize in the Distribution Industry? Microsoft Dynamics 365 combines finance, operations, sales and customer information in one system. For distributors, this means a single place to manage stock, pricing, orders and warehouse activity across locations. Specialized partners build on that core system. They design the processes and integrations that align with how distributors actually operate their businesses. This list highlights partners based on their clear focus on distribution, demonstrated experience with Dynamics 365 and independent coverage published in the last few years.   1. Winfosoft Winfosoft is a…