Erik Green

At the 2025 Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver, Scott Luton caught up with Justin Siefert, a familiar face in the supply chain community and a leader at John Galt Solutions, a global provider of end-to-end supply chain planning software. From demand and supply planning to inventory and S&OP, John Galt supports organizations across industries with the holistic capabilities needed to thrive in an increasingly unpredictable landscape.   A Company Investing in the Next Generation Before diving into industry trends, Siefert shared an update on one of the programs that sets John Galt apart: its supply chain scholarship program, which awards $10,000 to students pursuing supply chain degrees. This year’s cycle brought in a record number of nominations, with new winners set to be announced in January. It’s an initiative Siefert is proud of—and one that reflects John Galt’s belief in cultivating tomorrow’s leaders.   Old Problems, New Pressures: Planning in a World of Uncertainty When asked about the biggest challenges facing planners today, Siefert didn’t hesitate: uncertainty. While the forms of disruption change—pandemics, geopolitical shifts, demand shocks, evolving portfolios—the underlying challenge remains the same. Planners must anticipate what’s next and respond quickly, often in real time. “No day…

Global trade practitioners face waves of uncertainty with the possibilities of slews of international tariffs and work stoppages at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. There are other weighty challenges as well, including conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East, increasingly dangerous storms, and seasonal capacity strains and congestion. Technology plays an increasingly important role in overcoming the many challenges in the global supply chain. “The evolution of supply chain technology has allowed the shipping industry to enhance its operational capabilities. Automation, real-time tracking, and improved throughput have helped manage the heavy volume growth experienced during the pandemic, but recent challenges have highlighted the need for even more robust strategies,” Karim Jumma, e2open’s vice president of product management, wrote in a contributed SupplyChainBrain article. Jumma cited geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather events, and logistical bottlenecks as examples of challenges that have tested the industry and “increased the need for innovative solutions that prioritize flexibility and data-driven decision-making to mitigate against ongoing disruptions.” Supply Chain Now is highlighting E2open, WCAworld, and DP World, three companies continually working on innovative solutions to global trade’s most pressing challenges. DP World Takes Collaborative Approach to Global Challenges DP World’s marketing material says the…