Fatima Alvarez

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! Did you catch all the episodes? If not, you can check them all out here: We kicked off the week with This Week in Business History, where Scott looks back at some of the biggest historical events in business history for the week ahead. Supply Chain Now · “This Week in Business History for June 29th: The U.S. Interstate Highway System”   Then on Tuesday, Scott and Greg welcomed Cynthia Curry with the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Jasmine Crowe with Goodr to the podcast for a conversation about redirecting excess prepared food and so much more.   Supply Chain Now · “Feed More & Waste Less: Jasmine Crowe with Goodr”   On Wednesday, we continued our new series, TECHquila Sunrise with Greg White, where Greg shares the latest investments, acquisitions, innovations, and glorious implosions in Supply Chain Tech every week.   Supply Chain Now · “Top 25 Startup Ecosystems, Inclusive Investing, & Big Deals: TECHquila Sunrise with Greg White”   On Thursday we published the Supply Chain Buzz, where Greg and Scott discussed the top supply chain news of the week.   Supply Chain Now · “Supply Chain Buzz for June 29th:…