Jacob Levack

Special Guest Blog Post written by Matt McKinney, Co-Founder and CEO of Loop   I spend most of my time with supply chain and innovation leaders at major enterprises who are sitting on significant AI budgets but struggling to show measurable business impact in an increasingly complex and volatile supply chain environment.   These conversations have evolved dramatically. A year ago, executives were asking basic questions about AI feasibility. Today, the questions have shifted to strategic implementation at enterprise scale.   Based on hundreds of these discussions, three questions consistently emerge that separate companies making transformational progress from those stuck in pilot purgatory.   How do we move from AI experiments to enterprise-scale impact?   Most organizations have yet to see organization-wide, bottom-line impact from AI use. This is the strategic challenge keeping C-suite leaders awake at night.   The problem isn’t the technology. It’s the application of the technology. Too many enterprises are trying to treat AI like a magic wand they can bolt onto existing systems. But garbage in, garbage out. If your underlying data is fragmented and inconsistent, AI won’t solve your problems; in fact they’ll get worse.   At its core, anything automated is powered by…

Key Takeaways from the Supply Chain Now Webinar with Bastian Solutions In today’s fast-changing world of logistics and manufacturing, one truth is clear: there’s no hiding from automation. Whether you’re a global enterprise or a growing regional player, success depends on choosing the right technology—and, just as importantly, the right partner. In a recent Supply Chain Now webinar, The Power of Supply Chain Partnerships, hosts Scott Luton and Marty Parker sat down with Matt Kuper and Bastian Himmeroeder from Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Automated Logistics company, for an in-depth conversation about how to unlock the true potential of automation through strong integrator relationships. Here are a few key takeaways that stood out: 1. Strategic Partnerships Trump One-Off Projects According to Bastian, the age of “one-and-done” automation projects is over. Today’s complexity demands long-term, strategic relationships between companies and their integrators—ones built on transparency, shared values, and a deep understanding of each other’s goals. 2. Culture Fit Matters as Much as Technology Matt emphasized that cultural alignment is the first critical element in selecting an integrator. Shared values, open communication, and mutual respect ensure that the partnership thrives well beyond implementation. 3. Experience and Support Drive Success Choosing a partner with…