James Wilson

When healthcare supply chains break down, the consequences are measured in more than missed delivery windows or higher procurement costs. They can show up as delayed procedures, frustrated clinical teams, wasted inventory, and, most importantly, compromised patient care. That urgency is at the center of a new Supply Chain Now conversation featuring Mark Holmes, Head of Global Supply Chain Market Strategy at InterSystems, and Michael LaRocca, Founder and CEO of Ready Computing. Together, they explore why healthcare organizations need a new level of supply chain intelligence—and how integrated data, automation, and AI can help hospitals move from reactive problem-solving to proactive orchestration. Why Healthcare Supply Chain Disruption Is Different In retail, a stockout may mean a customer chooses a different store. In healthcare, a missing item can mean a surgery is delayed or canceled. As Holmes puts it in the episode, not having the right product at the right time for the right procedure is a fundamentally different kind of failure—one that affects lives, outcomes, and hospital economics all at the same time. The business impact is significant. Holmes notes that globally, procedure cancellations related to supply availability can average around 10%, with some regions experiencing even higher rates. A…

Special Guest Blog Post written by Jeff Eckel, Director of Product Marketing, e2open   “Dad, why are they out of my favorite cereal?” your 10-year-old asks you at the grocery store, noticing that their favorite breakfast food is missing. The answer is more complex than they could imagine – hurricanes don’t just bring bad weather; they create far-reaching supply chain disruptions that affect everything from food to toys. Each hurricane season often brings catastrophic floods and wind damage. While communities will rebuild after the devastation, supply chains – the force behind keeping stores stocked – also experience powerful shocks beyond the storms’ path. The ripple effect of hurricanes across global trade The impact extends well beyond the immediate devastation. Critical port hubs for global trade close as hurricanes batter coastal regions. Cargo ships carrying essential goods like food, medical supplies, and consumer products must reroute or anchor offshore, waiting for storms to pass. This creates massive supply chain delays. Ports with backlogs of ships trying to dock and unload. Over-the-road and rail transportation networks face fallen trees, flooded roads, and damaged infrastructure that make movement difficult. Inland distribution centers face pressure Inland distribution centers – strategically located hubs where goods…