John DeYoung

Special Guest Blog Post written by Bart A. De Muynck   The past few years have exposed just how fragile our supply chains can be. From tariff shocks to pandemic disruptions, from inflationary pressures to mounting parcel surcharges, the landscape has shifted beneath our feet. Companies that once managed logistics as a back-office function are now grappling with its role as a front-line business risk.   What’s often missed in this conversation is the role of freight audit and payment (FAP). Long considered a tactical necessity, FAP has quietly become a strategic imperative. And as I explored in the Better Supply Chains Market Radar: Freight Audit & Payment, the companies that treat it that way are the ones best equipped to weather today’s volatility.   Why FAP Has Become Mission-Critical   When tariffs can add 15–20% to input costs almost overnight, or when the elimination of the U.S. de minimis exemption threatens to reshape cross-border e-commerce, companies need more than visibility. They need real-time intelligence and agility.   Traditional FAP approaches—manual audits, siloed spreadsheets, reactive error correction—are no longer sufficient. Modern FAP platforms, powered by AI and advanced analytics, enable shippers to:   Audit with precision at scale, uncovering hidden…

Special Guest Blog Post written by Sofia Rivas Herrera   One of my greatest joys is travelling around the world; learning about other cultures, ways of living and traditions. I often say that “everything is supply chain”, and this topic is no exception. When we plan a trip, we first start by defining origin and destination followed by when we want to travel and how. Then we evaluate how much we want/can spend and identify our non-negotiables, which start reducing the horizon of combinations and options we have. Does this sound familiar? In my mind this is very similar to processes within planning, procurement, network optimization and supply chain strategy. Here are 5 questions travel-related that I loved to be asked to help prove my point of this connection with supply chain:   What is the best way to plan a trip?   Planning a trip is no different than planning a new distribution model or redesigning your network. This process can look a bit like this: Define your route; origin and destination Identify your constraints: budget, time available, level of convenience and comfort, Run your optimization scenarios From there, you identify available lanes, available modes of transport, and available…