Karl Fillhouer

In today’s increasingly complex global supply chain landscape, Tom Moore keeps his message refreshingly straightforward: ProvisionAI helps large companies discover hidden costs and eliminate them. Organizations such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, and Unilever have leveraged the company’s technology to uncover and eliminate inefficiencies—particularly in transportation and warehousing—that traditional systems fail to detect. The outcome is significant and often delivers immediate savings. But Moore believes many of these problems stem from misunderstandings about the very technologies companies rely on.   Misnamed Systems & Misaligned Expectations Before the interview officially began, Moore reflected on the surprisingly inaccurate names assigned to modern supply chain technologies. ERP systems rarely plan resources across the enterprise, despite what their name suggests. Warehouse Management Systems, while certainly used in warehouses, don’t actually “manage” much at all. People behind keyboards still make most of the critical decisions. This disconnect in terminology shapes faulty expectations. Many organizations believe their planning systems will truly plan the supply chain, yet most tools merely react to demand signals. If ABC Company orders ten cases, the system automatically replenishes—without considering warehouse capacity, transportation availability, downstream implications, or cost-to-serve. Moore characterizes this as both an old problem and a new one, and it…

Change is certainly going to come, and a number of developments are expected to impact the supply chain in 2025. That includes the increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, investment growth in renewable energy, and momentum gains for nearshoring. No matter what happens in 2025, Supply Chain Now will be there every day to serve as the voice of the industry and keep supply chain podcast listeners informed about the big ideas as well as the little changes that could make a big impact. Ongoing Disruptions Are Set to Impact Industry The question isn’t whether there will be supply chain disruptions in 2025. It’s a matter of when, where, and the cause of the disruption. The International Longshoremen’s Association could go on strike again in January if a contract agreement is not reached. The Houthi could stage more attacks on containerships in the Red Sea at any time. And weather-related disasters could range from deadly ice storms to floods to hurricanes anywhere in the country. “Looking ahead to 2025, we can predict some major shifts and challenges for supply chains. Right now, businesses around the world are facing increasing pressure to adapt to new technologies, environmental impacts, and…