Lorraine Balog

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping supply chain operations. From improving demand forecasting and inventory management to increasing operational efficiency, organizations across industries are investing heavily in AI to gain a competitive edge. Yet many companies overlook a critical requirement for AI success: access to trusted, high-quality data shared across the supply chain ecosystem. Supply chains have always relied on collaboration among suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. In the AI era, that collaboration must become more intelligent. Organizations need timely, secure data exchange, both upstream and downstream, to provide AI systems with the information required to generate accurate insights and recommendations. When suppliers share real-time information about inventory levels, delivery schedules, and raw material quality, manufacturers can improve planning, reduce risk, and respond more quickly to disruptions. Likewise, when retailers share data about customer demand, inventory positions, and satisfaction levels, manufacturers can better align production and distribution with actual market needs. The result is a leaner, more agile, and more profitable supply chain. Despite these benefits, many organizations are still hesitant to share data. Concerns about security, intellectual property protection, competitive exposure, and integration complexity continue to create barriers. However, these challenges can be addressed through strong data governance, clear…

Stay up to date on all the latest conversations, interviews, and episodes we released this week here at Supply Chain Now! We started this week off with an episode of Digital Transformers with host Kevin L. Jackson. During this episode, Kevin sits down with three digital experts to discuss new approaches to establishing trust and provenance within a supply chain that is increasingly both digital and physical. This episode features Dustin McIntire the CTO of COMSovereign Holding Corporation. Eric Adolphe the CEO of Forward Edge-AI and Joshua Pendrick the CEO and Co-founder of Rypplzz. For Monday’s This Week In Business History episode, Kelly Barner talks about the political act that led to an increase in organized crime and the end of the Great Depression. On Tuesday, we released a new episode of Supply Chain Now with host Scott Luton and guest host Allison Giddens. They welcomed the head of Global Supply Chain for Peloton, Jennifer McKeehan, to the show. They discussed how the hybrid work environment is allowing the best leaders to shine by continuing to build strong, meaningful relationships, and much more. This week we released an episode of Logistics With Purpose with hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter.…