Mark Holmes

written by Chris Cunnane with InterSystems   Supply chain leaders are under constant pressure to move faster, reduce costs, improve resilience, and respond to disruptions in real time. Yet despite billions invested in technology, many organizations still struggle with stockouts, delayed shipments, excess inventory, and unreliable forecasts. The problem may not be the supply chain itself. It may be the data behind it. Most organizations today operate with more supply chain data than ever before. ERP systems, warehouse management platforms, transportation tools, supplier portals, IoT devices, and analytics dashboards generate a nonstop flow of information. On paper, this should create unprecedented visibility. But visibility is not the same as confidence. When inventory data is delayed, supplier updates are inconsistent, and demand signals are fragmented across systems, organizations are forced to make critical decisions using incomplete or unreliable information. The result is a distorted picture of reality, and costly mistakes follow. Companies expedite shipments they didn’t need. They over-order inventory “just in case.” They miss shortages that were hiding in plain sight. And they spend valuable time reconciling conflicting reports instead of solving problems.   The Real Problem: Fragmented Data The challenge isn’t a lack of data. It’s that the data…

From Grocery Innovator to Global Tech Enabler At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton spent time with David Scheffrahn, Vice President of Sales with Ocado Intelligent Automation, to explore how fulfillment technology is evolving in an era defined by volatility. While Ocado is widely known in the UK and Europe for its e-commerce grocery leadership, Scheffrahn explained that the company’s North American focus is different. Over 25 years of building its own advanced grocery e-commerce and fulfillment operations, Ocado developed a powerful technology stack to drive efficiency. “What we’ve done in the last five years,” he shared, “has taken the tech stack that we built for our own use, and now we’re offering it to other companies to buy and use for their operations.” Today, Ocado supports 3PLs and global brands with end-to-end automation solutions that enable companies to maintain greater control over their omnichannel fulfillment, especially those looking for alternatives to marketplace giants.   Volatility Hasn’t Gone Away When asked about dominant supply chain themes heading into 2026, Scheffrahn was direct: “Volatility has not gone away.” He described 2025 as “a massive shock in the system,” with tariffs and shifting trade policies forcing customers to pause projects and reassess strategy. “Almost…