Melinda McLaughlin

written by Chris Cunnane with InterSystems   Supply chains have never been more complex or more exposed to disruption. From geopolitical instability and extreme weather to labor shortages and shifting demand, organizations are operating in a constant state of uncertainty. In this environment, basic visibility is no longer enough. Companies need the ability to monitor products in motion, understand their history, and act quickly on reliable data. That is where track and trace becomes essential. Track and trace technology enables organizations to follow products across the supply chain in real time and trace their full history from origin to destination. It connects data from barcodes, RFID tags, IoT sensors, telematics systems, and enterprise applications into a unified view. When supported by a modern data platform, this information becomes more than operational detail. It becomes a foundation for smarter decisions.   Move from Visibility to Action Many organizations have invested in visibility tools, but visibility alone does not solve problems. Knowing that a shipment is delayed is useful; knowing how that delay will affect downstream production, customer commitments, and inventory levels is far more valuable. Track and trace capabilities, when paired with analytics and decision intelligence, help companies shift from reactive…

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton caught up with Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and Co-Founder and Content Director of the Women in Supply Chain Forum, for a conversation that cut through the tech buzz and landed squarely on what matters most: people. Marina leads two influential digital publications covering the full spectrum of supply chain — from temperature-controlled cold chain logistics to e-commerce and retail — along with four major industry awards programs and the rapidly growing Women in Supply Chain Forum, now entering its fifth year. But amid all the innovation on display in Las Vegas, her message was refreshingly grounded.   Disruption Is the Baseline. Proactivity Is the Shift When asked about dominant themes shaping the industry, Marina didn’t hesitate. One common theme linking 2025 and 2026 is that “disruptions obviously still exist,” she said. From tariffs to trade wars to Mother Nature, the hits keep coming. What’s different in 2026 isn’t the disruption itself; it’s the response. Instead of dwelling on what’s gone wrong, companies are getting proactive. Leaders are “acting on it and being proactive about getting in front of it,” she noted. Since COVID, organizations have learned that…