R “Ray” Wang

Six industry leaders reveal how to build data agility—and why it’s the key to competitive advantage. Most teams spend 70–90% of their time preparing data—not analyzing it. By the time data is ready for analysis, the market has moved. Opportunities vanish. Competitors act. One company nearly built a $400M facility 550 miles from the optimal location. The cost of that mistake would have been $2 billion over the plant’s lifetime. They caught it with always-on data analytics. Would you? “In uncertainty-driven environments, expanded analytical capacity translates directly to resilience. Organizations that can model more futures make more informed commitments.” Download the white paper to discover: Why data—not talent or technology—is the real bottleneck How leading organizations are building reusable data infrastructure that cuts prep time by 80% What data agility unlocks: faster refreshes that deliver savings now, coverage across every business and region, and the capacity to finally tackle cost-to-serve, risk analysis, and inventory optimization The shift from ad-hoc projects to always-on decision-making capability Featuring insights from veterans of Cargill, Nestlé, McKinsey, and more. DOWNLOAD NOW

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton spent time with his friend, Jorge Morales, Global Chief Operating Officer of the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA), for a conversation that centered not on hype, but on growth. ISCEA is a global certification body serving supply chain professionals around the world. But as Morales put it, “We’re in the knowledge business; but most of all, we’re in the personal growth business.” Through certifications, membership programs, advisory boards, and global events, ISCEA empowers professionals to stay current, expand their networks, and advance their careers. In a volatile era, that mission has never been more relevant.   Beyond the AI Hype Cycle When asked about dominant themes from 2025 to 2026, Morales pointed to a shift in how the industry views technology. “Last year we were still in the bubble of the hype of AI,” he said. Many professionals feared being replaced or assumed AI would solve everything overnight. That perspective has matured. “Technology by itself is not what determines your level of success,” Morales explained. “Understanding the basics, knowing how things work; THAT is key.” AI and data tools remain critical across procurement, logistics, manufacturing, planning and more. But success depends on how organizations…