Rich Baich

BIG THINGS happening here at Supply Chain Now! Have you listened to all the episodes from this week? If not, no worries! Check them all out here:   We started out the week wrapping up our last episode from MODEX 2020 with supply chain visionary Diego Pantoja-Navaja with Oracle.   Supply Chain Now · “Supply Chain Visionary: Diego Pantoja-Navajas with Oracle”   On Tuesday, Scott and Greg were joined by Enrique Alvarez and Adrian Purtill with Vector Global Logistics as they continued the Logistics with Purpose series with special guest Patrick Plonski with Books for Africa.   Supply Chain Now · “Logistics with Purpose: Patrick Plonski, PhD with Books for Africa”   Then we published the new and improved Supply Chain Buzz, with Scott and Greg sharing and discussing the latest news and events in Supply Chain and beyond.   Supply Chain Now · “The Supply Chain Buzz: Week of April 27th”   Scott and Greg were joined by Bobby Holland with U.S. Bank and Lee Klaskow with Bloomberg Intelligence on Thursday as they discussed the key takeaways from the Q1 2020 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index.   Supply Chain Now · “Analysis of Q1 2020 U.S. Bank Freight Payment…

Demand can change in an instant. A flash promotion takes off faster than expected. An influencer post sends a niche SKU into the stratosphere. A heat wave flips seasonal demand on its head. And suddenly, your forecast—carefully crafted weeks ago—feels like yesterday’s weather report. This is where demand signal management earns its keep. Instead of reacting too late or overreacting too early, it helps supply chain teams interpret what’s really happening and respond with confidence. For retailers and consumer brands navigating constant demand volatility, it’s the difference between chasing noise and acting on insight.   The problem: demand forecasts lag reality Traditional forecasting has a fundamental challenge: timing. Forecasts are built on historical patterns and planning cadences that move at a measured pace, but demand levels today won’t wait for the next planning cycle. Modern demand shocks often arrive without warning: a promotional discount goes viral, a competitor runs out of stock, weather drives sudden regional swings, or a trend outpaces merchandising plans. In these moments, planners face a familiar tension. React too slowly, and shelves go empty. React too aggressively, and you’re stuck with excess inventory once the spike fades.   What demand signals are (and what they aren’t)…