Rick D. Blasgen

Another great week here at Supply Chain Now! Have you listened to all the episodes this week? If not, we’ve got it covered! Check them all out here: We took Monday off in observation of Memorial Day, and on Tuesday we welcomed Ward Richmond with SupplyChainRealEstate.com back to Supply Chain Now, and he gave Scott and Greg a supply chain real estate industry update.   Supply Chain Now · “Industry Real Estate Update: Ward Richmond & SupplyChainRealEstate.com”   On Wednesday, Mike Wasson and Aubree Duncan with Tosca joined Scott and Greg on Wednesday to talk about food safety and a supply chain update   Supply Chain Now · “Food Safety & Supply Chain Update: Mike Wasson & Aubree Duncan with Tosca”   On Thursday we published our popular Supply Chain Buzz, and Scott and Greg welcomed Jon Davis, Chief Meteorologist with Riskpulse to the podcast, who shared a weather update and how it affects the global supply chain.   Supply Chain Now · “The Supply Chain Buzz for May 26th with Special Guest Jon Davis with Riskpulse”   And on Friday, we welcomed MIchael Darden with DFM Data Corp to Supply Chain Now.   Supply Chain Now · “Michael Darden:…

Special Guest Blog Post written by Bart A. De Muynck   The past few years have exposed just how fragile our supply chains can be. From tariff shocks to pandemic disruptions, from inflationary pressures to mounting parcel surcharges, the landscape has shifted beneath our feet. Companies that once managed logistics as a back-office function are now grappling with its role as a front-line business risk.   What’s often missed in this conversation is the role of freight audit and payment (FAP). Long considered a tactical necessity, FAP has quietly become a strategic imperative. And as I explored in the Better Supply Chains Market Radar: Freight Audit & Payment, the companies that treat it that way are the ones best equipped to weather today’s volatility.   Why FAP Has Become Mission-Critical   When tariffs can add 15–20% to input costs almost overnight, or when the elimination of the U.S. de minimis exemption threatens to reshape cross-border e-commerce, companies need more than visibility. They need real-time intelligence and agility.   Traditional FAP approaches—manual audits, siloed spreadsheets, reactive error correction—are no longer sufficient. Modern FAP platforms, powered by AI and advanced analytics, enable shippers to:   Audit with precision at scale, uncovering hidden…