Steve Laratta

At MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Scott Luton sat down with Andre Luecht, Global Strategy Lead for Transportation, Logistics & Warehousing at Zebra Technologies, to explore how synchronization, visibility, and practical innovation are shaping the next phase of supply chain performance. Interestingly, the conversation began not with technology, but with competitive dragon boat racing, a hobby of Andre Luecht’s that he enjoys in his free time. For Luecht, the analogy is clear: success depends on alignment. “The team that is the most synchronized team is the one that wins,” he explains, a principle that applies just as much to supply chains as it does to sport.   Turning Data Into Decisions At the Edge Zebra Technologies has long been known for enabling visibility across supply chains, from barcode scanning to RFID and beyond. But today, the focus is evolving toward something more powerful: decision-making at the edge. Luecht describes a world where frontline workers are empowered with real-time intelligence directly on their devices. “AI… is what you can build into a device in the hand of someone who has to decide what truck a certain pallet goes onto,” he says. This concept, what Zebra calls “frontline AI”, brings intelligence closer to…

Supply chain management is constantly evolving. Whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, this dynamic environment brings both challenges and opportunities to the fore. The good news is that, while challenges continue to emerge, experts and thought leaders who offer insights and strategies are changing the industry, too. This article highlights three such visionaries — Searoutes Co-Founder & CEO Pierre Garreau, Noodle.ai Chief Operating Officer Michael Ciatto, and Owlery Co-Founder Travis Downs — who not only offer fresh perspectives but are also driving change through their innovative approaches. Three Voices Transforming the Supply Chain These experts have emerged with pragmatic solutions to many of today’s logistical problems, ushering in the potential for a more effective supply chain operation. True, many might consider them “new kids on the block,” but their thought leadership already resonates well across the entire industry. Pierre Garreau, Searoutes “Today’s businesses are under pressure to improve visibility over carbon emissions, as regulators and consumers alike place greater emphasis on emissions reduction. However, businesses struggle to build accurate visibility over emissions, instead turning to greenwashing and estimation as a means of signaling decarbonization efforts. Searoutes uses the physical characteristics of vessels, planes, and trucks,…