Steven Osburn

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…

It’s been an exciting week here at Supply Chain Now! Catch up on all the latest episodes, interviews, conversations, and livestreams right here for all the hottest supply chain news! On Saturday, Scott and Greg welcomed Eric Johnson with JOC & Enrique Alvarez with Vector Global Logistics to the podcast!     On Monday, Scott and Greg spotlight one of the strategic sponsor partners of the AIAG Supply Chain Summit, Surgere, as they welcome Robert Fink and Katie Lewis to the show.     On Tuesday’s podcast episode, Scott & Greg welcomed Alex Pradhan, Product Strategy Leader with John Galt Solutions, to discuss the top three lessons learned in 2020 from a supply chain planning perspective.     On Wednesday, Scott and Greg hosted the Supply Chain Buzz where they dove into the boom in warehouse employment, sustainability shifts within the business environment, and other hot supply chain news!     On TECHquila Sunrise this Thursday, Jason Perez, CEO and founder of YARDZ, joined Greg White to talk about how he found the will and the skill to succeed in supply chain tech against all odds.   And we wrapped up the week with JP Wiggins of 3Gtms and Kara…