Timothy Dooner

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton caught up with Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and Co-Founder and Content Director of the Women in Supply Chain Forum, for a conversation that cut through the tech buzz and landed squarely on what matters most: people. Marina leads two influential digital publications covering the full spectrum of supply chain — from temperature-controlled cold chain logistics to e-commerce and retail — along with four major industry awards programs and the rapidly growing Women in Supply Chain Forum, now entering its fifth year. But amid all the innovation on display in Las Vegas, her message was refreshingly grounded.   Disruption Is the Baseline. Proactivity Is the Shift When asked about dominant themes shaping the industry, Marina didn’t hesitate. One common theme linking 2025 and 2026 is that “disruptions obviously still exist,” she said. From tariffs to trade wars to Mother Nature, the hits keep coming. What’s different in 2026 isn’t the disruption itself; it’s the response. Instead of dwelling on what’s gone wrong, companies are getting proactive. Leaders are “acting on it and being proactive about getting in front of it,” she noted. Since COVID, organizations have learned that…

Zebra Robotics Automation is revitalizing AMR-assisted picking to optimize fulfillment efficiency and productivity with up to 30% fewer robots need in comparison to legacy systems. Their innovative approach can help significantly lower your cost per unit by combining workers and robots into a streamlined partnership that increases throughput without sacrificing performance rates, accuracy or reliability. Maximize AMR-assisted picking efficiency with Zebra’s three-fold strategy: Balanced Utilization: Use low-cost carts for buffering instead of extra robots or labor, reducing costs. Increased Capacity: Carts boost pick density and eliminate AMR wait times, handling 150-300% more items while cutting robot needs by up to 30%. Optimized Workflows: Seamless coordination ensures every picker and robot stays productive—no idle time, no wasted effort.   Download the “Unlocking Fulfillment Potential” eBook here to learn more