Amanda Luton

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…

Special Guest Blog Post from Emo Trans The unpredictable economic landscape has produced unprecedented challenges within inbound logistics. Company leaders must navigate global disruptions and shifting consumer demands as they reshape their supply chains. Amidst the adversity, multisupplier sourcing has become a strategic advantage instead of a contingency plan. Follow this approach to equip business leaders with actionable insights. What Is Multisupplier Sourcing? Multisupplier sourcing involves purchasing products or services from two or more suppliers. This strategy differs from organizations using just one supplier. Diversifying the base requires establishing and managing relationships with multiple vendors. A robust network lets you be more agile as the market changes. Multisupplier sourcing has gained traction in the last five years. A 2022 McKinsey survey said 81% of companies implemented dual-sourcing strategies — an increase of 26 percentage points since 2020. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said this approach will continue to be relevant through the decade. The survey noted changes in inventory, sourcing and regionalization to boost resilience. Why Businesses Use Multisupplier Sourcing Increasingly complex supply chains have made businesses reevaluate traditional sourcing models. Multisupplier sourcing has emerged as a popular strategy to improve operational efficiency and resilience. Here are three key benefits that…