Let's Talk Supply Chain

Stephen Dyke of FourKites talks about inbound logistics: fragmentation; manual work; data siloes; AI; & why the receiving dock is such an under-invested area. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.25] An introduction to Stephen, his background combining computing and supply chain and, as a self-confessed 'passionate practitioner,' what he loves about supply chain. [07.05] An overview of FourKites – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "Over the last five years, we've really become a supply chain orchestration control tower… and embedded persona-based AI agents." [10.33] Why 2026 MIT research found that fragmented inbound logistics is still wreaking havoc across organizations, what that fragmentation typically looks like, the big impacts coming from it, and what that all means for businesses. "On average, a common inbound operation can have anywhere between six and eight different internal applications that teams need to be able to plan and execute against. That's created siloes… and fragmentation naturally spirals." [14.38] Why the transfer of data is central to the issue of fragmentation and siloes, the core business disciplines that need access to historically logistics-owned data, and how they're actually getting it. "Data is everywhere… But it's not distilled and harmonized into one connected language." [19.41] The type of manual work inbound teams are still doing daily, the problem with human validation, and why a shift from reactive to proactive action is critical. [22.31] From manual status updates and delay notifications to document processing, what supplier communication typically looks like and why it's so hard. "Since EDI, every operational team has been chasing standardization, compliance and reliability. But there's not going to be a perfect standard format, a perfect technology." [24.47] The first thing you should do if your inbound process still runs on spreadsheets and phone calls, and why transformation and innovation is more than just an operational benefit. "Qualify and quantify the level of pain, challenges and tolerance that you have across the whole execution ecosystem." "I've never been around an operational team that doesn't look for that thrill of modernizing – there's a great mental and emotional benefit that comes from trying to drive ones destiny forward." [30.13] Why the receiving dock and yard don't get as much attention as areas like outbound delivery, and the business cost of not looking at them equally. [33.02] The power of AI within your ecosystem, and how it can change the way teams make decisions. "When AI is placed within the broader supply chain planning and execution capability, a lot of great opportunities arise." [37.05] The key tenants of gold standard inbound logistics, and the potential benefits from achieving it. [40.27] The one thing listeners should take away from this conversation. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED Head over to FourKite's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with FourKites and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from FourKites, check out 235: Use Real-Time Visibility To Transform Your Entire Supply Chain, with FourKites. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Darin Brannan talks about Terminal Industries & what they do; building the industry's only Yard Operating System; & reinventing the future of logistics. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.25] An introduction to Darin, his background, the recipe for business success that led to the founding of Terminal, and why Top Gun might just have inspired his University degree. "I started, deep in Silicon Valley, as a VC investing in start-ups. And there was a point at which it looked like it could be more fun across the table as an entrepreneur, taking big ideas and revolutionizing the industry." [08.59] What Darin has learned from advising and investing in companies at the intersection of AI, logistics, and vertical SaaS, and the power of being AI native. "These businesses are disruptive. We're delivering products that are 10 to 20 times the capabilities of the market, at half to one third of the price, with one third of the deployment time, that are three times easier to use." [12.39] The big inhibitors to success in the yard logistics market, why SaaS doesn't work, and an overview of Terminal Industries – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "There's been a massive adoption problem with technology in the yard logistics sector. It's a headscratcher given it represents a third of all supply chain movement! Why is yard logistics such a laggard?" "We're on a bold mission to make goods flow better, faster, cheaper and cleaner every single day. It will help businesses thrive, and consumers live better." [17.18] Why Terminal is 'not a typical start-up,' and why a commitment to co-creation with industry sets them apart. [21.18] The ideal customer for Terminal Industries. [23.36] The biggest challenges in yards right now, and how the issue of yard blindness and fragmentation is creating big problems downstream. [27.32] How Terminal reinvented a customer's yard logistics and reduced check-in time from 14 minutes to 34 seconds, which in turn had a transformative downstream effect in the warehouse, and a closer look at the modular, configurable, AI-native yard operating system that makes it possible. "It was designed with industry titans for high velocity complex sites all the way down to mini sites… And it's end-to-end, which is unlike any system in the market." "Fancy tech is great, but it's all about solving problems in an economical way." [34.16] The difference between a Yard Operating System and a Yard Management System, and why the Yard Operating System is the future of logistics. "The minute a new transformational wave comes out, the incumbents say 'we're just going to bolt that on.' Within the last 12 months, every SaaS company has said they're agentic. But 99% of them are just bolting a chatbot onto their system." [41.00] A case study detailing how Terminal helped a big customer, that was losing 15% of their gate and yard capacity leading to big costs and downstream impacts, improve throughput and accuracy, boost gate capacity, reduce costs and improve employee experience, delivering three to six times ROI within 12 months. "A lot of what we sell is change management. How do you go from how you did things in the past to how you're going to do them in the future? It has to make people's day better and make them champions, and have a real cost benefit – not in three years, but in 12 months." [47.01] Terminal's focus for 2026, and the next big transformation they're driving for yard logistics in the future. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Terminal Industry's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Terminal and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) or YouTube, or you can connect with Darin on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Alexia Vitali of Colibri S&OP talks about what they do; why most mid‑market companies still run on Excel; & making planning simple, collaborative & impactful. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.55] An introduction to Alexia and her journey moving from Europe to Canada to build Colibri's American presence. "It's a bit like building a company inside a company… so the beginning was just about listening to planners and supply chain teams." [06.37] An overview of Colibri S&OP – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers – and what makes them different. "Our co-founders were used to implementing solutions like Colibri, but they were so tired of long implementations and never-ending projects..." [10.19] The ideal customer for Colibri S&OP. "It's not really the size that matters – it's the mindset." [11.41] The biggest macro and micro challenges Colibri regularly see with their customers in 2026, and how their technology helps address these issues. "We're seeing market volatility, margin pressure, supplier disruptions, and shorter decision cycles." [16.17] What ROI looks like for Colibri customers, and why it goes deeper than simply cost savings. [18.51] With 80% of mid‑market companies still running their S&OP on Excel, why businesses need to make a change, and Excel's key limitations. "Excel is great! It's flexible, familiar. But it's great for what it was built for – and planning isn't what it was built for." [22.53] Despite the challenges with Excel, why most of that 80% think they're 'not ready' for a planning tool, and the common misconceptions and fears Colibri often see around the alternatives, from failure to security. "A lot of times people are traumatized by previous ERP implementations that went wrong!!" [26.43] How Colibri are leveraging simulation to help organizations build better supply chain strategies and understand their business-wide impacts. [29.58] A closer look at Colibri's supply and demand planning solutions – how they work, what teams can do with them, and what they look like versus Excel. [33.38] How Colibri solutions can make people's jobs simpler and more collaborative, and drive impactful results at a business level. "Everyone is working better together, but also better by themselves." [37.52] Why AI is changing supply chain planning, but not in the way many people expected. [40.10] A case study exploring how Colibri helped a cosmetics brand still using Excel, despite an international network and high complexity, reduce time spent on planning from 3 days to 3 hours, improve accuracy and service levels, and streamline processes. [44.00] Alexia's final words of advice RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Colibri S&OP's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Colibri S&OP and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Alexia on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Trace Haggard of TSG Fleet talks about the freight downturn; what 2026 will bring; converting what you already own into opportunity; & building partnerships. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.07] A re-introduction to Trace and TSG Fleet. [05.07] An overview of the prolonged freight recession: where it started, the factors driving it, and the impact on the industry. "During the pandemic, the smartest brains in the industry were saying: "It's ecommerce forever, now!" We were proven wrong again, and fleets took another big hit. They had to pull back, but had all this equipment. There were more trucks, trailers, and containers than there was freight to move." [09.14] Why businesses weren't prepared for just how long the freight recession has lasted. [11.54] What the freight recession has meant for TSG Fleet, and how it led Trace to look at his business in a different way to review what was and wasn't working, and pivot. "We lost track of what we were founded on." [19.28] The evolution of technology in fleet management, and what TSG's investment in maintenance and repair visibility solutions means for customers. [24.58] How TSG converted what they already own into their next big opportunity, why communication and collaboration is critical, and the importance of challenging the status quo to position for the future and identify new opportunities, without huge investments in time and money. "It all starts with constant communication with our customers, and always being willing to collaborate." [27.52] TSG's approach to creating impactful, long-lasting strategic partnerships. "The key is to talk less and listen more!" [31.25] Trace's advice for other businesses, looking at their operations in a tough landscape, for how to start identifying opportunities to pivot. "Figuring out 'how did we get here?' was the eye-opener for me." [33.33] What businesses with aging assets need to do next to keep their fleet moving, when budgets and new equipment availability are tight and replacement lead times are long. [36.30] The future for TSG Fleet, and what we can expect from the market in 2026. "There's been a huge surge in volumes in domestic freight. Usually, when the tide changes and we're on an upward swing, we see a lot more port activity and we haven't seen that yet. But that could be tariff uncertainty. I'm optimistic." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to TSG Fleet's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TSG and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Trace on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from TSG Fleet, check out 431: Fleet Logistics Made Easy, with TSG Fleet. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Aadil Kazmi of Infios talks about purposeful innovation; intelligent execution; tech readiness; and turning AI into measurable business outcomes. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.14] An introduction to Aadil, and an overview of Infios. "Supply chains run best when operators can execute them on a single stack." [03.20] How Aadil's experience at Amazon sparked an entrepreneurial journey that ultimately led him to Infios. "When retailers and shippers offered faster shipping to their end customers, cart values and repeat rates went through the roof. That led me deep into supply chain..." [05.17] Aadil's focus in his role as Head of AI, what excites him, and what keeps him up at night. "We're using our own tools internally to produce what our customers will eventually use." [08.32] What purposeful innovation means to Infios, and the big unlock that happened three years ago that changed the game for AI. "We partner with customers to develop only use case driven AI workflows." "Purposeful innovation is looking at what workflows within our business depend on unstructured data and reasoning, and focusing on those for AI automation... Not everything is a fit for Gen AI." [12.08] What AI agents mean in the context of supply chain, how they're being used now, and how we can understand automation through a three-level phased framework. [15.31] How AI agents compare to traditional automation, and how businesses can decide which is the right fit for each challenge or workflow. "When companies embark on their automation journey, they should start with the highest leverage ROI workflows that have the lowest risk factor." [19.15] The challenge of organizational debt, and leaning into AI readiness by connecting people's tribal knowledge to contextualize AI decision-making. [21.41] How Infios are meeting customers where they are to overcome technology debt with intelligent orchestration. [24.55] What Aadil's Executive Roundtable at Manifest uncovered about intelligent supply chain, and how to get the most from AI adoption. "You can't just throw AI at a problem… The best way to adopt AI is to actually pull the workflow and, from a first principles perspective, re-engineer it from the ground up to be AI native." [28.31] Why technology readiness is still a big constraint on connected execution, and why AI ambition is yet to meet execution reality. [29.23] How businesses can move toward intelligent connected supply chain execution to turn purposeful AI into business outcomes, and how to measure success. [33.17] What teams should do now as they plan for the year ahead. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Infios' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Infios and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Aadil on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Infios, check out 520: Enter the New Era of Supply Chain Management, with Infios. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Don Durm of PLM Fleet talks about what they do; maximizing fleet flexibility; cold supply chain challenges; & leveraging trailer telematics for success. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.30] An overview of PLM Fleet and how they help their customers, and an introduction to Don and his 30+ year career, from law enforcement to supply chain. "We breathe cold chain!.. We help people manage risk, save time and money, and make big decisions." [08.58] PLM's 'personalized lifecycle management approach,' and what their consultative problem identification, solution development, onboarding and integration process typically looks like. "We work backwards to your service promises and cost targets. The challenge in the leasing world is that companies out there ask customers to live in their world, the financial world… We have a more holistic approach." [14.25] From regulatory pressures to tariffs, the biggest challenges for PLM and their customers in the cold supply chain. "We're in the midst of a great freight recession." [18.55] Why OEM lead times for trailers and TRUs are increasingly stretched, the factors driving the delays, and how they impact refrigerated fleets and their strategies to scale and replace assets. "Trailers have never been older than they are today. And, when a trailer gets that old, things start to break – expensive things." "My message to the industry: put your orders in now!" [24.21] How PLM's flexible rental and leasing solutions help customers right-size or stabilize their fleets, particularly in an environment where OEM availability is tight and demand cycles are fluctuating. [28.07] The regulatory changes reducing the number of drivers on the road, the impacts PLM anticipate in the cold chain, and how they can help. "Once the impact fully hits, capacity will tighten up. Fleets that were working on tighter margins, and utilizing these drivers, will start to go out of business." [32.32] PLM's ColdLink and TrustLink technology-enabled solutions, and how they're leveraging trailer telematics to deliver results for customers. "Don't manage the 150 trailers you've got out by looking at 150. Manage the one you've got a problem with – set your exceptions… People do what you inspect, not what you expect." [38.13] How PLM use telematics to track emissions. [39.25] A selection of case studies exploring how PLM help clients reduce carbon, save fuel, and reduce costs with their solutions, from a shift to electric vehicles to old-to-new replacement. "Nobody goes green until it pays green." [43.53] Don's final words of advice. "This period of time is all about managing risk. Do you really want to put your money into an asset that's going to depreciate immediately?" RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to PLM Fleet's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with PLM Fleet and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube or Facebook, or you can connect with Don on LinkedIn. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get: 10% off a rental order with PLM Fleet until March 31. Quote *PLM Rental LTSC.* Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Carlos Perico of ProcureAbility talks about supply chain resilience in 2026; tariffs & disruption; supplier relationships; & key strategies for the future. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.47] An introduction to Carlos, and how his international experiences helped shape his career. "I'm passionate about travel, culture, food – and my career has supported that... My career has been very relationship driven, and that international exposure has helped me tremendously." [07.40] An overview of ProcureAbility – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [09.11] The current landscape of ongoing disruption, the biggest industry challenges in 2026, and Carlos's advice to help businesses stay on top. "Change is the only constant… We're getting more resilient – because of practice! But the impact is real." [15.16] What supply chain resilience really means in 2026, the power of strategic partnerships, and the importance of traceability. "It means knowing your risk and how you can manage it. And it implies you understand there's disruption ahead – in supply chain, we can't be naïve… 'Things will change and I need to adapt' should be your operational model." "You need to have strategic partners. You need to understand your supply chain… Can we invest together, share information, co-create so we're more agile together?.. It's in our best interests to work closely, but that doesn't come easy." [26.20] What ProcureAbility's recent survey, in partnership with ProcureCon, reveals about the biggest challenges in 2026, and how supply chain leaders are navigating impacts from disruptions to shortages. [32.18] With tariff instability set to continue in 2026, how the issue interplays with other core industry challenges. "There's a lot more cost. But that hasn't completely translated to the consumer… The market was expecting it to be worse. That tells me that the middle guy is the one absorbing that, and CEO's are hoping they can ride the wave. That's not sustainable." [35.36] How equipped organizations actually are to adapt to tariff instability. "The lack of visibility is the biggest risk." [38.01] Changing supplier relationships: what organizations now expect from their suppliers, whether or not suppliers are actually meeting those expectations, and why it's crucial to remember that the best client-supplier relationships are two-way. [44.03] The next steps listeners should take to navigate disruption and resilience in 2026. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to ProcureAbility's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with ProcureAbility and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Carlos on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more from ProcureAbility, check out 462: Procurement Unlocked: Sourcing Best Practices in a Tariff-Driven World, with ProcureAbility. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Tim Nagy of Samsara talks about tech & AI: what workers really think; agility; retaining talent; & shifting from reactive to predictive road safety & logistics. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.41] An introduction to Tim, his role as a sales engineer, and a reminder of how Samsara helps their customers. "You get two different kinds of engineers: the kind who don't really want to be out in the field talking to customers, they do the coding and product development. And then you get my team, who love to be out there. We get to see a lot of different tech, and a lot of different businesses!" [04.34] The biggest conversations happening at Manifest 2026, are about the impact of AI across the industry. "There's a lot of talk about the impact of AI on supply chain and operations." [06.59] How Samsara can monitor real-time issues, from weather to driver behavior, to help businesses shift from reactive to predictive road safety and logistics. "Our job is to prevent accidents before they happen and AI, tech in general, is making that possible now. We're able to detect when a driver is becoming drowsy… and tell the driver to pull over." [09.56] Samsara's recent advert at the Super Bowl, and their first celebrity coaching avatar. [11.42] How Samsara see workers thinking about technology and AI, and a real-world example of driver feedback on Samsara solutions. [14.33] How technology and AI can help businesses attract and retain talent, and Samsara's success with the gamification of driver safety. "Driver churn is a big issue, it's hard to keep people employed and happy in a role that can be physically challenging and difficult… When you make their lives easier, it makes the world of difference." [17.41] The continuing problem of data siloes, how Samsara are helping bridge the gap, and why that's so important. "Companies have data in many different systems – even in physical operations, it's not uncommon for us to speak to people who have more than 10 systems just for transportation. And when data exists in different environments, it's almost impossible to make any correlations between it – even with AI." [22.01] Why unification is so important, and how siloes prevent the success of new technology projects. [23.31] The role of technology in supply chain agility. [25.56] From routing efficiency to idling reduction, how sustainable decisions can also be leveraged for cost savings. "A big part of environmental responsibility comes from using fuel efficiently, but right now it's surprising how many vehicles are still idling in supply chain fleets… If you take control of idling you can really drive down cost, and help the environment." [28.48] The big challenges and opportunities for Samsara customers and the industry over the next year. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Samsara's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Samsara and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Tim on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Samsara, check out episode 524: Increase the Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability of Your operations, with Samsara. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Quinn Nelson of Reveel & Tony Villanova of Paccurate talk about the 2026 General Rate Increase; the current parcel shipping landscape; & keeping costs down. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.16] An introduction to Quinn, his background, and role at Reveel. [02.49] An introduction to Tony, his 25-year industry career, and role at Paccurate. [04.23] The current parcel shipping landscape, and the key industry factors that have led us here. "Carriers are incredibly focused on generating revenue, specifically increasing the revenue per shipment of all packages in their network." [06.09] The 2026 GRI, why it looks different to previous years, and why it's more important than ever to have strong transportation technology and packaging partnerships. "Although the increase is that same 5.9% we've seen historically, the carriers are actually moving to non-stop pricing changes throughout the course of the year… They're coming with a 'death by a thousand cuts' mentality." [11.52] The changes carriers have made to target large and inefficient packages in their network, and how good data visibility and packaging can help mitigate these price increases. "Carriers are narrowing their ideal package profile, as much as they're trying to narrow in on their ideal customer, to get those inefficient packages out of the network." [16.57] The 'what, where, and how' of solving problems with data visibility, the power of continuous improvement in partnership, and how data visibility and packaging optimization solutions can work in tandem to drive results. "The improvement is cyclical… It doesn't matter which way the data is coming, we feed each other." [19.50] Why it's typically been so difficult to make changes to packaging, and how Paccurate makes it easier. "Packaging touches everything – warehouse layouts, automation, labor… But not many companies have packaging engineers that can look at this dynamically. So you end up static." [24.38] How improved transportation data visibility is helping businesses identify and realize opportunities for cost saving, and the power of negotiation capital. [28.51] Why transportation networks are like onions, and how 'peeling back the layers' can help you fully understand your costs and the underlying reasons for them. [30.20] Where AI will have the greatest impact on the transportation data visibility and optimization space. "The transportation industry is really well situated to get a lot out of AI." [32.07] How a combination of real-time data, agility, and packaging optimization can bring a real competitive advantage. "We're in such a rampantly changing environment. Every day there's something new. So using technology solutions and data visibility to stay on top of what's changing allows you to be a proactive shipper instead of a reactive one." "An educated shipper is a carrier's worst nightmare." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Reveel's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Reveel and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Quinn or Tony on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Reveel, check out: 474: Leverage Data-Driven Optimization to Mitigate Tariffs, with Reveel 453: Driving Supply Chain Innovation with Reveel and Deposco 357: Leverage the Power of Shipping Intelligence, with Reveel You can also hear more from Paccurate: 297: Make Smarter Packing Decisions, with Paccurate. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Troy Shen of Cervo AI talks about what they do; simplifying customs, compliance & tariffs; people & tech; & how Cervo is changing the narrative for startups. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.28] An introduction to Troy, his background, and how the U.S.-China trade war – and the power and fragility of global trade – ultimately inspired him to build Cervo AI. "My Dad came to the US with $50 in his pocket, and the American Dream." [06.21] Why logisticians are tired of being burned by tech start-ups, the impact on trust across the industry, and what sets Cervo apart. "With every wave of innovation, there are many companies that over-promise and only a few that actually deliver on those promises." "Ultimately, building a world-class solution in this industry isn't achieved by just being good at the technology or just having the domain expertise. It really requires a combination of tech expertise and an obsession with the problem space." [08.00] The range of business ecosystems across the industry, from digital-first to manual and paper-based. [09.48] An overview of Cervo AI – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [10.30] The ideal customer for Cervo AI. [12.25] What the current customs landscape means for forwarders and brokers and, from tariffs to compliance, the biggest challenges making an impact right now. "It's a crazy time in the customs world. Entries that used to take minutes can now take hours or even days because of the constantly-changing complexity… And this introduces more compliance risk, which creates further downstream cost for both customs brokers and forwarders." [14.19] How Cervo AI are helping to give control back to their customers in this complex, changeable landscape. "Teams can process three to four times more entries on the customs side or they can save about 30 minutes per shipment on the operations side." [17.16] The balance between people and technology as AI replaces manual work, what the human side of logistics is going to look like, and the Japanese principle that guides the team at Cervo. [19.39] The problem with change management, and Troy's advice for leaders looking to drive change and build AI-enhanced operations that actually make an impact. "AI isn't the right fit for every company today. But the biggest barrier is rarely the technology. It's often the internal alignment within the organization." [23.16] A case study detailing how Cervo AI helped a key customer achieve over 80% reduction in manual processing time with over 95% accuracy and position for a longer-term transformation, and why AI is a service enhancer, not a detractor. [25.27] What the integration and onboarding process looks like with Cervo AI, for both technology and operations. "It's about being a partner, not just a vendor." [27.44] Cervo's predictions and focus areas for 2026. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Cervo AI's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cervo AI and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Troy on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Valentina Jordan of Nauta talks about what they do; making data simple & actionable; being AI-native; & going beyond visualization to modernize execution. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.01] An introduction to Valentina, her background, and how she came to co-found Nauta. "I really enjoy working and building with technology and engineers – and what's more exciting than building in supply chain, one of the biggest industries in the world?" [03.04] An overview of Nauta – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "We're seeing a lot of companies and initiatives around AI, but the reality is that most people still don't talk enough about the foundations. And the foundation of all of it is data." [04.40] The ideal client for Nauta. [05.26] What it means to be AI-native, and the power in having solutions that are built with AI from the ground up. "For us it's a mindset. It's understanding that the world has evolved, and in order to build scaleably, test fast, and capture a company's context, you need to choose and use the tech that's available – and right now, that's AI." [06.56] Why shippers still spend most of their time in emails and Excel, and how Nauta capture and unify that disparate data. [07.37] Why operations are still 63% manual, and why it's so important to leverage technology to support the transactional nature of supply chain. "Our operators are working for technology, the technology isn't working for them. The tech stacks they have are systems of record, and there's nothing more transactional than supply chain." [08.20] How Nauta brings all data sources together through integrations and stakeholder connections and centralizes it in an AI context engine. [09.28] The importance of timely decision-making, and how Nauta leverages their understanding of the day-to-day life of operators to remove noise, add value, and turn visibility into action. "If it drives me as crazy as my phone, it won't work!" [12.20] What decision latency means for businesses, how Nauta can help with both cost savings and revenue generation through automation, and why a top down approach to change management is critical to success. [14.16] Why companies are leaving money on the table if they don't go beyond visualization to modernize execution. [14.59] How Nauta is helping customers decrease complexity and turn data chaos into clarity, to tell clear business stories. "We help our clients get to know themselves inside out. Everyone understands how their high level operations work, but what tells the story of a company is their data." [17.38] A case study exploring how Nauta helped a client spending $30,000 per day on penalties dig deeper to understand and solve the real issues behind the cost. [20.53] The future for Nauta. [22.20] Valentina's experience at Manifest, and what it says about supply chain in 2026. "It's a celebration that the industry is growing… It's looking for change, it's ready to adapt, and we need to stop seeing supply chain as an antiquated industry that isn't ready for transformation." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Nauta's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Nauta and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Valentina on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Paula Natoli of Google Cloud talks about 2026 supply chain challenges & opportunities; AI & data; and what teams can do now to build a better tomorrow. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.20] An introduction to Paula and her decades-long supply chain career. [06.15] The single biggest mindset shift supply chain leaders need to make this year to stay ahead of the curve. "2026 is going to be a pivot point... Decades ago our brains, as supply chain professionals, were wired to solve for least cost… But now it's not just a cost center mentality… It's a mindset shift that has exploded into a new foundational element that gets away from traditional siloed thinking, and moves us into a value creation model." [10.39] Why organizations need to move past a focus on resilience, the next frontier for competitive advantage, and how Google Cloud is guiding leaders to think beyond just surviving disruptions. "The move from just efficiency to overall agility becomes key." [13.42] Why companies are still struggling to turn data into action, and how Google Cloud helps bridge the gap. "We're not short of data! We're capturing and storing data at crazy amounts but, as organizations, we still haven't fully unlocked the value associated with that." [17.18] The role of technology, particularly AI and data, in helping companies meet aggressive sustainability goals, and why achieving a unified data platform is critical. [20.52] Why powering its own global supply chain is a big advantage for Google, and how it informs customer conversations around making their operations more resilient, efficient, and sustainable. "It establishes a level of proven solutions and credibility." [23.31] The multi-layered approach that sets Google Cloud apart and makes them the ideal partner for companies dealing with immense complexity. "It's the full stack that allows us to work with customers wherever they are on their AI journey." [27.21] How Google Cloud is making powerful AI and analytics tools accessible to the everyday supply chain planner or logistics operator. "It's really being democratized. This AI is being injected into the tools and technologies that supply chain professionals and frontline workers are using every day." [30.26] Beyond faster insights, how Agentic AI is fundamentally changing how supply chain teams interact with their data and systems. "We're moving from a passive level to actually executing things… Don't just tell me what my options are. Find the right option, and execute it." [34.05] As AI takes on more of the analytical heavy lifting, how the role of the human supply chain professional is going to evolve, and the new skills that will be most valuable in 2026 and beyond. [36.07] Paula's one piece of advice for C-Suite Leaders and Chief Supply Chain Officers who want to build a truly AI-driven, future-ready supply chain. [39.54] The combination of emerging technologies that will have the biggest impact on supply chains in the next five years. [41.09] The one thing every supply chain professional needs to do differently today to start building a better supply chain. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Google Cloud's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Google Cloud and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) or YouTube, or you can connect with Paula on LinkedIn. If you want to hear more from Google, check out 507: Logistics Providers: Ready For An AI-First Approach? Then Discover Your Biggest Opportunity, with Google Cloud. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Kiren Sekar of Samsara talks about what they do; data, AI and unification; improving driver safety; and cutting costs whilst boosting engagement. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [3.19] An introduction to Kiren, his background, and why supply chain is a big opportunity to make an impact. "What's always motivated me is solving hard technical problems that have big impact in the world." [07.16] How the Samsara founding teams' vision, that sensors and software could impact the world of physical operations at a global scale, led them to establish Meraki and ultimately Samsara. [11.23] An overview of Samsara, and how they helped DHL cut asset-related costs by approximately 49% and put a clear focus on driver safety. "We saw, across the industry, that keeping folks safe out on the road was becoming a bigger and bigger challenge, and the cost of accidents was getting higher and higher." [15.40] The role of habits in change management, and why leading consumer apps have played a key role in Samsara's product design. "Strava, Duolingo… There's really effective ways these apps can change habits. Gamification, leaderboards, friendly competition, rewards… We've built those types of experiences into our product." [18.44] The ideal customer for Samsara. [20.59] From safety to efficiency, the common challenges Samsara customers are looking to solve, and why digitization is their critical opportunity. "We now have a digitally native set of leaders at many of these companies. They have all the cutting edge technology in their personal life… and they want to be at the forefront." [25.36] What the discovery, solution development, onboarding and integration process looks like with Samsara, and why being flexible and fast-to-value is key. [29.51] How the Samsara platform allows teams to run all operations from one place, and the big benefits to unification. "It starts with unified data. Historically there were technologies for driver safety, GPS tracking, compliance, digital documents – and they were all siloed… You end up with fragmentation and complexity. It doesn't work, and it doesn't scale." "Collaboration is a fundamentally human thing. But it's really inhibited when each person has a different view of the world." [34.33] How Samsara Intelligence leverages AI to drive impact for customers. [38.55] A case study exploring how Samsara helped Mohawk improve driver safety and reduce miles driven, and how the technology changed their relationship with drivers. "It translates to bottom line savings and increases driver engagement, which turns into lower turnover and vacancies." [40.50] The future for Samsara, and why data is helping them build solutions that were previously impossible. "There are still so many unsolved problems in the world of operations. And we're still in the early days of how technology can improve safety, efficiency and sustainability." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Samsara's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Samsara and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Kiren on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.