Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean examine supply chain resilience, discussing its critical importance in mitigating risks and driving business value. They are joined by Geraint John, VP of Research at Zero100, who explains the shifting focus on resilience from the pre-COVID era to today, highlighting how enterprises can adopt both defensive and offensive strategies to adapt to disruptions and seize growth opportunities. He also emphasizes the role of technology, talent, and infrastructure in creating agile and resilient supply chains that go beyond risk management to support long-term success.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The evolution of supply chain resilience from a cost-center approach to a strategic priority, particularly during and after COVID-19.
• Definitions and strategies for resilience on defense (risk mitigation) versus resilience on offense (value creation and growth).
• The role of advanced technologies, such as AI, in enabling visibility, monitoring, and simulation to address disruptions proactively.
• Insights into ROI for supply chain resilience investments, emphasizing cost avoidance, sales enablement, and superior financial performance indicators.

Additional Resources:

Follow Geraint John on LinkedIn

In this episode, hosts Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean engage with Diane Randolph, a retired CIO and Retail Technology Executive, and Jonathan Salama, Co-Founder and CEO of Transfix.io, to discuss the evolving landscape of supply chain technology. Diane shares insights from her extensive experience in retail, emphasizing the importance of digitization, end-to-end supply chain visibility, and balancing competing goals like cost, speed, and sustainability. Jonathan provides a perspective from the transportation side, illustrating how automation and data-driven tools enable faster, more adaptive supply chains while preserving critical human relationships.

Key topics discussed

• The impact of digitization on supply chain efficiency, cost management, and sustainability.
• The challenges of integrating new technologies with legacy systems in supply chain operations.
• The role of automation and AI in reducing human error, optimizing processes, and improving decision-making.
• The importance of people and relationships in maintaining operational excellence alongside technological innovation.

Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean explore the challenges and strategies for navigating supply chain uncertainties. Kris Ferreira, an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, discusses the role of algorithmic decision-making in improving supply chain predictions, while Rick Watson, CEO and Founder of RMW Commerce, shares insights on managing market, global, and workforce uncertainties and the critical need for agility in modern supply chains.

Key topics discussed:

• When and how to use AI tools effectively and their integration with human expertise in reducing uncertainty.
• The challenges of sharing data across supply chain nodes and its impact on overall optimization.
• How time horizons affect the accuracy and applicability of demand forecasting models.
• The shift towards agility and resilience as core principles for navigating supply chain disruptions.

Additional Resources:

Follow Kris Ferreira on LinkedIn

Follow Rick Watson on LinkedIn

Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean explore the evolving landscape of last-mile delivery, highlighting the impact of consumer expectations and technological advancements. They are joined by Nate Skiver, Founder of LPF Spend Management, who shares insights into the demand side and evolution of parcel services, and Bill Catania, the CEO of OneRail, who discusses how technology is helping retailers streamline their last-mile delivery solutions and optimize operations for both shippers and carriers.

Key topics discussed:

• Challenges and opportunities in last-mile delivery, including the shift from traditional delivery models to carrier diversification for maximizing efficiency
• The influence of Amazon and Walmart on consumer demand and expectations for faster, more reliable delivery
• How retailers are adapting their strategies to meet the rising demand for same-day and next-day services
• The role of AI and technology in optimizing delivery routes, predicting supply and demand, and driving business growth and innovation

Additional Resources:

Follow Nate Skiver on LinkedIn

Follow Bill Catania on LinkedIn

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Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean examine the evolving landscape of logistics and investment in innovation within the supply chain sector. They engage with Will O'Donnell, Managing Partner at Prologis Ventures, who shares insights into the venture investment landscape and emerging technologies reshaping logistics. Later, Mike Griffin, President of Razor Logistics, shares how private equity investment has unlocked new growth and collaboration opportunities for his team.

Key topics discussed:

• Challenges and opportunities in strategic investments in supply chain technology and sustainable infrastructure
• The impact of post-COVID economic shifts and funding constraints on logistics tech investments - McKinsey reports a 90% drop in logistics startup funding in 2023 (1)
• AI’s potential to increase supply chain efficiency through better data connectivity, facilitating predictive insights and improving the decision-making process
• The importance of sustainable logistics solutions, including green materials and renewable energy sources

Links:

Follow Will O'Donnell on LinkedIn

Follow Mike Griffin on LinkedIn

McKinsey Report (1)

Logistics Leadership Podcast legal disclaimer

Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean kick off season two with a deep dive into the current logistics landscape and macroeconomic trends. Dr. Zac Rogers, Associate Professor at Colorado State University, discusses the Logistics Managers' Index (LMI), a key tool for monitoring the industry's performance and predicting future trends. Meanwhile, Dr. John Min, Macroeconomics Professor at Northern Virginia, offers insights into broader economic conditions, discussing the resilience of the U.S. economy, the impact of tariffs, and the ongoing shifts in global trade dynamics.

Key topics discussed:

• How the LMI helps in predicting logistics trends and the state of the economy
• The end of the freight recession and the anticipated recovery of transportation demand
• The global impact of protectionist policies and tariffs on supply chains
• The growing reliance on AI to forecast logistics trends

Recorded in Aug 2024

Links:

Learn more about the Logistics Managers' Index

Access GPDNow

Follow Zac Rogers on LinkedIn

Follow John Min on LinkedIn

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Learn more about Flexe

Ongoing disruptions. Rising complexities. New opportunities. Season 2 of the Logistics Leadership Podcast dives deeper into the critical issues shaping today’s supply chain landscape. Hosted by Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean, this season features expert insights, discussions on the latest logistics innovations, and actionable strategies that supply chain leaders need to thrive in a rapidly evolving environment.

Logistics Leadership Podcast legal disclaimer

Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean (Flexe Sr. Director of Network Strategy & Optimization) conclude season one of the Logistics Leadership Podcast and highlight key moments and conversations. They discuss how to prepare supply chains for uncertainty, evolve to meet strategic goals and continuously optimize to improve outcomes.

Some of the topics explored:

• How to build agility into the forecasting process and prepare for disruption
• Evolving omnichannel supply chains to create great customer experiences
• Test-and-learn approaches to optimize supply chains

Logistics Leadership Podcast legal disclaimer