Supply Chain Now

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate supply chain conversations, but why are so many organizations struggling to move beyond pilots and into enterprise-wide success? In this episode of The Buzz powered by APL Logistics, Scott Luton and Alex Pradhan explore the latest research and developments shaping the future of supply chain leadership, AI adoption, omnichannel fulfillment, workforce transformation, and decision intelligence. Special guest Arash Aghlara, Founder and CEO of FlexRule, joins the discussion to share why better decisions—not just better data—may be the key to unlocking supply chain performance.

From AI pilot purgatory and omnichannel profitability to talent shortages and protein supply disruptions, this episode tackles some of the most pressing challenges facing supply chain leaders today. Scott, Alex, and Arash dive into new research from leading organizations including MIT, Accenture, GEP, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Along the way, they explore the growing importance of governance, the role of decision intelligence in modern operations, and why organizations must move beyond visibility alone to create smarter, faster, and more effective business outcomes.

 

Key Takeaways:

Why nearly three-quarters of organizations have yet to move AI initiatives beyond planning and pilot stages.

How decision intelligence helps organizations bridge the gap between data, visibility, and action.

Key findings from MIT's latest State of Supply Chain Omnichannel research.

Why supply chain leaders must rethink workforce development amid a projected talent shortage.

The critical role governance plays in scaling AI and improving operational decision-making.

How organizations can identify and manage interconnected decisions across planning, logistics, inventory, and customer service.

Why practical execution—not hype—is essential for successful digital transformation.

 

If you're navigating AI adoption, digital transformation, talent challenges, or increasing supply chain complexity, this episode delivers practical insights and actionable strategies from experienced industry leaders. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how decision intelligence can help organizations move beyond visibility, improve execution, and build more resilient supply chains in an increasingly complex business environment.

 

Additional Links & Resources:

APL Logistics: https://www.apllogistics.com/

With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-31-May-2026

5 Signs Your Supply Chain Has Outgrown How It’s Managed Today: https://bit.ly/5-signs-your-SC-has-outgrown-mgmt

Supply Chain AI Is Stuck in Pilot Purgatory Because the Operating Model Is Missing: https://bit.ly/4u4dPyj

GEP Webinar: https://bit.ly/10-June-2026-Webinar

State of Supply Chain Omnichannel Report: https://bit.ly/3RUcHju

Turning the supply chain talent shortage into strength: https://accntu.re/4vkqNZQ

Protein powder shortage threatens America’s biggest food craze: https://bit.ly/3RIkrFd

Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/

Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

FlexRule: https://www.flexrule.com/

The Supply Chain Whisperer on Why Practicality Still Wins: https://bit.ly/Why-Practicality-Still-Matters

Connect with Arash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arashaghlara/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandrapradhan/

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes: https://supplychainnow.com/brands/supply-chain-now/

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now: https://linktr.ee/Supplychainnow

Check out the Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

Work with Us! Download the Supply Chain Now 2026 Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq

WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D

WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf

WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows: https://bit.ly/4x4626t

For everything else, start here: https://supplychainnow.com

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Alex Pradhan, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychiannow.com/buzz-how-decision-intelligence-transform-supply-chain-performance-1592

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Supply chain is evolving rapidly and AI is changing how decisions are made. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton, Karin Bursa, and Jake Barr talk with Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, about the key insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium. They explore how supply chain leaders can leverage AI to improve operational efficiency, redesign workflows, and enhance decision-making to remain competitive in the coming years. They discuss the importance of cross-functional initiatives, storytelling for CSCOs, and understanding where technology fits as an enabler rather than the solution.

The episode breaks down strategies for shifting supply chain operations toward autonomy, including optimizing decision velocity, redesigning critical workflows, and applying AI thoughtfully to reduce manual handoffs and eliminate inefficiencies. Listeners gain insight into how to balance growth, cost, risk, and talent, and why CSCOs need to communicate their strategic value effectively within the C-suite. The conversation also highlights real-world examples of organizations leveraging technology to enable their workforce, not replace it, and emphasizes the potential of agentic AI in planning and disruption management.

Together, the panel explores why focusing on decision stacks and workflow design is critical for AI readiness, how to prioritize high-impact areas for operational improvements, and why relying solely on technology without a defined problem can lead to missed opportunities. They provide guidance for supply chain professionals on preparing for the future of planning, autonomous operations, and AI-enabled decision-making, illustrating the massive potential for efficiency gains and strategic advantage over the next several years.

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(04:07) AI adoption challenges and budget concerns

(06:41) Avoiding siloed implementation of AI

(08:56) CSCO influence and strategic storytelling

(10:24) Autonomy as the new operating model

(15:45) Technology as an enabler, not a driver

(20:00) Decision stacks and workflow redesign

(27:42) Planning summit highlights and upcoming events

(34:28) Agentic AI market potential by 2030

 

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/

Connect with Karin Bursa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinbursa/

Connect with Jake Barr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-barr-3883501/

Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/en

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq

WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D

WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf

WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows:

https://bit.ly/4x4626t

Subscribe to our Newsletter, With That Said: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/with-that-said-6966779254495723520/

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: 

https://supplychainnow.com/key-takeaways-gartner-supply-chain-symposium-2026-1591

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Freight costs are rising - but most shippers aren’t capturing the savings hiding in their own data. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and Kimberly Reuter talk with Shannon Vaillancourt, President of RateLinx, about how companies can uncover 5–15% in transportation savings in weeks, not months, without running a full RFP. They discuss common overspending traps, the power of clean, unified data, optimizing carrier mix, and making smarter, data-driven decisions to reduce costs while improving operational efficiency.
The episode unpacks key strategies for optimizing transportation spend without launching a full RFP, including identifying hidden costs across carriers, modes, and accessories, optimizing carrier mix with clean, unified data, and realizing anywhere from 5 to 15% in transportation savings in weeks rather than months. Listeners also get insights on managing LTL versus parcel shipments, evaluating carrier performance beyond on-time delivery, and understanding how poor master data can quietly inflate costs across networks.
Together, they explore why real-time, integrated freight data is critical for decision-making, how companies can quickly act on actionable insights, and why relying solely on contracts or historical assumptions can leave money on the table. They share real-world examples where minor operational adjustments yielded millions in savings, emphasizing the importance of consistent monitoring and supply chain visibility in an ever-changing freight landscape.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(02:33) Welcoming Shannon Vaillancourt, CEO of RateLinx
(03:12) Chicago Bears draft talk (quick icebreaker)
(04:37) Why shippers overspend: hidden & unmonitored charges
(05:54) Where technology falls short: data integration & visibility
(07:28) Identifying red flags: underperforming carriers & dirty data
(08:40) How RateLinx uncovers savings without a sourcing event
(18:12) What RateLinx reveals first: data quality & routing context
(20:20) Using the right carrier for the right product
(22:15) Real-world example: the toilet company & a $200K routing fix
(24:32) Parcel vs. LTL: how to know when to shift modes
(38:10) Flash poll results: biggest freight cost headaches
(53:00) Key takeaways & free savings snapshot from RateLinx
Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Shannon Vaillancourt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-vaillancourt/
Connect with Kimberly Reuter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-reuter-csg/
Learn more about RateLinx: https://www.ratelinx.com/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq
WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D
WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Kim Reuter, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/how-reduce-freight-spend-without-full-rfp-1590

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:33) Welcoming Shannon Vaillancourt, CEO of RateLinx

(03:12) Chicago Bears draft talk (quick icebreaker)

(04:37) Why shippers overspend: hidden & unmonitored charges

(05:54) Where technology falls short: data integration & visibility

(07:28) Identifying red flags: underperforming carriers & dirty data

(08:40) How RateLinx uncovers savings without a sourcing event

(18:12) What RateLinx reveals first: data quality & routing context

(20:20) Using the right carrier for the right product

(22:15) Real-world example: the toilet company & a $200K routing fix

(24:32) Parcel vs. LTL: how to know when to shift modes

(38:10) Flash poll results: biggest freight cost headaches

(53:00) Key takeaways & free savings snapshot from RateLinx

 

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Shannon Vaillancourt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-vaillancourt/

Connect with Kimberly Reuter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-reuter-csg/

Learn more about RateLinx: https://www.ratelinx.com/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq

WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D

WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The future of supply chain may depend on the things most people never think about.
Pallets, materials, unit load design, transportation systems, and sustainability decisions quietly determine how products move through the world, yet packaging is rarely treated as strategic infrastructure.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by Mike Jones, CEO of The Pallet Alliance, Dr. Laszlo Horvath, professor and department head at Virginia Tech’s Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, and graduating senior Marta Ghigo for a conversation on packaging innovation, workforce development, sustainability, and the future of supply chain leadership.
Dr. Horvath shares how Virginia Tech’s packaging program prepares students through hands-on projects and industry collaboration, while Marta reflects on entering the field with curiosity, creativity, and a focus on making sustainability practical without sacrificing performance or design. Mike brings the business perspective, explaining how The Pallet Alliance helps companies rethink pallet procurement, standardization, visibility, and long-term value.
Together, they discuss why packaging is far more central to modern commerce than it appears and why the next wave of talent in the field could reshape global supply chains at their core.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(02:21) Meet today’s packaging industry panel
(05:03) Graduation, family, and taekwondo stories
(08:30) Building Virginia Tech’s packaging program
(10:41) Marta finds her packaging passion
(14:10) Marta’s Unilever packaging internship experience
(16:24) Mike’s journey from weather to pallets
(18:59) Remembering Tyson Steffens’ industry impact
(21:02) Virginia Tech sustainable packaging programs
(23:12) Hands-on packaging projects and sustainability
(24:45) Marta’s Virginia Tech student experience
(26:32) Excitement about packaging industry careers
(27:31) Why packaging culture feels exciting
(28:16) Sustainable packaging without sacrificing design
(28:49) How Pallet Alliance supports manufacturers
(31:15) The hidden operational cost of pallets
(32:25) Why Virginia Tech graduates stand out
(34:25) Strong culture creates long-term employees
(38:02) Tyson Steffens’ humor and lasting legacy
(39:09) Tyson Steffens memorial scholarship program
(43:04) AI, sustainability, and packaging’s future
(47:36) Career advice for future packaging leaders
Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Mike Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-jones-a97797b5/
Connect with Dr. Laszlo Horvath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laszlohorvathremeczki/
Connect with Marta Ghigo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-ghigo22/
Learn more about The Pallet Alliance: https://tpai.com/
Learn more about Virginia Tech: https://www.vt.edu/index.html
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq
WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D
WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/investing-now-generation-supply-chain-leaders-1589