Resilient Supply Chain— stories and strategies that keep business moving

Tom Raftery
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The Resilient Supply Chain Podcast is where global leaders explore how to make supply chains stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.Hosted by Tom Raftery, technology evangelist, sustainability thought-leader, and former SAP Global VP, the show features C-suite executives, founders, and innovators from some of the world’s most influential companies. Together, we examine how organisations are building supply chains that can withstand shocks, adapt to change, and compete in a decarbonising economy.New episodes drop every Monday at 7 a.m. CET, packed with real insight, not PR fluff.From resilience and risk mitigation to AI-driven visibility, circular design, and ESG transformation, the podcast unpacks the data, systems, and strategies shaping global operations.You’ll hear from the people doing the work on:business continuity and crisis responseScope 3 emissions and supply chain sustainabilitydigital twins and predictive resilienceethical sourcing and due diligence compliancenearshoring, automation, and future-ready logisticsBecause a supply chain can’t be sustainable unless it’s resilient, and it can’t be resilient unless it’s sustainable.Resilient Supply Chain+ subscribers also get access to bonus episodes, including highlight reels, extra analysis, trend briefings, and other subscriber-only insights.If you’re a supply chain executive, sustainability strategist, or technology leader, this show gives you an edge.Subscribe now and join the global conversation redefining how the world moves, makes, and measures everything.

  1. When Critical Software Becomes a Supply Chain Risk

    4 HRS AGO ·  VIDEO

    When Critical Software Becomes a Supply Chain Risk

    Send me a message What happens when the software your business depends on simply disappears? In this episode of Resilient Supply Chain, I’m joined by Wayne Scott, GRC Solutions Lead at Escode, the world’s largest source code and cloud escrow provider. We talk about a risk hiding in plain sight: critical software, SaaS platforms, and cloud services that businesses depend on every day, but may not be able to keep running if a supplier fails. You’ll hear how supplier risk is shifting from a procurement issue to a board-level supply chain resilience concern. Wayne explains why outsourcing a service does not mean outsourcing responsibility, and why concentration risk in software and cloud infrastructure can quickly become operational disruption. In his words, it’s like buying a car from a manufacturer, then watching the car disappear when the manufacturer goes bust. Absurd. And yet, with software, we do it every day. Because apparently business continuity needed one more trapdoor. We also break down why visibility, data, fourth-party dependencies, and stressed exit planning matter far beyond financial services. From SaaS services that can go instantly dark, to AI reshaping the viability of software suppliers, this is a conversation about resilience before the failure, not panic after it. For supply chain, operations, procurement, sustainability, and risk leaders, the practical question is simple: if a critical provider failed tomorrow, could you keep operating? 🎙️ Listen now to hear how Wayne Scott and Escode are reframing supplier risk, software resilience, and the hidden dependencies keeping modern supply chains moving. Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    40 min
  2. AI in Supply Chain: Automation Is Not Autonomy

    MAY 11 ·  VIDEO

    AI in Supply Chain: Automation Is Not Autonomy

    Send me a message Can AI make better supply chain decisions, or just make bad ones faster? In this episode of Resilient Supply Chain, I’m joined by Simon Bezrukov, Chief AI Officer at Bristlecone, for a grounded conversation about AI in supply chain, resilience, risk, data, visibility, and the uncomfortable bit nobody likes to put on the first slide: accountability. Simon’s core point is sharp: AI agents are great at doing the paperwork of decisions, but they’re not yet great at owning the consequences. And that matters now because supply chains are under pressure from volatility, geopolitical shocks, cost constraints, sustainability demands, and the growing temptation to automate first and ask governance questions later. A marvellous human habit, really. You’ll hear how agentic AI can help with micro-decisions, missing data, supplier communications, replanning, and playbook orchestration, but also why autonomy without guardrails risks creating “fast and confident mistakes”. We break down why LLMs are brilliant explainers, but not supply chain decision engines, especially when the real problem is optimisation across service, cost, cash, carbon, and risk. You might be surprised to learn why more data does not always mean better forecasts, why stress testing may matter more than forecast precision, and why a smaller, well-governed model can beat a perfect digital twin nobody trusts. Simon also explains why human expertise is not being replaced. It is being amplified. For better and worse. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how Bristlecone is cutting through the AI hype and helping build more resilient, practical, and sustainable supply chains. Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    40 min
  3. Why Cross-Border Logistics Has No Spare Days Left

    MAY 4 ·  VIDEO

    Why Cross-Border Logistics Has No Spare Days Left

    Send me a message If one jammed parcel can cost you a day, what does that say about your supply chain visibility? In this episode of Resilient Supply Chain, I’m joined by James Edge, CEO of Landmark Global, the cross-border e-commerce logistics arm of Bnode Group. James works right at the messy intersection of logistics, tariffs, customs, data, visibility, final mile, and customer expectations. In other words, all the quiet machinery that makes global shopping feel simple. Until it doesn’t. You’ll hear how cross-border logistics has moved from “it’ll arrive eventually” to “why isn’t this as fast as domestic delivery?” That shift is putting real pressure on fulfilment networks, inventory placement, customs processes, and last-mile partners. James breaks down why tariffs can suddenly make a Canadian warehouse more sensible than shipping one parcel at a time from the US, and why the wrong fulfilment model can quietly eat margin before anyone in the boardroom notices. Always lovely when geopolitics turns into warehouse maths. We also get into the changing final mile, from traditional carriers to DoorDash-style delivery networks, electric vehicles, lockers, reverse logistics, and the growing role of real-time data. And you might be surprised to learn that the unexpected hero here isn’t AI. It’s the scan. That small, boring data event can be the difference between saving a day and missing a truck cutoff. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how James Edge and Landmark Global are helping rethink supply chain resilience, sustainability, risk, data, and visibility in cross-border logistics. Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    39 min
  4. Measure First: Stop Spending on the Wrong Carbon Fixes

    APR 27

    Measure First: Stop Spending on the Wrong Carbon Fixes

    Send me a message What if your biggest carbon win is not where your team is looking? In this episode of Resilient Supply Chain, I’m joined by John Beath, CEO and Chief Technical Director of John Beath Environmental. John brings a process engineer’s eye to sustainability, which means fewer slogans and far more practical questions about supply chain resilience, risk, data, visibility, and what actually moves the emissions number. You’ll hear how companies often spend huge effort on visible fixes while missing the real hotspots buried in raw materials, suppliers, logistics, waste, and Scope 3 emissions. John shares a brilliant example of a company working hard to remove styrofoam cups from a cafeteria, when a tiny thermostat change could have had a far larger impact. Painful? Slightly. Useful? Absolutely. We break down why lifecycle assessment matters, why primary supplier data beats assumptions, and why “greener” materials do not always reduce your footprint. You might be surprised to learn that one solar panel manufacturer thought silicon was the issue, only to discover the aluminium frame was the real carbon culprit. Changing that cut the product footprint in half. We also get into cost, green claims, recycling, waste, clinical trials, patient travel, and why carbon measurement only matters if it leads to better business decisions. 🎙️ Listen now to hear John Beath explain how better data can help leaders stop chasing the wrong carbon fixes. Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    55 min
  5. The Logistics Blind Spot Hurting Cost, Service, and Emissions

    APR 20

    The Logistics Blind Spot Hurting Cost, Service, and Emissions

    Send me a message What if your supply chain isn’t underperforming, you just can’t see it clearly enough? Cost, service, and emissions all suffer when logistics data is fragmented. In this episode of the Resilient Supply Chain podcast, I’m joined by Constantine Komodromos, founder of VesselBot, to explore a problem hiding in plain sight: most companies still don’t have a single, real-time view of their logistics operations. And in a world of tariff shocks, geopolitical disruption, and rising pressure around sustainability and resilience, that lack of visibility is no longer a technical nuisance. It’s a strategic risk. We dig into why historical averages and patchy reporting can distort transport decisions, and why better data visibilitycan change far more than emissions reporting. You’ll hear how granular, shipment-level insight can uncover outdated contracts, low truck and container utilisation, and operational waste that quietly drives up both cost and carbon. We break down why supply chain resilience increasingly depends on seeing cost to serve, time to serve, and emissions to serve in one place, not across disconnected systems and spreadsheets. You might be surprised to learn that some of the biggest wins don’t come from grand sustainability initiatives at all, but from spotting simple inefficiencies hidden inside day-to-day logistics. This is a conversation about sustainability, yes, but also about risk, decision-making, and the competitive advantage that comes from finally seeing your operations as they really are. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how Constantine Komodromos and VesselBot are challenging old assumptions about supply chain resilience, logistics visibility, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making. Interestingly Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    39 min
  6. If You Can’t Measure Emissions, You May Pay More

    APR 13

    If You Can’t Measure Emissions, You May Pay More

    Send me a message What happens when weak carbon data stops being a reporting problem and starts raising your cost of capital? Because that’s no longer hypothetical. It’s starting to hit financing, insurance, and risk in the real world. In this episode, I’m joined by Cynthia Lai, former banker, executive coach, and board advisor, with nearly 20 years’ experience in tier-one banking, including HSBC and Bank of China. We dig into why this matters now for supply chain resilience, sustainability, risk, data, and visibility. The big shift? Banks and insurers are increasingly treating emissions data as a risk signal, not a box-ticking exercise. You’ll hear how weak or missing carbon data can push companies into a higher-risk bucket, raising borrowing costs and insurance premiums. We break down why Scope 3 is no longer just an ESG reporting issue, but a commercial one with real consequences for supply chain leaders. And you might be surprised to learn that if you don’t provide the data, the market may fill in the blanks for you using proxy figures you probably won’t like. We also get practical. Cynthia lays out an 80/20 approach to getting started: focus on the 20% of suppliers driving 80% of the impact, build a workable heat map, and start the conversation before perfect data arrives. Because in this environment, having a credible plan may matter almost as much as having the final numbers. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how Cynthia Lai connects sustainability data, financing, insurance, and supply chain resilience in a way every senior leader should understand. Executive Wins PodcastThe Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    31 min

  7. APR 10

    Why the Ceasefire Won’t Fix Supply Chain Risk

    Send me a message A ceasefire is in place, so why are supply chains still under pressure? Because a half-open chokepoint can be harder to manage than a fully closed one. In this second bonus episode of Resilient Supply Chain+, I break down what the war on Iran means for supply chain resilience, sustainability, risk, data, and visibility over the next 6-12 months. This isn’t about headline panic. It’s about what happens when disruption becomes friction, when shipping is still moving but at higher cost, with more uncertainty, more surcharges, and less room for error. You’ll hear how I separate the risks into three buckets: sectors facing acute operational exposure, sectors facing cost and margin pressure, and sectors facing second-order inflation exposure. We break down why fertiliser and sulphur may matter as much as oil, why “manageable” freight markets are not the same as healthy ones, and why adaptation, rerouting, and reserve releases buy time but don’t remove dependency. You might be surprised to learn why the war is also accelerating interest in electric vehicles, renewables, storage, and electrified operations. Not because they solve everything, but because every kilometre electrified is one less kilometre exposed to imported oil shocks. Most importantly, I lay out the practical playbook: what supply chain leaders should review in the next 7 days, what contracts to revisit in the next 30, and why energy security and supply chain resilience are now the same conversation. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how this war is reshaping the future of resilient, sustainable supply chains. Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    17 min
  8. Why More Robots Don’t Always Fix Warehouse Performance

    APR 6

    Why More Robots Don’t Always Fix Warehouse Performance

    Send me a message What if the real bottleneck in warehouse performance isn’t the tech, but the people, decisions, and systems needed to make it work together? Keith Moore says it plainly: software is easy, people are hard. In this special Resilient Supply Chain roundtable, I’m joined by Mor Peretz, CEO of CaPow, Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler, and Gonzalo Benedit, CRO of Aera Technology, to unpack what warehouse orchestration really means and why it matters now. For leaders focused on supply chain resilience, sustainability, risk, data, and visibility, this is a timely conversation about moving beyond isolated optimisation and getting the whole operation to work in sync. You’ll hear how even well-equipped sites can still lose serious performance because the pieces don’t fit together properly, and why downtime can represent 10% at a really good site to 30 or 40% of the time just wasted. We break down why more automation is not always the answer, why companies so often become data rich but insight poor, and how orchestration can help teams act faster, not just see more. You might be surprised to learn how often the real failure point is change management, not technology. We also get into energy as infrastructure, the cost of siloed decisions, and why the future is shifting from visibility to velocity. If you care about resilient operations, better decisions, and smarter growth, there’s a lot in here for you. 🎙️ Listen now to hear how CaPow, AutoScheduler, and Aera Technology are rethinking warehouse performance through orchestration, better data, and sharper decision-making. Support the show Podcast supporters I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis. Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities: If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk! Finally If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it.  Thanks for listening.

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Resilient Supply Chain Podcast is where global leaders explore how to make supply chains stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.Hosted by Tom Raftery, technology evangelist, sustainability thought-leader, and former SAP Global VP, the show features C-suite executives, founders, and innovators from some of the world’s most influential companies. Together, we examine how organisations are building supply chains that can withstand shocks, adapt to change, and compete in a decarbonising economy.New episodes drop every Monday at 7 a.m. CET, packed with real insight, not PR fluff.From resilience and risk mitigation to AI-driven visibility, circular design, and ESG transformation, the podcast unpacks the data, systems, and strategies shaping global operations.You’ll hear from the people doing the work on:business continuity and crisis responseScope 3 emissions and supply chain sustainabilitydigital twins and predictive resilienceethical sourcing and due diligence compliancenearshoring, automation, and future-ready logisticsBecause a supply chain can’t be sustainable unless it’s resilient, and it can’t be resilient unless it’s sustainable.Resilient Supply Chain+ subscribers also get access to bonus episodes, including highlight reels, extra analysis, trend briefings, and other subscriber-only insights.If you’re a supply chain executive, sustainability strategist, or technology leader, this show gives you an edge.Subscribe now and join the global conversation redefining how the world moves, makes, and measures everything.

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