Let's Talk Supply Chain Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Amy Leachman of Delivery Solutions talks about the brand & what they do; ecommerce & the importance of omnichannel; and provider and solution diversification.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[07.58] How, and why, the ecommerce market has evolved so rapidly over the last few years; and the landscape of the industry in 2024.
“COVID really shaped or accelerated the business… the need for last mile delivery, and how we think about true retail operations and technologies, has really morphed over the last four years.”
[11.13] The challenges and opportunities that retailers are facing in the current climate; and the importance of keeping a close eye on cost and control.
“COVID rushed everyone to say ‘I need to integrate here, there and everywhere!’ So, looking at your tech stack, you then have 9, 10 different integrations for everything post-click. How do we simplify that – the cost and the maintenance it takes to uphold all of those API integrations – as well as keep the control?”
[12.31] An overview of Delivery Solutions – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“Delivery Solutions is a seamless omnichannel experience for everything post-purchase.”
[16.34] Amy’s background; how she moved from delivery service provider to technology solution provider; and why she’s so passionate about the retail industry.
[18.36] The ideal client for Delivery Solutions.
[19.35] The importance of Delivery Service Provider (DSP) diversification; and how Delivery Solutions is helping customers to successfully manage their DSPs.
“When you have different delivery partners across the board, not all of them will have the same value prop… each is going to provide a different technology solution, coverage, what they will and won’t do… It’s very important to diversify in order to make sure you’re choosing the most cost-effective providers, and those that are hitting the right KPIs.”
[23.43] What the diversification of delivery options means for clients, customers and the industry; and how collaboration allows all partners to achieve shared success.
“It’s coming together to simplify omnichannel, and to say: “we’re all in this together.” We want to work with the delivery partners, with the shipping carriers; we want to make sure the communication is clean, concise and proactive. Because, the more the customer is buying and the more opportunities they have to interact with the brand, the more we all win together.”
[26.33] How the Delivery Solutions team are helping clients to manage the balance between customer demand and expectation, and demanding sustainability goals.
[28.48] A case study showing how Delivery Solutions helped a large retailer to drastically reduce its integrations – simplifying its tech stack, reducing costs, and increasing order volumes by 35%.
[32.19] A closer look at onboarding and implementation, and how Delivery Solutions work with clients.
[35.29] How Delivery Solutions use AI and machine learning to boost customer experience, improve communication, and help retailers make informed decisions for themselves.
[37.51] The future for Delivery Solutions; and the omnichannel trends we should be looking out for in 2024 and 2025.
“Retailers are going to continue to meet customers where they are, based on their buying habits and the ever-evolving technology solutions they can provide them.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:  
Head over to Delivery Solution’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Delivery Solutions and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or Facebook, or you can connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about retail and the last mile, check out 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail, 394: Be Agile, Decrease Costs, and Improve Supply Chain Accuracy, with Osa Commerce, or 383: Transfor

Jill Standish & Laurence Brenig-Jones join Sarah Godet of RELEX to discuss collaboration; surge buying and social media; & balancing cost with service.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[05.37] An introduction to today’s guests, Jill Standish of Accenture and Laurence Brenig-Jones of RELEX, and their roles.
[07.20] An overview of an upcoming RELEX report, surveying retail and CPG leaders, that details the industry’s main challenges, opportunities and investment areas; and Jill and Laurence’s reactions to the initial findings.
[10.58] Sarah, Jill and Laurence reflect on the rise in surge buying and the role of social media; how companies are starting to tackle these changes; and how the rise of generative AI fits in.
[28.04] The guests reflect on the power of collaboration between supply chain partners and retailers; the growing importance of joint forecasting; and the impact this collaborative transparency can have on businesses, and the industry.

Dave Cox of Polaris Transportation Group talks about embracing change; the importance of relationships; cross-border complexity; & the power of digitization.
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[06.38] How Polaris Transportation Group was founded 30 years ago, and the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
[07.38] An overview of Polaris – what they do, and how they help their customers.
[08.58] The ideal client for Polaris.
[10.30] A closer look at how Polaris has expanded over the years, and the mindset at the forefront of that growth.
[12.51] The importance of embracing change; and the challenges and priorities Polaris are seeing across the industry right now.
[16.27] Polaris’ cross border services; the complex challenges in cross-border trade; the importance of digitization and strong relationships; and how these elements come together to deliver great experiences for Polaris customers.
[19.48] A closer look at Polaris’ supply chain solutions, and how Polaris is utilizing transparency and honest communication to move beyond a “we’ve always done it that way” approach and deliver solutions that work.
[24.10] How consolidation can help businesses achieve better supply chain design and planning.
[26.07] Polaris’ progressive approach to tech, and how their digital transformation journey has helped Polaris scale and better serve their customers.
[33.11] Why Polaris launched the Larry Cox Academy, and the impact it’s having on the brand, and the supply chain community.
[37.47] From increasing cross-border business to a focus on sustainability, what to look out for in 2024; and the future for Polaris.
 
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:  
Head over to Polaris Transportation Group’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Polaris and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or X (Twitter) or you can connect with Dave on LinkedIn.
 

In this episode of the #LetsTalkSupplyChain Podcast, we discuss:
[07.11] The early years of Pam’s career, and what she learned along the way.
[09.23] Why Pam moved to Brazil, and how she tackled the challenges of living in a new country head-on. 
[14.06] How a chance encounter led Pam to produce the very first Entrepreneur Week in Brazil and launch the Latam Founders Awards, which went on to become known as the ‘Oscars for Technology in Latin America.’
[18.21] The importance of breaking down the barriers between the corporate world and disruptive start-ups, and Pam’s advice for budding entrepreneurs looking to take the next step.
[22.27] Why Pam embraced a global lifestyle, moving from Rio de Janeiro to San Paulo, and ultimately to Miami to join Lab Ventures.
[25.58] How Pam’s ‘Future Of’ event series was acquired and became Manifest, and a closer look at the challenge of producing the very first event during a global pandemic.
[29.01] From sponsorship to speaking topics, a peek behind the scenes of producing an event like Manifest.
[33.23] What we can expect from the future of Manifest, as it gets bigger and better each year.
[35.41] Why Pam is so passionate about bringing people together, and her advice for people or businesses seeking that connection.
[40.11] How Pam approaches the all-important work/life balance; why incorporating time for yourself and your loved ones is vital; and a glimpse into what downtime looks like for her.
[47.01] Pam’s advice for all those looking to follow in her footsteps.
[48.26] The future for Pam.
Plus, Pamela Simon tells us all about her career journey; global travel; embracing connections; and how her event series became the biggest name in supply chain events.

Karin Bursa joins Christine Barnhart to launch Supply Chain Unfiltered & talk about industry challenges, bad ERPs & the importance of interoperability.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[09.25] An introduction to Karin Bursa, her long-time friendship with Christine, and her passion for supply chain tech.
“I had a practitioner background, and I saw the opportunity for technology to make every day a little bit better… I wanted to be part of helping many companies, not just one, do that – and fell in love with supply chain technology!”
[13.15] From innovation and challenges to geopolitical disruption, Karin and Christine discuss the current landscape of supply chain.
“It’s a great time to be in supply chain! If you want to make an impact, you’re in the right domain.”
“There’s some really cool stuff happening, but we have to get out of our own way. The biggest barrier to automation, innovation, visibility – is something called spreadsheets!”
[20.36] An audience poll: “who’s company is currently doing an ERP upgrade?”, and Christine’s reflections on what she sees in the industry when it comes to ERP’s.
“ERP’s were built to show the state of the system today – they weren’t intended to plan the business for the future.”
[22.34] What interoperability means to Karin; how it brings trading partners together; why it needs to facilitate the interpretation of data, as well as just data exchange; and the growing importance of supply chain planning.
“We’ve been talking about ecosystem collaboration since the early 2000’s, it’s not a new idea. But the technology to do it is so much better today.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:  
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Christine, check out 380: Women in Supply Chain, Christine Barnhart or 328: Blended – Breaking the Class Ceiling.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

The panel discusses bias - where it comes from; how we call it out; the process of learning and unlearning; the impact of titles; & the top 5 workplaces biases.