Let's Talk Supply Chain

Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

My Name is Sarah Barnes-Humphrey and this is Let's Talk Supply Chain where I interview the top Supply Chain professionals in the industry. You will learn about best practices, changes in the industry and Hot Topics surrounding Supply Chain. Have a specific question you want answered? E-mail us at listener@letstalksupplychain.com

  1. 1d ago

    567: People, Purpose, and Performance: Go Beyond Transportation, with Keller Logistics Group

    Bryan Keller of Keller Logistics Group talks about what they do; preserving a family-business culture; & the challenges & innovations defining logistics.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.22] Bryan's journey in the Keller family business, from summer internships to CEO. [07.07] Keller's near 50-year history, how and why the company was founded, and the biggest turning points that transformed Keller from a trucking company into a full logistics provider. [11.47] An overview of Keller – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "I've looked at customer diversification, service diversification, geographic diversification – all for us to remain a privately-owned company for the next 100 years." [15.27] The ideal client profile for Keller Logistics Group. [17.29] The challenges customers typically see day-to-day, and how Keller supports them through disruption. "The reasons for the disruptions are different, but they cause the same issues… You've just got to know how to react to that volatility, and create solutions for your customers where they can have a variable cost structure. Because no-one wants to pay for a truck that's not working or empty concrete." [18.47] Keller's approach to working with customers to tackle challenges and design the right solutions. [20.16] A case study exploring how Keller helped a key client find the right balance between spot price and dwell time to save them $800,000. [22.15] The most exciting logistics innovations changing the landscape right now, and in the future. "What's exciting is the data we now have… It's taken a lot of noise out of the equation, so we can now really work on making the supply chain more efficient. Where we need to go next – dynamic scheduling." [25.41] What differentiation looks like for Keller and how that, in turn, creates competitive advantage for their customers. "Our go-to-market strategy is: how can we save our customers money? How can we create that raving fan?!... Some of our competitors are looking to generate margin, looking at each deal as a one-off, not as a lifecycle." [28.43] Why Keller's mission centers their people and community just as much as their customers, and how they preserve a family-business culture as the organization grows. "It's the Keller 'Circle of Life' – we deliver for our people, they deliver for our customers, and we give back to the community to enrich as many lives as possible." [33.07] The challenges and potential technology innovations that will shape the future of logistics. "What's AI going to bring to the table?" RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED Head over to Keller Logistics Group's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Keller Logistics Group and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Bryan on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  2. Sep 21

    565: Beyond Visibility: Turning Logistics Data Into Landed Cost Savings, with Gnosis Freight

    Michael Rentz of Gnosis Freight talks about where organizations are quietly losing money & moving beyond visibility to turn logistics data into cost savings.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.50] Why logistics technology is still treated as a cost center, rather than something that can directly improve margin, and how to make that shift. "If you have the right teams, mindsets and technology partner, you can get to a point where it's not a cost center, it's a growth center." [07.49] What changes when a supply chain leader starts looking at logistics data through a P&L lens rather than an operational one. "During the pandemic, for the first time probably ever, we had CFO's asking: "What the hell is demurrage and detention?!" [11.27] Where companies are typically losing money in their logistics operations. "A lot of enterprises have had to make up a for a lack of reliability, and that translates into carrying more inventory… How much it costs to move goods is also at a premium." [15.07] How you connect operational events – like a delayed container, missed free time or an inefficient dray move – to their actual impact on landed cost, the value of data, and the problem with the 'flaw of averages.' [17.58] How, from documentation to communication, small operational issues can easily multiply to become significant margin problems. "A best in class standard for an international logistics team is 'Did we hit budget?' I'm not familiar with people asking 'Did we beat budget?' "Your most valuable assets – your people – are being asked to do the exact same task in a slightly different way 50 times a day. How much better could the system be running if you freed up that headspace for them to think critically on behalf of the business?" [19.51] Why we need to think differently about KPIs and budgets if we're going to see supply chain as a value driver not a cost center, and where team priorities fit in. "You have to get teams off the back foot, from a defensive to offensive posture; get them back into doing the work that's actually in their job description." [27.46] How better data can help resolve invoice errors and help companies identify and recover money they're currently leaving on the table. "Invoice discrepancies shouldn't be a driver for profitability or growth, you should always get what your bargained for… AI has unlocked a huge amount of capability when it comes to reconciling matching invoices. The key unlock for us is having the underlying data." [30.41] The key metrics you should put in front of a CFO to prove that better logistics data is delivering a real financial return, and how Gnosis helps customers, through data science, tooling and service, with an outcome-first approach. [40.26] Finding the balance between AI and tribal knowledge, why it's important to think about how dynamic your data really is, and why context is critical. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Gnosis Freight's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Gnosis and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Michael on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Gnosis Freight, check out 559: From AI Hype to Business Value: The Future of Supply Chain Intelligence, with Gnosis Freight. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  3. Sep 14

    564: Discover Why Peak Season Is A Margin-Making Event, Not An Ops Event, with Shipium

    Geoff Tamman of Shipium & Dean Freson of ODW Logistics talk about reframing peak season as a margin question; simulation; network redesign; & demand surcharges.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.08] Why peak planning conversations are almost always about capacity, labor, carrier commitments – but much less often about margins. "It's an overlooked topic, until it's too late… A small rounding error in August is multiplied exponentially in December – that one penny becomes millions." [05.25] People, systems, or carriers – the first thing that breaks on your worst peak day. "Peak is a four letter word, but the real four letter word is cost. Those peaking surcharges, volume tiers… How are you managing those components, to ensure you're putting the right capacity in the right carrier in the right method, to manage cost structures and margins?" [07.52] What you can still influence in October, and what's already locked in. "If you haven't already, take a second look and audit your contracts." [11.20] When you hit peak, the network runs hot and volume triples; the cost per parcel changes first, and what often surprises people. [12.52] Managing demand surcharges, and what cost can look like at different times of year. [16.44] How you can determine whether you're making money during peak, instead of waiting to find out in February. [18.25] The signals to look at in the first week of peak that tell you whether the network is still economically healthy, rather than just keeping up with volume. "Start to pay attention to the lanes, the origins and destinations." [22.36] How much a 'good' routing or rating decision matters when you're processing millions of parcels, and what happens when that decision gets slower or less accurate. "'Good' isn't good enough. You need precision, alerts and alarms and all those things. But, more so, you need a system and services that are looking at all at these micro decisions and asking: If you're doing a million units a day and one is off, why is that one unit off?" [25.54] The peak decisions Dean would simulate now before committing to them, rather than discovering the answer later down the line. "Having the ability to simulate helps us make a business decision rather than a gut reaction, and understand the impact financially." [30.44] The operational improvement that has had the biggest measurable impact on cost per parcel at ODW, and how they identified it. [31.34] What last peak taught Dean that changed ODW's network design. [33.35] Which parts of last year's peak network Geoff and Dean would redesign today with everything they know now. "Understanding exactly how the carrier volumes and mix plays into the peak surcharge, and how it's calculated. Last year we didn't have all the same tools we have available today, so we're in a better place now with Shipium as a partner." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Shipium's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Shipium and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Geoff or Dean on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Shipium, check out: 502: Current Success vs Future Potential: Finding the AI Balance, with Shipium 491: 2028 – Shipium Counts Down to the AI Revolution 299: Modernize Your Ecommerce Supply Chain, with Shipium Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  4. Sep 9

    563: Go Beyond AI: Discover the Outcome Advantage, with FourKites

    Matt Elenjickal of FourKites talks about AI: key roadblocks to keeping exec buy-in; focusing on outcomes, metrics & shifting from automation to execution. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.52] The mindset shift needed in AI and new technology, and why the real question isn't "What can AI do?" but "What outcome am I accountable for?" "In my role, I talk to a lot of supply chain leaders. And every leader is accountable for an outcome, not a capability. So a VP of supply chain isn't measured on whether or not they've adopted AI – they're measured on whether the product is arriving on-time, in-full, and at the right cost." "Most conversations start with technology and work backwards." [05.40] The difference between optimizing an individual task and optimizing an end-to-end business outcome, and why an outcomes-first approach is so important as companies invest more heavily in AI. "Teams are optimizing in siloes, and that doesn't add up to C-Level outcomes." [11.00] Why applying AI to internal data often hits a ceiling, and the role external data plays in making AI genuinely effective. "The ceiling is the context. So when you work with your internal data, you're only optimizing what you know. You have no idea what's happening outside… But there are a lot of external factors that are impacting your supply chain." [14.26] Why the conversation is shifting from AI that automates to AI that actually executes, the difference between the two, and how executives should rethink their AI strategy if they want measurable business outcomes rather than isolated productivity gains. [16.51] Why, as AI takes on more execution, traditional business metrics don't tell the full story, and why 'invisible success' is a real challenge for leaders. "When you think about traditional metrics, they count what happened. But when you think about prevention, it's measuring what didn't happen. And it's very hard for a CFO to credit something that didn't happen." [21.03] The new metrics organizations should be looking at to understand AI's real impact. [23.43] What a successful AI-enabled operating model looks like when everyone is measuring the right outcomes. "Start with the people. With the right model, they'll stop firefighting and start leading." [28.32] From 'the pilot trap' to data readiness, the biggest barriers preventing organizations from realizing the full value of AI, especially when it comes to buy-in, and how FourKites tackle them. [32.50] How unrealistic expectations or poor implementation lead to loss of executive sponsorship. "Sponsorship survives when you set the floor, not the ceiling." [34.56] Matt's advice for executives trying to maintain board confidence as they scale AI initiatives. [37.28] What the most innovative organizations are doing today that others haven't caught up with yet, and what's next. "They've stopped talking about tools." [40.22] Matt's big predictions for the future of enterprise AI.   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 Matt on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more insightful content from FourKites, check out: 550: Discover The Blueprint For Your Autonomous Supply Chain, with FourKites 536: Prevent Supply Disruptions and Protect Revenue, with FourKites 235: Use Real-Time Visibility To Transform Your Entire Supply Chain, with FourKites Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  5. Sep 7

    562: Navigating Today's Transportation Landscape to Deliver in Peak Season, with Infios

    Steve Blough of Infios talks about 2026 peak season - the state of the market, from challenges to rates; the capacity crunch; & the role of AI and new tech.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.33] Steve's career background, his key areas of focus in supply chain, and the challenges he currently hears from shippers and carriers. "Capacity is tight, rates are high, and shippers are taking a hard look at how they're moving freight." [06.41] The state of the market in 2026 and why capacity is a big challenge. "Capacity has contracted so much faster than anyone thought it would… So, when you look at the market, it's a demand story not a supply story." [08.41] What rates look like now, and where Steve expects them to go through the remainder of 2026. "Spot rates are climbing and as they climb… some of the carriers guaranteed capacity has evaporated." [13.49] 2026 peak season and why it's arriving earlier than usual, from tariff fear to changes on the Panama Canal. [16.47] How current challenges and technologies are changing the way shippers operate, communicate, and seek out partners. "That communication backbone, and the need to get data back and forth quickly, has become critical." [18.37] Why the capacity crunch is a network problem, not a rate problem, and an example of an Infios client leveraging the capacity in their network to move more goods at lower rates. "Everyone can win by looking broadly." [21.09] Why good data and communication between systems are critical. "As systems and solutions have got more modern, APIs have made those communications much easier.. So one of the things that excites me most about AI is the ability to improve data." [23.04] What network-level decision-making actually looks like in practice, compared to the lane-by-lane process most teams are still running. "It's not just looking at something and going: "I should put that in a truck." It's: "Should I do intermodal, truckload, parcel, zone-skipping… With all the different modes, what's the right thing to look at with the freight I have now?" [25.43] Consolidation, and the capacity hiding inside a shipper's own network that most companies aren't using. [28.42] Whether tighter capacity creates more business risk. [30.36] What AI can actually do for a shipper during peak season, and technology's role looking ahead. [34.28] How much autonomy we should give AI as organizations look to manage effective automation, risk, cost and people. [35.36] An overview of Infios, and what it means to deliver Intelligent Supply Chain Execution. [38.06] What shippers should focus on between now and the holiday peak.   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 Steve on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Infios, check out: 544: How To Move Toward Intelligent, Connected Execution, with Infios 532: Turning Purposeful AI into Business Outcomes, with Infios 520: Enter the New Era of Supply Chain Management, with Infios Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  6. Aug 31

    561: Bridging Planning and Execution: The Next Frontier of Supply Chain Orchestration, with Cleo

    Mahesh Rajasekharan of Cleo talks about what they do; data & visibility challenges; the evolution of supply chain orchestration; & their new Executive Report.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.38] What excites Mahesh about transformation, why he calls Cleo a 'neo-startup', and how he has shaped their mission and growth strategy. "I've always been attracted to transformation opportunities… Cleo had great technology, loyal customers and an important market position. But it also had enormous untapped potential." [04.47] Who Cleo is, what they do, and what it means to orchestrate a supply chain, as opposed to simply integrating it. "Visibility tells you what happened, but orchestration is what helps you decide what to do about it. It's going from systems of record to systems of action." [06.29] The problem with historic working siloes, and how orchestration forces collaboration and a customer-first approach. "Often, planning has all the context but cannot execute. Execution systems can execute, but don't have enough context. The ability to bridge the co-ordination gap can unlock significant value – and every participant in the supply chain is responsible." [10.34] Cleo's north star – 'to make global supply chains better' – and the big turning points that have defined their evolution. [13.47] The ideal client for Cleo, how that profile has changed over the course of their evolution, and why supply chain has to become a revenue driver. [21.14] Why Cleo conduct an annual Global Supply Chain Executive Report, and the most surprising findings from 2026. [23.52] With 88% of organizations increasing their use of automation, yet 55% reporting increased operational complexity as a result, a closer look at exactly what's driving that disconnect. [25.43] Why only 16% of organizations say they have true end-to-end, real-time visibility across their supply chain, despite visibility being a critical goal for over a decade. "Supply chains have become true ecosystems, not enterprises… So the data an organization needs oftentimes sits outside its four walls." [29.46] As leaders become increasingly comfortable with AI-based recommendations but still struggle to trust the underlying data, where companies should actually focus if they want AI to deliver real value. "The two most important things are context and governance… You can't get to a data 'holy grail', but if you can establish a superior context, then you can execute." [35.10] How organizations can improve their data context and trust more quickly. [39.13] How companies can streamline order processing with Cleo to course correct problems, improve on-time and in-full performance, boost speed, reduce cost, and enhance customer relationships. [44.20] How sitting on the boards of Cleo, Ascend Software, and Banyan Software helps Mahesh understand the wider market and develop Cleo's own strategy moving forward. "It really makes you understand how universally challenging operational complexity has become… And it provides a strong perspective on what separates companies that successfully transform from those that struggle." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Cleo's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cleo and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Mahesh on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  7. Aug 24

    560: How Dairy Farmers of America Protect Every Product, Every Time, with Samsara

    Tom Murray of Dairy Farmers of America talks about their partnership with Samsara, overcoming challenges; safety & efficiency; & driving success every day.     IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.50] An introduction to Tom, and the Dairy Farmers of America. "We're a dairy co-operative. We're owned by 9,000 dairy farmers across 5,000 farms… and they govern us! The farmers run the business." [03.52] Tom's roots on his family's creamery, and how it informs his current role at DFA. "It's given me a really great appreciation for the supply chain, from farm to the consumer, and all the complexities that brings. I've lived it." [04.49] The DFA members, and what it really means to them to be part of a co-operative. "We're creating something that represents their values." [06.19] The DFA supply chain, and its unique position in terms of speed, flexibility and supply and demand. [07.46] The challenges involved in moving fresh produce, and how DFA adapt. [10.04] Why technology and innovation are critical to DFA's ongoing success. "We're very focused on cost, safety, compliance and visibility, and technology has really improved all of that. We have control, and we know where our opportunities are." [11.48] What safety and efficiency mean to DFA, and why they're foundational elements for success. "You can be efficient, but you better be effective too." [14.28] How DFA determined that Samsara were the right partner. "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than to be smart." [15.55] Which Samsara solutions DFA use, and how they work to solve their unique challenges and complexities. [17.20] How one small success metric drove big results for DFA. [20.02] Tom's role on Samsara's Customer Advisory Board, the value for DFA, and the importance of collaboration and open feedback loops. [22.09] DFA's culture of excellence, how it helps drive success, and how Samsara feeds into that internal culture as an external partner. [25.02] The future of technology and innovation at DFA, and why unification will be key.   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 Tom on LinkedIn. You can also follow Dairy Farmers of America on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Samsara, check out: 557: Maintenance Reimagined, with Samsara 555: How To Build A Technology Partnership That Drives Results, with Samsara Customer XPO 552: Expand Your Visibility and Achieve Asset Tracking at Scale, with Samsara 529: Empower The People Who Power The World, with Samsara 524: Increase the Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability of Your operations, with Samsara Check out our other podcasts HERE.

  8. Aug 17

    559: From AI Hype to Business Value: The Future of Supply Chain Intelligence, with Gnosis Freight

    Jake Hoffman of Gnosis Freight talks about AI – trust; misconceptions; data; asking the right questions; measuring success; & why the real innovation isn't AI. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.08] The biggest misconceptions people have about AI in logistics. "There's a big misconception that AI itself is the differentiator, that if you have good AI that means all your problems go away. AI is just an amplifier of whatever is underneath the surface… People are learning that the hard way." [04.16] What being an AI-native company means for Gnosis Freight, why they've changed how they talk about AI, and how AI changed their understanding of how software would become cheaper and easier to build. "We use it so we can make ourselves better, so we can do more for the customer." [07.56] The origin of the name 'Gnosis'. [10.41] With more and more logistics platforms adding AI features, whether AI itself is becoming a commodity, and why real innovation isn't AI, it's the infrastructure behind it. "If you're not using it, you're behind… But sometimes it becomes a checkbox." [16.19] If AI is only as good as the data it's trained on, what separates good logistics data from bad logistics data. "It's a bunch of people optimizing a local system for a local maximum or minimum, but there's nobody that's orchestrating the entire thing to give you the entire system maximum and minimum." [18.59] As AI pilot failure continues to be a big issue, the questions companies should be asking vendors as they evaluate AI-powered logistics platforms, and the new strategies they should be embracing. [23.31] How companies should measure AI success – not just celebrate the launch of AI initiatives. [25.46] Where Gnosis sees AI making a measurable impact on cost, efficiency, and margins in logistics. [31.47] What autonomous execution looks like in practice for logistics teams, and which logistics processes are closest to being fully automated with AI today. [33.36] What needs to happen before businesses can trust AI to make operational decisions on its own. "Implementing AI with the right guardrails is key… Often our first implementation is a recommendation, not a final decision." [37.29] How AI will change the role of logistics professionals. [40.32] Jake's advice for supply chain leaders looking to invest in AI over the next few years. "Don't buy the product, buy the system. Don't pick the software solution, pick the partner." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Gnosis Freight's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Gnosis and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Jake on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

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About

My Name is Sarah Barnes-Humphrey and this is Let's Talk Supply Chain where I interview the top Supply Chain professionals in the industry. You will learn about best practices, changes in the industry and Hot Topics surrounding Supply Chain. Have a specific question you want answered? E-mail us at listener@letstalksupplychain.com

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