Today I’m joined by Locus Robotics, a super innovative technology brand that is creating ground-breaking robotics technology, with the right mix of power and flexibility, to improve warehouse productivity.
Locus design and build innovative autonomous mobile robots, that work collaboratively alongside people in the fast paced logistics and fulfilment industries. With Locus’s powerful and intelligent autonomous solutions, workers can pick 2x-3x faster with near-100% accuracy and less labor, delivering higher productivity and a better workplace.
Today Kait Peterson, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Locus Robotics, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the importance of flexibility in supply chain; using robots to empower people; and how automation can drive a competitive advantage.
[07.08] The current landscape of the warehousing industry and its challenges, from labor shortages to the knock-on effect of port delays.
“Warehouses are the new bottleneck… The key is going to be all about throughput.”
[08.01] With robot sales reaching record highs, Kait reflects on how the industry is thinking about, and implementing, robotics solutions.
“There are two methodologies for implementation, but the key is to have a robotics solution that improves efficiency and productivity, but also makes your workers lives better, so you can keep and maintain the talent you have.”
[09.31] An overview of Locus Robotics – what they do and how they help their customers.
“We focus on collaborative robots in the warehouse – we have robots that work seamlessly with your workforce.”
[11.19] A closer look at LocusOne, the technology platform that powers the Locus robots.
[12.07] How, and why, brands are using Locus as a competitive advantage in a challenging market.
“A lot of our customers see it as such as competitive advantage, that they don’t want anybody else to know that they’re using Locus!”
[13.34] The relationship between people and robots, and why Locus’s solution is all about empowering people, not replacing them.
“We’re centered on the people… We were originally a logistics company that saw the problems in the warehouse and used robotics to solve them.”
[15.56] A closer look at onboarding, integration and training with Locus, and the flexibility that the solution can bring.
[17.46] The ideal client for Locus.
[19.11] Two case studies showing how Locus work with their customers to design customized solutions for complex omnichannel challenges.
[21.07] From safety to customer satisfaction, the many and varied benefits of robotics.
“Now is the time to get into robotics!”
[23.04] The future for Locus Robotics.
Head over to Locus Robotics’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Locus Robotics and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Kait on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out our blog, What are Autonomous Robots? 8 Applications for Today’s AMRs, written by Jason walker, co-founder and CEO of Waypoint Robotics, a leading provider of heavy payload capacity and omnidirectional AMRs, that was acquired by Locus in 2021. Or why not read all about The Warehouse of the Future, as predicted by logistics expert Gwynne Richards.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s the fourth and final episode of our Sifted mini-series!
Last week in episode three, I was joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer, to talk all about Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; how it can identify and recover lost revenue; how the boom in ecommerce has impacted shippers; and the power of strategic automation.
And today in episode four, we’ll be turning our attention to Sifted’s Contract Management Suite. I’m joined by Adam Moulding, Chief Innovation Officer, to talk all about the platform; helping customers to go beyond a one-and-done negotiation mindset; the importance of strengthening business relationships; and the role of innovation in the future of supply chain.
[01.43] Some of the big challenges around contract management in the current climate.
“Contracts have become even more difficult, there are a lot more vendors… and figuring out all of the supply chain components – contracts, what’s active, what discounts are expiring – has become a real challenge for businesses… who’s profession isn’t supply chain!”
[03.29] An overview of Sifted’s contract management suite – how it helps its customers, and how it helps to tackle those key challenges.
“It’s about providing visibility… You need to be looking at your contracts. And you need to be comparing those contracts to your every day shipping profile.”
[07.06] A closer look at what customers can do within Sifted’s contract management suite platform, and the different ways they can hone contracts and optimize their shipping strategies.
“How do I know what I should be doing on a daily basis, and how do I measure whether or not I am doing it?”
[11.28] An explanation of re-rating, how Sifted’s solution allows customers to run re-rating scenarios, and how it empowers them to make confident data-driven decisions.
“We’re breaking down those variables into easily understandable changes… anybody can go in and play with the numbers and understand ‘how does this impact?’”
[14.01] A closer look at Sifted’s contract monitoring, and how it helps take customers beyond a one-and-done negotiation mindset.
“They say that data is the new gold but really, data insights are the most valuable thing.”
[20.02] The role of innovation in setting businesses up for success now, and in the future; and its importance to the overall future of supply chain.
[22.56] A closer look at Sifted’s newly launched compliance tool, what it does and how it complements the existing range of Sifted solutions.
[25.53] The ideal client for Sifted’s contract management suite.
[26.58] A case study looking at how Sifted helped a key client find solutions to a huge rise in shipping costs, ultimately helping them to reduce costs whilst increasing business.
[32.13] Adam’s key takeaways from the mini-series, and his predictions for the industry as we head into 2023.
“Businesses and shippers have to be flexible and adaptable – to carrier changes, to market changes, to supply chain blockages and all of the different things that are going to be thrown at them.”
Head over to Sifted’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Sifted and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, or you can connect with Adam on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, make sure you catch up on any episodes of our Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today mini-series that you might have missed. Listen to Episode 1, Empowering Confident Decisions, Episode 2, A Shipper's Crystal Ball and Episode 3, Enabling Operational Automation.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by MODIFI, a forward-thinking global financial services technology brand who are on a mission to reinvent global commerce – despite supply chain disruption.
MODIFI is a one stop platform for business payments and trade management, founded with the aim to make trade seamless and transparent for businesses around the globe. Designed to challenge the status quo, MODIFI allows exporters and importers alike to gain full control of their cross-border trade.
Today Nelson Holzner, CEO and Co-Founder of MODIFI, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; pushing boundaries in the world of finance; how flexible payment terms can help businesses scale quickly; and why it’s so important to bring simplicity and control to global trade.
[06.25] Nelson’s founder journey, and how a corporate law career led him to become a successful fintech entrepreneur.
“My Dad was a sea captain on large container ships, so shipping is deep in my DNA!”
[08.10] How, and why, Nelson co-founded MODIFI.
“As founders, we were very intrigued by very large markets with almost unlimited growth potential. Global commerce and business payments are massive markets... and when you look at how clunky and complicated they are, we thought: we can make a change for the better.”
[09.37] An overview of MODIFI – what they do and how they help their customers.
“MODIFI stands for modern digital finance, and what we’re doing is empowering global commerce with digital business payments and trade management services.”
[12.13] A closer look at how MODIFI works for buyers, how it helps to mitigate risk, and the many benefits.
“It’s a win-win – the buyer can buy the goods and pay for them later… they can grow their business and their margins at the same time. It’s a very neat solution!”
[17.17] How MODIFI works for sellers, and the impact of being able to optimize cashflow.
[20.00] How MODIFI helps level the playing field, why it’s so important to empower small and medium sized businesses, and the impact that empowerment can have globally.
“It’s these small and mid-sized businesses that need fast and secure liquidity, especially in developing countries where local economies are often struggling and the banking systems aren’t as strong. For us, it’s about the financial inclusion of those businesses.”
[21.55] MODIFI’s shipment tracker, and other support solutions, that allow businesses to achieve better visibility into, and control over, their trades – all in one place.
[24.39] The quick and simple integration and onboarding process with MODIFI.
“With banks, it takes months… with our technology, we can do it all in a day.”
[28.18] The ideal client for MODIFI.
[30.11] A case study detailing how MODIFI helped a key customer, who found themselves struggling and unable to take on new orders because of a lack of capital, to grow and thrive in a volatile market.
[34.25] Why MODIFI is working to push the boundaries and challenge the status quo, and why that’s so important at this time of global disruption.
“The traditional service providers we have in our space lack a holistic view… they focus on their specific solution, their specific field… but I believe that if you leverage technology, you can really change that - you can allow customers to get the full picture and, with that full picture, much more control.”
[37.07] Big ambitions and growth: the future for MODIFI.
Head over to MODIFI’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with MODIFI and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Nelson on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out episode 185: Chart a Course for Shipping Success, featuring Alison Cusack, another successful lawyer in the shipping space. Or why not try episode 271, featuring Klaus Imping, another forward-thinking entrepreneur, who's helping business leaders to make digital process transformation sustainably successful.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode three of our Sifted mini-series!
Last week in episode two, I was joined by Kevin Miller, VP of Data Insights at Sifted, to talk all about what simulation and modeling means; common misconceptions; the benefits of using simulation to make smart supply chain adjustments; and how predictive modeling has the potential to revolutionize your business’s sustainability goals.
And today in episode three, it is operational automation’s turn under the Sifted spotlight. I’m joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer, to dive into Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; how it can identify and recover lost revenue; how the boom in ecommerce has impacted shippers; and the power of strategic automation.
[01.37] The changing landscape of the industry over the last few years, and how the rise in ecommerce, accelerated by the pandemic, has shifted the entire market.
“The carriers are really built to handle a certain number of shipments at a given time, and COVID and the boom in ecommerce has really tested the stress limits of that carrier capacity network.”
[04.24] How this evolving market, at a time of business growth for Sifted, helped to shape products like Parcel Audit and the growth of operational automation.
“Every shipper is overwhelmed with data… shippers don’t need more data, they need more insights into their data.”
[10.09] A look at some of the main challenges faced by shippers in the current climate.
“It’s a really challenging time for on-time delivery percentages… for a couple of reasons: excess amounts of volume… but what most businesses have been facing is labour shortages.”
[14.05] An overview of Sifted’s Parcel Audit for shippers – how it helps its customers, and how it uses automation to address key industry challenges.
“A lot of shippers are looking for more auditing solutions, and more money that can be achieved outside of the traditional ways.”
[18.26] A closer look at exactly how Parcel Audit works.
[20.57] How automation, with Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution, can save shippers an incredible amount of time and resource.
“Most shippers use Excel… it takes an average shipper typically two to three hours just to get their data into Excel and formatted correctly! ...With Sifted, they can spend less time manipulating the data and more time consuming the data.”
[22.14] How shippers can utilize Parcel Audit to gain refunds from FedEx and UPS, for late deliveries and pricing mistakes, and recover money they didn’t even know they had.
“It happens and goes unnoticed every single day… so having a good safety net, that’s continuously looking for areas of improvement and mistakes, for you to go get that money back is what it’s all about!”
[23.29] How Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution can also facilitate revenue recovery across invoices and contracts, helping shippers to become more proactive – both in optimizing their own operational decisions, but also in holding their carriers accountable for service failures.
[26.22] The quick and easy integration and onboarding process for Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution.
“We’ve made it ‘30 seconds easy’… because this is often the number one concerned question I get from shippers.”
[27.36] The ideal client for Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution.
[29.05] A case study, showing how Parcel Audit helped a key customer to save time and money through identifying refunds and expired contract areas, ultimately delivering much-needed peace of mind.
[33.00] Caleb’s reflections on the power of utilizing well-chosen and strategic automation within supply chain to optimize, save costs and create efficiencies.
“People want to make better, informed decisions when it comes to managing their companies transportation. Their time is best served identifying areas within the process that are not working.”
Head over to Sifted’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Sifted and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, or you can connect with Caleb on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to check out episode one and episode two (LINK WHEN READY) of this fantastic mini-series.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by unique global freight forwarder, Estes Forwarding Worldwide (EFW).
EFW is one of the leading domestic and international freight forwarders in the US, providing customized logistics solutions for clients around the world and across all industries including retail, government, automotive, health services and technology. Whether it’s air, ground, or ocean freight, they take a personal approach, and are passionate about fostering the best customer relationships possible, and exceeding expectations each and every time. A subsidiary of Estes Express Lines, and with over 400 employees nationwide, the company earned its billionth dollar in revenue in 2017.
Today Michael Campese, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Estes Forwarding Worldwide, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the rising focus on home delivery; moving from fixed to flexible; and why everyone needs to be thinking about capacity.
[07.29] The evolution of EFW, and on overview of their broad range of services.
“Some of our best customers are those that we get to do a lot of things for. A lot of our relationships start with one or two solutions, and they grow and expand.”
[10.11] The current landscape of the trucking industry, the main challenges, and how EFW are tackling these challenges to help their customers gain a competitive advantage.
“We’re not constrained… we have 10,000 asset providers that we work with, and we’re backed by this great network.”
[13.49] A closer look at EFW’s Net Promoter Score and the growing importance of customer service and satisfaction.
“It’s not just: ‘on a scale of one to ten, how happy were you, how satisfied were you?’ It’s: ‘how likely would you be to refer us?’ And that’s a more critical lens.”
[17.31] The ecommerce boom: the changes EFW have seen over the last few years, the challenges that the industry is still facing, and how EFW are responding.
“Supply chain is full of bottlenecks and opportunities for things to go wrong… great partners are the ones that try to get ahead, try to learn ‘why did that happen last time and lets avoid it in the future’ - but when it does happen, they recover quickly.”
[19.13] A closer look at EFW’s warehousing capacity and solutions, and how they can scale and flex to meet changing customer demand in a volatile market.
“Being a forwarder and a logistics provider, and also having space, has allowed us to come to our customers… who couldn’t rely on just-in-time inventory anymore, and we’ve been able to pull that into our facilities and help them in a lot of ways.”
[21.14] An insight into how, and why, customers typically engage with EFW, and how they work together to create the right solution.
[22.52] The ideal client for ESW.
“Our ideal clients want to come to the table, in earnest, and have good strategic conversations…. It’s collaborative.”
[24.28] A case study showing how EFW helped a key customer to tackle capacity constraints and delivery restrictions in order to meet quickly rising product demand during COVID.
Head over to EFW’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with EFW and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, or you can connect with Michael on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out episode 285, Unlock the Power of Partnerships, with Cargo Chief and Hubtek, or read our blog Managing Crisis and Adversity in Uncertain Times: What We Have Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic and What to Do and Not Do When Facing a Crisis.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode two of our brand new Sifted mini-series!
Last week on episode one, we took a closer look at the Sifted Score. I was joined by Chief Experience Officer Ami to explore exactly how the Sifted Score works; how it helps to deliver categorized insights for quick actions; and how Sifted are empowering shippers to make confident and future-proof decisions.
Today in episode 2, we’re turning our attention to predictive modeling. I’m joined by Kevin Miller, VP of Data Insights at Sifted, to talk all about what simulation and modeling means; common misconceptions; the benefits of using simulation to make smart supply chain adjustments; and how predictive modeling has the potential to revolutionize your business’s sustainability goals.
[01.36] Exactly what modeling and simulation means, and the differences between the two.
“People bucket modeling and simulation together quite often, but they’re quite different… most of the tools that people have can’t process the amount of data that simulation takes in this industry – we call it Excel hell!”
[03.27] Some of the common myths and misconceptions around simulation, and how Sifted address them with their customers.
“The biggest thing people say is that they can’t do an apples to apples comparison… because this industry always changes... We really try to debunk those myths.”
[09.09] An overview of Sifted’s modeling and simulation solution, and why they call it a ‘virtual sandbox.’
“We’ve built these solutions to help our users focus on what’s important to their business specifically – because it’s different for everybody.”
[11.51] A closer look at how Sifted’s modeling and simulation solution works.
[15.27] Integration and connectivity, and the importance of good data.
“We’ve had a lot of really big, enterprise level clients come back and say ‘holy cow! It took us a year to get through this, and it took you two weeks – how do you do it?’ Well, it's what we do every single day – we’ve built the infrastructure to handle it.”
[17.02] Kevin shares the kinds of challenges Sifted’s modeling and simulation solution can help solve for clients, and how they’re using the software.
“It provides clarity and visibility, where previously people didn’t have any.”
[19.17] Kevin reflects on empowering confident decisions through Sifted software, and why it’s so important in a climate with a heavy focus on mitigating risk and facilitating agility and transparency.
“We live in an ever changing world of transparency… so in order to succeed in this type of environment, you have to have a good grasp on the decisions that you’re making, and the impact of those decisions in the future.”
[21.35] How modelling and simulation can help businesses to tackle key sustainability goals.
[25.24] The ideal client for Sifted’s modeling and simulation solution.
[26.48] A case study detailing how Sifted’s modeling and simulation solution helped a key client determine the most strategic location for a new warehouse, ultimately saving them over a million dollars in shipping expenses, helping them to reduce their average transit time, and reduce their carbon foot print.
[29.57] Why it’s so important for businesses to invest in future-proofing their business, to set themselves up for success.
“In order to be sustainable, you’ve got to be agile and you’ve got to start thinking about these different scenarios now – or else you’re going to be left in the dust!”
Head over to Sifted’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Sifted and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, or you can connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not check out episode 286, the first show in our Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today mini-series with Sifted.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain I’m joined by Jolene Peixoto, a powerhouse who is as passionate about championing female leadership as she is about bringing stories to life.
Jolene launched her career in high tech PR 20 years ago, and has never looked back. Working at leading brands including Emulex, Blue Yonder and now FarEye, Jolene has driven global corporate communications strategies, encompassing brand awareness, public relations, social media, customer and content marketing, to great success. And, during this time, Jolene has always put a focus on empowering women, as a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Today Jolene will be talking to us about her career so far; her love of storytelling; lifting women up to leadership roles; and some of the evolving trends in supply chain marketing. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in supply chain, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
This Women in Supply Chain feature was sponsored by Sifted. As a business dedicated to empowering confidence within the shipping industry, we’re proud to support Women in Supply Chain. Sifted is the leading logistics intelligence software that combines insights with expertise to empower bigger, smarter shipping decisions. As growth and disruptions present ongoing challenges for supply chain leaders, thousands rely on Sifted to set their businesses up for success. Learn more about Sifted here.
[08.04] Jolene’s early career, and how she discovered her natural talent for communication and storytelling.
“It started from the very first job I ever had. I was an intern… I had the magic touch right away with pitching media… and it was gratifying from that point on!”
[09.55] How a challenging work climate led Jolene to take an internship and discover a passion for technology.
“I took an internship… but I got into it really quickly, because it was a challenge…. It was different to representing a consumer brand.”
[13.29] Jolene’s move to Blue Yonder, how she came to embrace supply chain, and the power of building a social media network.
“What surprised me the most was how many people in my network, that I’d developed and grown… were in supply chain.”
[20.35] Jolene’s highlights and successes from her time at Blue Yonder, and what she learned along the way.
[24.32] Jolene’s previous role as marketing lead for Blue Yonder’s Diversity, Inclusion, Value and Equality Council: what she loved about it, why it was so important, and her tips for anybody looking to implement something similar in their own workplace.
“You don’t have to jump on the bandwagon if you don’t have a perspective, because you’ll just look like you’re checking a box.”
[28.30] Jolene discusses the lack of women in supply chain leadership roles, and how to open up opportunities.
[32.07] Why Jolene is so passionate about women championing each other, and how we can tackle mentorship and woman-to-woman relationships in a competitive and male-dominated environment.
“It’s 2022, why do we still need these types of awareness opportunities? We shouldn’t have to, but we do… it’s this real push-pull.”
[36.16] How Jolene found her current role at FarEye, and what she’s working on.
“I wanted to find a place where I could start from scratch… my role was created for me.”
[38.44] Jolene reflects on what has changed in the world of PR and marketing during the course of her 20 year career.
“Back in the day, the press release was the be all and end all… now the social media community has become a much bigger way of achieving brand awareness and recognition.”
[41.01] Jolene shares the achievement she’s most proud of.
“Leaving a job without having a job was a risk, but I’m proud of it because I learned a lot… I firmly believe everyone should do it at least once in their lives.”
[43.23] Jolene’s advice for all of the girls and women looking to follow in her footsteps.
“Trust yourself… and take a chance. If it doesn’t work, so what?”
You can connect with Jolene over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not check out episode 249: Making Deliveries Better For Everyone, with FarEye, where Kushal Nahata, co-founder and CEO at FarEye, chats all about the company, what they do, the challenges of last-mile delivery, reducing your carbon footprint while cutting costs, and why, in the e-commerce industry, experience is the new loyalty. You might also enjoy Kushal's blog, Achieving Sustainability Goals in Supply Chain Delivery.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.