Today I’m joined by Argo AI, a forward-thinking transport technology business who are on a mission to make the world’s streets and roadways safe, accessible and useful for all, through the power of self-driving technology.
With a team of self-driven engineers, strategists, product managers, and more – from over 50 countries – Argo are utilizing self-driving products and services to transform the movement of people and goods, benefiting communities around the world, and empowering both people and businesses to be more successful.
Today Lehren MacKay, Head of Business Development at Argo AI, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the landscape of autonomous technology; embracing a culture of safety; and why self-driving technology has profound potential to transform the way we live and move.
[06.23] The current landscape when it comes to autonomous vehicles, and why it's a growing focus for many businesses.
“It’s really exciting times – we are seeing a lot of investment in the autonomous vehicles space and a focus on a lot of diverse applications of the technology, ranging from delivery to ride share to trucking.”
[08.29] An overview of Argo – what they do, and how they help their customers.
“We have had a really collaborative process with our customers, creating relationships that drive mutual benefits and ultimately thinking about how we can future proof their businesses.”
[11.59] Mapping, sensing, planning and acting – the four key steps in how Argo's autonomous technology works.
[14.18] The relationship between AI and people, and why it’s important to harness the power that comes from both working seamlessly together.
"We often think about ‘how are we designing products, with people and customers in mind?’ And so for us, our key purpose is ‘how do we think about reimagining the human journey?’
[16.26] A closer look at Argo’s Autonomous Delivery service, and the value it’s bringing to both the middle and last mile for customers.
“We’re seeing a re-emergence of the urban middle mile… and as part of this change, we’re seeing new delivery middle mile use cases.”
[19.04] From tackling efficiency issues to addressing sustainability goals, the positive impact autonomous vehicles can have on the industry.
“There are a lot of driver shortages impacting delivery schedules, and we think autonomous vehicles can actually become that reliable driver supply to meet increasing volume and demands.”
[21.53] Why safety is a core value at Argo, and why autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize the safety of our roads.
“We are ultimately designing a driver that never gets tired, never gets distracted – and never drinks too much!”
[25.07] Argo’s ethos of benefiting communities, and empowering both people and businesses.
[27.11] The ideal client for Argo.
[29.09] A case study, showing how Argo supported a key client with store-to-store rebalancing, in order to help them meet changing customer demands.
[32.56] The future for Argo, and for autonomous vehicles.
Head over to Argo AI’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Argo and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram, or you can connect with Lehren on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Pando, a global logistics software brand and the world's first open-market freight management platform, which brings together an economic network of delivery stakeholders.
Pando is a market leader in supply chain technology, building the world’s fastest, and highest ROI driven networked‑Transport Management System. Pando is the TMS of choice for Fortune 500 manufacturers, retailers, and logistics companies globally, with a presence across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North America. Pando’s network‑powered SaaS platform for supply chain execution helps enterprises digitalize, automate, and scale their logistics operations across all modes and legs of movement.
Today Nitin Jayakrishnan, co-founder and CEO at Pando, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the key challenges in global logistics; the power of collaborative optimization; and why businesses need to look beyond cost saving, towards improved accuracy, responsiveness and predictability
[06.57] Nitin’s founder story, and the journey that led him to establish Pando.
“We set out to build a marketplace for domestic freight – Uber for freight!... Along the way something interesting started happening: our customers... started asking us if we could expand our tech into other freight and warehousing providers.”
[11.20] An overview of Pando – what they do, and how they help their customers.
“Most management solutions were built before the year 2000… The tech that sustains global supply chains is completely archaic!”
[15.57] A look at some of the key challenges Pando’s customers are facing right now, and Pando’s approach to solving them.
"These are brands that we love and live with… these brands ultimately serve you and me, so the mission for Pando, of course is to solve supply chain issues and logistics inefficiencies, but really is to serve the brand we love to help those brands serve us better!”
[23.21] The importance of good data, and Pando’s game-changing control tower capabilities.
"You don’t put the control tower at the top, you put it at the bottom – it’s the foundational layer of data that feeds into these systems… the input is controlled, so you’re not only able to solve the data problem, but you’re able to predict and prevent the challenges."
[27.00] A closer look at Pando’s TMS solution, and how it can revolutionize dispatch planning and decision-making.
[30.25] Integration, and how Pando work with their network of partners.
“Companies are now realizing that what was once called back end operations is now coming front and center of their global strategies.”
[36.22] Sustainability, how Pando facilitates a reduction in carbon footprint for their customers, and why clients increasingly expect their suppliers to be an active part of helping them achieve their own ESG goals.
[40.25] The onboarding process with Pando, and their mission to deliver fast and effective integration.
“With Pando, the time to value is 90 days – and that’s a gamechanger. It’s a gold standard when it comes to enterprise technology.”
[43.43] The ideal client for Pando.
[45.21] Two key case studies, illustrating how Pando helped one customer reduce supply chain costs and achieve end-to-end visibility, and another solve shipping efficiency issues in order to realize an additional $2.5 million in revenue.
[48.39] The future for Pando.
Head over to Pando’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Pando and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Nitin on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode 21 of Blended! I’m joined by another incredible panel of guests and we’re talking about diverse talent in the workplace, and how to keep it. From labor shortages to issues around retention, I’m having more and more conversations about talent on Let’s Talk Supply Chain, and it really was time to bring that conversation over to Blended. Ensuring you have diverse talent in your business could be the difference between surviving and thriving, so it’s something everyone should be taking seriously.
Today, our guests will be discussing the current landscape in supply chain when it comes to talent; sharing their own personal experiences; tackling how to successfully hire and retain talent; and discussing exactly how we navigate bias to improve company culture.
[00.45] Introductions to our Blended panelists.
“The landscape is transforming like never before.” Sugathri
[03.50] The group dives into the current landscape in supply chain when it comes to talent, and reflects on the truth behind the headlines around ‘talent shortages’ and the ‘great resignation.’
“Ensuring that you have the right wages and the right benefits have become really important – if you’re not hitting the mark on that, and if your culture is not right, people aren’t going to come and work for you. Or they’ll come, and then they’ll leave.” Meredith
[21.56] The panel reflects on the step before retention – hiring the right talent.
“It’s a candidate driven, employee market, and its absolutely essential that organisations are pitching themselves right.” Heidi
[40.47] The group shares their personal experiences and dive deeper into unconscious bias: what it means, the impact on retaining talent and how we successfully navigate through it in the workplace to help retention.
“Anybody who has been ‘othered’ is always asking themselves those questions – do I have an unconscious bias? And it’s terrifying when you have to come face to face with yourself and admit it.” Bryant
[1.13.14] The panel summarizes their thoughts on how organizations can successfully retain talent.
[01.27.23] The group sums up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
You can connect with Bryant, Heidi, Meredith and Sugathri over on LinkedIn.
If you found this episode interesting, you might enjoy Episode 20, DEI in the Workplace – Not Just The Smart Thing To Do, But The Right Thing To Do or Episode 18, Hiding in Plain Sight: The Reality of Workplace Discrimination.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Klaus Imping – best-selling author, entrepreneur, innovator, thought leader and CEO all rolled into one.
With an education in Business Administration, Klaus worked for almost a decade in various organizational, IT and process re-engineering roles before making the move to consulting, where he has worked with numerous clients and projects for almost three decades. As an author, entrepreneur and the CEO of mSE PointOut Group, Klaus operates in the magic triangle of information technology, processes, and strategy, with a focus on supply chain management in a global context.
Today Klaus joins me to chat all about his impressive career so far; his new book; his passion for making business process digitalization effective; and why tribal workflows are undermining digital transformation.
[06.54] Klaus shares his background and career journey, from his early employed roles to where he is today.
“This was the first time that I got the idea that the strength and resilience of processes is a result of three factors and the technical enablement is only one – the process design and the process adherence are equally important.”
[10.03] How his father’s workplace experiences helped to shape Klaus’ mindset and approach to his own career.
“You always find enough reasons to declare yourself a victim of circumstance, that’s easy. The hard way is to raise your hand, take influence and bring things to the right direction.”
[13.18] Klaus’ position in ‘the magic triangle of information technology, processes, and strategy’ – what he means by that, and why it’s the ideal place to be.
[16.27] An overview of Klaus’ upcoming book ‘Tribal F*cks Up Digital.’
“I truly think that digitalization and digital transformation is the next industrial revolution – it’s not a nice to have… it’s a do it or die type of thing.”
[20.52] Why Klaus wrote the book, the process of writing it and his passion for transforming the way we think about digitalization.
[23.18] A closer look at digital transformation, and why technology isn’t the answer.
“It might work technically – but the process, the people, the workflow just doesn’t adopt it… and it’s the famous Excel spreadsheet that survives!”
[28.20] Tribal workflows, and how they neutralize digitalization.
[32.31] The importance of effective adoption, and how it’s different to traditional change management.
“Digital transformation is not limited by technology. Digital transformation is limited by adoption.”
[35.54] Klaus’ reflections on what the next couple of years are going to bring for the industry.
[39.03] A look at Klaus’ organization, mSE PointOut Group, recently named a 2022 GARTNER Cool Vendor in Supply Chain Technology.
[41.29] What the future holds for Klaus.
Head over to Klaus’ website now to find out more, pre-order his book and to discover how he could help you too. You can also connect with Klaus on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by the supply chain program manager at Amazon, Sneha Kumari.
A Six Sigma Green Belt certified professional, who boats over a decade of experience leading quality supply chain and operational programs at several companies, Sneha is recognized as Operations Women Leaders by McKinsey and Co. Which doesn't happen often! She pours her passion into making the circular economy happen.
Today Sneha will be talking to us about her career so far, how she went from engineering to supply chain, her experience growing up in India, and why it's so important to highlight diverse voices. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in the industry, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
This Women in Supply Chain feature was made possible by our sponsor, Emerge. As a company focused on empowering and growing meaningful supply chain relationships, Emerge is proud to sponsor Women in Supply Chain. Through its freight procurement platform, Emerge offers solutions that enhance the spot and contract procurement process, enabling shippers and carriers to make more strategic decisions.
[01.27 ] Sneha's background, her childhood in India, and how she came to the U.S.
[05.18] How Sneha went from technology to a successful career in supply chain and her experience in both male-dominated industries.
“Even though I was putting in more hours, I still wasn't seen... As women, we feel the urge to put in more hours because [our] confidence is already shattered."
[10.34] Sneha's journey in sales and marketing.
[14.48] How Crane Fluid Handling helped Sneha fall in love with supply chain and what others can learn.
I have to give to [them] for believing in me, supporting me, and letting me lead multiple facets of supply chain.
[16.45] Sneha's Six Sigma Greenbelt; what it is, why she went for it, and how it's impacted her career.
“If you think from a quality lens, I think it's worth it! It helped me. It's a method to give an organziation the tools to improve their capabilities."
[19.45] What Sneha is up to now and what she's doing for the next generation of supply chain.
"I'm super deep into circular supply chains."
[23.23] Sneha's recent passion project.
[26.33] Sneha's perspective on the importance of elevating diverse voices.
“I still don't see a lot of companies walking this talk. Great—we're talking about [diversity] more now, but I think it needs to be a part of business views. Otherwise, it's going to be very hard."
[31.31] How mentorship and women played a role in Sneha's journey.
[34.10] What the future holds for Sneha.
[35.19] Sneha’s words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
You can connect with Sneha over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed finding out more about female leaders in supply chain, why not check out our other WISC episodes where I'm joined by powerful women who work at powerful companies like, Crocs and Starbucks. And if you're interested in hearing about diversity and inclusion - and why we need to talk about it - there's a whole podcast on that, too.