We’re kicking off another brand new mini-series!
For this four-part special, I’m joined by Sifted: the number one logistics intelligence platform, who are empowering shippers to make smart, data-powered business decisions. Over the next four episodes, our “Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today” series is going to take a closer look at Sifted: their market-leading products; the customers they’re helping to thrive in times of disruption; the trends, insights and predictions they’re seeing in the industry right now; and exactly how they’re setting shippers up for success, today and tomorrow.
Today in Episode 1, Empowering Confident Decisions, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Sifted Score: how it works; how it helps to deliver categorized insights for quick actions; and exactly how Sifted are empowering shippers to make confident and future-proof decisions.
[02.53] For anyone who missed the last show, a reminder of who Sifted are and what they do.
“We help shippers revolutionize decision-making.”
[04.19] What ‘empowering confident decisions’ means to Sifted, and to the industry amidst ongoing disruption, and why it’s so important.
“For us, it means knowing the scope, the risk, and the impact of a particular business decision.”
[07.02] An overview of the Sifted Score, “a credit score for shipping” – what it does and how it helps its customers.
“It’s an at-a-glance visibility tool for gauging the success of your shipping operations.”
[07.51] A closer look at the Sifted Score, the six key categories and over 20 different unique factors that make up the score, and the business areas that clients can expect to see analyzed.
[10.24] The Sifted Score dashboard, how clients can see and understand the data within it, and identify the key impacts customized to their industry.
“We’re all looking for data to inform our decisions right now, and given the conditions that are happening in the market… we all want to make confident decisions and be on steady ground.”
[13.28] Ami expands on the importance of empowering confident decisions, on removing the guesswork and better understanding the next steps for your business.
“It’s the nuance in the emotive feeling vs ‘let’s go and see what the data has to say about it!’ With the amount of data that shippers have at their fingertips, we’re in a world that no-one should have to ‘feel’ a costly decision – they should be able to know with clarity and confidence.”
[15.55] How and why a business’s Sifted Score is re-calculated weekly, and the impact that has on agility and improved decision making.
“Carriers are constantly making changes – some within their control, some outside of it.”
[21.46] Sifted Score’s simple integration and onboarding process.
[24.13] The ideal client for the Sifted Score.
“A lot of people talk about being resilient, and agility, and how important that is. But if you’re not willing to explore different ways of doing things, you can’t become agile and respond to the market.”
[26.39] A case study looking at how Sifted helped a key customer to make strategic delivery improvements, improving customer satisfaction and reducing costs.
[28.12] Ami’s predictions for the rest of 2022, looking forward to 2023.
“Change is the only constant in supply chain! Plan for the known – we’ve got peak season, a general rate increase, some market instability…. And start to model out some of the unknowns.”
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 Ami on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not check out episode 230, where Caleb first introduced us to Sifted; what they do; the importance of taking a holistic approach to shipping health; and the role that disruptions like COVID have played in the digitization of logistics. You can also check out his fascinating blog, How Sifted Is Shaking Up The Shipping Industry (Goodbye, Excel Hell).
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Cargo Chief and Hubtek, not one but two leading technology companies, working in the transportation space, who often partner together to provide the best results for their customers.
Cargo Chief enables 3PLs and freight brokers to expand their carrier network, gain visibility into real-time pricing, and streamline their processes. And Hubtek is a tech-enabled talent and automation solutions provider for transportation companies across North America.
Today Chris Arredondo, Co-Founder and VP of Customer Success at Cargo Chief, and Andrew Gulovsen, Chief Marketing Officer, at Hubtek, join me to chat all about their respective companies: what they do; how real-time data is helping to drive down costs; why you need to put a focus on collaboration and strategic partnerships; and the importance of customer success.
[06.39] A introduction to Chris, Cargo Chief and how they help their customers.
“We solve some of the industry’s biggest issues…. And we serve everything up on our project and procurement software… for an easier way to book freight.”
[07.28] An introduction to Andrew, Hubtek and how they help their customers.
“As businesses look to scale and grow, we offer a three-pronged approach of technology and automation… training, strategy and coaching, and a co-managed talent offering.”
[08.40] An overview of Cargo Chief and Hubtek’s partnership: how they came to work together, how they team up for their shared customers and a closer look at the type of customer who would work with them both.
“We started to find solutions that married together: Hubtek with TABi, and us with the power of capacity and pricing.” Chris
“The broad scope of what’s possible – the opportunities that exist out there that are just not captured based on time, energy, resource – the two of these together provide that access to those opportunities that weren’t there before.” Andrew
[11.44] Chris and Andrew reflect on the landscape of the logistics industry right now and some of the challenges, from both Cargo Chief and Hubtek’s perspectives.
“It's taken 10 years and a pandemic to get tracking automated! And the same thing with technology, we have to work together to move the industry forward.” Chris
[15.07] A closer look at cost, the challenges of the rising costs involved in booking freight, and how Cargo Chief’s real-time pricing data can help protect margins and profits for customers.
“It's not just the price... if you can’t narrow down to cost per load, it’s going to be really difficult to figure out how much the cost of booking freight actually is.” Chris
[17.45] Andrew explains how time and cost ties into automation, Hubtek’s TABi solution, and the impact automating key communications can have on things like staff wellbeing and satisfaction.
“The people within your organization can focus on that relationship development, on that important aspect of working with the customer… your people can really focus on improving culture and how you do business.” Andrew
[21.38] How better data and increased automation and efficiencies can help to increase carrier engagement, and why better carrier partnerships are so important.
“Carriers are your lifeline... you’ve really got to understand their needs and wants, and their willingness to work with you. What separates you from Broker B?” Chris
[26.45] Chris and Andrew discuss the importance of customer success, why the industry needs to embrace that mindset and why customer success is at the heart of the Cargo Chief and Hubtek partnership.
“Businesses often make decisions based on what they think, and without talking to the customer and understanding what they need. Finding that frictionless experience – that’s the direction that needs to happen.” Andrew
“If you’re running a company, yes revenue is important – but so is retention.” Chris
[30.14] A closer look at integration and onboarding with Cargo Chief and Hubtek.
[33.34] Chris and Andrew each give a taste of how they work with customers, and the potential impact or ROI they could achieve by working with Cargo Chief and Hubtek.
[38.49] The future for Cargo Chief and Hubtek, and their ongoing partnership.
Head over to Cargo Chief’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cargo Chief and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
Head over to Hubtek’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Hubtek and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out episode 217: Transform collaboration between buyers and suppliers, with SourceDay, or read our blog How Collaboration and Technology Creates Efficiency for SMB’s.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today we’re bringing you a little treat, in the shape of one of our most-viewed videos on YouTube.
No Bullshipping with Hope White is one of our most popular live content series, and this episode has really gone down a storm. So whether you’re in the ocean freight market or global supply chain, the trucking industry or drayage, make sure you pay attention!
In this episode, Hope is joined by special guest Seretha Willingham, CEO at SJW Logistics, to teach you how you can grow your minority-owned business, even if there is a pandemic! Hope and Seretha will talk all about support for vertical integration, warehousing and drayage; direct fulfillment and trucking; and nourishing a unique clientele.
[04.16] A warm welcome from Hope.
[05.55] An introduction to Seretha and her business, SJW Logistics.
[06.38] How SJW Logistics set itself apart in a crowded market.
“We’re able to provide a personalized service… our speciality is the customer service that we provide.”
[07.54] How SJW Logistics got started in warehousing, and the current challenges in finding warehouse space in Atalanta.
“We surveyed our customers and said ‘if we got into warehousing, what would your need be? How can we help fulfil that?’
[10.17] Seretha’s experience with access to capital and opportunity as a minority-owned business, following her expansion.
“I have more people that are willing to engage in conversations, but there are still minimum requirements.”
[12.01] From parts shortages to the price of fuel, Seretha discusses the changes in supply chain she’s seen over the last year.
[14.12] A closer look at some of the challenges faced by minority-owned businesses, and how SJW work to overcome them.
[16.46] A closer look at some of SJW’s services, and the power of combining multiple services to provide one invoice to the customer.
“Trust is a big thing in this industry.”
[23.53] The challenge of hiring and retaining talent, and how SJW retains a strong quality of driver.
[29.32] The next three years for SJW, and its upcoming training and consultation services that will help other minority-owned businesses.
“I get to share all of my failures that turned into success stories, so they won’t have to fail and lose money like I did!”
[31.46] The biggest downside to the industry.
“If you are a control freak, you have to accept you cannot control the unknown – and the unknown is very real in this industry!”
You can find previous episodes of No Bullshipping with Hope White over on the live show page, or you can check out other Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcasts HERE.
You can connect with Seretha over on LinkedIn, or find out more about SJW Logistics on their website.
It’s episode 23 of Blended: I’m joined by another amazing panel of guests and, today, we’re tackling another really tough issue – Asian disscrimination. Now this is something that many of us, outside of the Asian community, had probably not thought too much about. But when the pandemic hit, putting in some cases a potentially negative light on China, the world saw an eruption of hate and anger towards Asian people that was quite shocking to see, and which has really taken its toll on communities worldwide.
Today, our guests will be exploring exactly what Asian discrimination means and why it happens; sharing their personal experiences; taking a closer look at some of the new initiatives being put into place across America; and discussing how we can start to tackle the issue of Asian discrimination and discrimination in the workplace.
[00.48] Introductions to our Blended panelists.
[04.34] The group discusses Asian hate, the current surge as a direct result of the pandemic, as well as other examples throughout history, and its impact.
“Education and mindset go hand in hand. When things are subconsciously implanted in you when you’re young, saying 'this is how things go', even though you may not agree with them, you still feel that’s the right thing, or it’s supposed to be like that.” Sharon
[26.09] The panel shares their personal experiences of Asian hate, and the impact those experiences have had on both themselves and their communities.
“The pandemic has really heightened anxieties, while making people more susceptible to that radicalization than ever before.” Naomi
[42.19] The group explores new initiatives to support Asian communities that are being introduced across America, and whether or not the tide is turning.
According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes against Asian people have risen by 339% last year compared with 2020.
[1.01.30] The panel reflects on what we can all do in the workplace to combat Asian hate and discrimination.
“We need to educate in our actions by having these hard discussions!” Gale
[1.10.37] The group sums up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
You can connect with Sharon and Naomi over on LinkedIn, and Gale on Twitter.
If you found this episode interesting, you might enjoy Episode 2, Story of my Life or Episode 5, Black Lives Matter - The History, The Movment, The People.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Cavallo, a powerhouse software company that is on a mission to drive efficiency in every stage of the distribution process.
Brought to you by the designers of SalesPad, Cavallo offers distribution management software with all the power of an ERP solution, and all the functionality of the industry’s biggest tech powers - with none of the bottlenecks, frustrating interface, or difficult-to-access data. Founded by experienced distributors and perfected over two decades spent optimizing distribution supply chains, no company is better positioned to guide your growth.
Today Alex Schelhaas, Senior Product Manager at Cavallo, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the power to be found in putting a focus on innovation, data and visibility; and their commitment to people and community.
[06.40] Cavallo’s history and evolution, from being established as SalesPad in 2003 by Pete Eardley, to where it is today.
“ERP systems are really good at making sure you follow all the rules… so they’re often forced to solve a lot of different problems and as a result, they’re not able to be excellent.”
[09.58] An overview of Cavallo: what they do, how they help their customers – and the importance of context.
“What happens so often is that organizations design a process – and then it’s the exact same process for the next decade! People don’t fix it because it’s what they’ve always done. We wanted to build something so they could iteratively improve.”
[15.14] A closer look at Distribution Cloud – what it does, how it works, the benefits and why ‘it’s built by distributors, for distributors.’
“The goal of mission control is to help the organization have a single source of truth for the status of documents and workflow.”
[20.02] How Distribution Cloud links into Cavallo’s analytics cloud platform, allowing customers to take actionable intelligence and insights, to help optimize their processes ongoing.
“To turn it into a more active and less of a passive tool, we have a dynamic alert engine on top… it dissects the information and makes it really accessible.”
[24.26] The industry shift from a focus on big data and complex solutions to a preference for stripping things back to easy and simple processes, with a focus on the power of visibility.
“There’s a tremendous amount of data out there for businesses, but what do you do with it?... People just want accessible information.”
[27.50] The quick and easy integration process with Cavallo’s solutions.
“We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to deliver time to value as fast as we possibly can… because no one likes switching ERP’s, it’s like getting a root canal – you only do it if you have to!”
[31.06] Cavallo’s ethos and commitment to the community.
“We’re a people-first organization…. And we can improve people’s quality of life with our software.”
[33.44] The ideal client for Cavallo.
[37.17] A case study illustrating how Cavallo helped a key customer to improve their distribution cycle time, increase sales and cashflow, as well as surface hidden operational issues to allow them to optimize and scale their business.
[41.58] The future for Cavallo.
Head over to Cavallo’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cavallo and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Alex on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out our Live Show Specal Delivery with FarEye, or read our blog all about The Warehouse of the Future.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Orderful, a forward-thinking EDI software provider, that is on a mission to modernize contemporary supply chains.
Orderful is a complete cloud EDI platform for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and technology companies. With an API that enables companies to connect once and trade EDI data with their supply chain, Orderful customers are able to consolidate their EDI software integration complexity and quickly enable trading partners as self-service to reduce costs.
Today Erik Kiser, founder and CEO at Orderful, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; why it’s so important to help the small guys get to market; why existing EDI software infrastructures can’t keep up; and Orderful’s mission to create a world where data trading is not a barrier.
[06.41] Erik’s founder story, and the journey that led him to “experience the tension between small suppliers and giant buyers” first hand, and establish Orderful.
“I saw what the larger enterprise integration environment looked like for manufacturers, and I started to recognize that the problems still existed at a larger scale. And the problem didn’t only exist for the brand, it also existed for their trading partners.”
[11.37] A closer look at the challenges businesses face as they trade data, why most EDI software providers on the market don’t adequately address these challenges, and why offering custom software isn’t enough.
“The biggest problem isn’t the technology itself – it’s getting two companies to collaborate to get the job done.”
[14.23] An overview of Orderful – what they do, and how they help their customers.
[17.52] From real-time feedback to quickly resolving problems and validating data, a closer look at all the ways Orderful can help businesses save time.
“We save 90% on what a traditional EDI software onboarding would look like. We consolidate all the requirements so that when a company hits their API, they get real-time feedback on what data is or is not going to be accepted by a trading partner.”
[22.21] How the pandemic has changed the way businesses think about data, how they relate to it and move it around their networks.
[24.08] How Orderful’s EDI software works for logistics.
“Traditionally in logistics, providers offer a managed service for onboarding, but their trading partners also have a managed service, so you’re working with two different consulting firms to get the job done. With Orderful, we’re representing shippers and they’re inviting carriers to trade with them, through our platform.”
[26.52] The onboarding process with Orderful, and what they mean by the phrase ‘self-service.’
"What was taking about eight weeks, is now taking around five days or less.”
[29.26] How Orderful can help to better support supplier diversity.
“It really levels the playing field. Only about 20% of the market has an EDI software provider or solution… We’re focused on: ‘How do we service that other 80% of the market that doesn’t have the same opportunities that the top 20% have?’”
[31.10] The ideal client for Orderful.
[32.32] A case study showing how Orderful helped Coke Industries to define its onboarding process, through automation, reduction of back and forth and the creation of a more efficient team – ultimately helping them to reduce a typical eight week onboarding to five days.
[37.56] The future for Orderful, after securing an extra $19 million in series B funding in 2021.
Head over to Orderful’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Orderful and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube, or you can connect with Erik on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out episode 1 of LogTech Live with Eric Johnson, where he talks everything logistics and technology, or episode 5 of No Bullshipping with Hope White, where she talks all about putting diverse suppliers in front of big corporations.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Margo Waldie: an amazing woman helping businesses increase their profitability using her expertise in the cargo, sales and warehousing worlds.
Margo is currently the director of sales at NFI, a fully integrated North American supply chain solutions provider.
A champion of sales who has made over 50 thousand sales calls, Margo Waldie joins us to talk all about her powerful supply chain career so far; her passion for sales; and her show Cargo Margo, where she helps folks understand what it truly takes to create the life and business of their dreams.
This Women in Supply Chain feature was made possible by our sponsor, XXX.
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[05.52] Margo’s early career, how her father helped to inspire her love for sales, and how an exciting business development program led to her start in the industry.
[07.31] From moving around the industry, gaining exposure across multiple disciplines, to embracing a non-linear career path, how Margo’s journey surprised and shaped her.
“This journey has been educational, inspirational – and not what I initially thought that it would be!”
[12.20] Margo’s experience as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
“I didn’t notice it until recently. But the more I’m becoming involved in marketing, social media; the more travelling I do; the more events that I’m at – I’m realising that I’m looking around the table, and I’m the only woman.”
[18.33] The people who inspire Margo, both in and out of the industry.
[19.24] How working with a coach, to tackle self-limiting beliefs, during the pandemic helped Margo find her voice.
[23.31] What Margo has learned about herself along the course of her journey so far, and what the future holds.
“My favourite thing is building relationships and inspiring others to get into supply chain.”
[25.17] What Margo has enjoyed the most across the different areas of her career, from sales to entrepreneurship, and the things that inspire her on a daily basis.
“I’m a risk-taker. I love to think about how we can innovate and collaborate and make the world a better place – and streamline supply chain!”
[28.29] Margo’s advice for business leaders.
You can connect with Margo Waldie aka Cargo Margo over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode of Women In Supply Chain, why not check out episode 223, featuring Tara St James: fashion designer, sustainable design strategist and responsible supply chain consultant all rolled into one, or episode 250, in which Mary McNelly, Senior Director of Global Logistics & Supply Chain Network Design at Crocs, shares her unique journey.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.