Today I’m joined by TraceGains, the world’s only networked ingredients marketplace.
Founded in 2008, TraceGains connects people and information so teams can work smarter. As a global technology company, they provide networked innovation, quality, and compliance solutions to consumer brands that want to reduce supply chain risk, innovate faster, speed up business processes, and take control of data.
Today Gary Nowacki, Founder and CEO at TraceGains, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; achieving visibility and productivity through collaboration; overcoming today’s supply chain challenges; and bringing people and ingredient data together in new ways to achieve business agility.
[06.31] Gary’s background and how, and why, it led him to founding TraceGains.
“When we founded TraceGains, I think we used the same trick that I would recommend for anybody founding a tech or software company: find a real pain, and then make sure it’s not being serviced well.”
[08.37] A closer look at some of the biggest challenges in the food industry right now, why those challenges are forcing companies to re-evaluate their supply chains, and how TraceGains are helping their customers to conquer disruption.
“The food industry, like almost all industries, really focused on cost… Now, everything is sky rocketed through inflation and new drivers have come along…”
[13.36] An overview of TraceGains – what they do and how they help their customers.
“This is an incredibly fragmented supply chain… it was using a hub and spoke methodology… and that’s a really bad way to do things! … So we stole a page from the playbook of social media companies, and said: “Forget the hub and spoke. Let’s just get all these companies to connect.”
[15.34] A deeper dive into TraceGains Gather, a marketplace that invites customers to “experience sourcing nirvana.”
[19.56] A closer look at TraceGains' configurable solutions for product development, which support customers in creating new formulas and finished goods.
[24.02] TraceGains’ compliance solutions, and the benefit of having a range of complimentary solutions all under one roof.
[26.28] Why ingredient agility equals brand agility, and why mastering ingredient data is key to evolving your supply chain.
[28.01] Collaboration, the importance of bringing buyers and sellers together with co-manufacturing, and an example of what can go wrong when good collaboration is lacking.
“We have a new capability so buyers and sellers can collaborate, not just with the brand owners and ingredient sellers, but also with the co-manufacturers so all three can come together in a workspace – it’s almost like Pinterest… because in this problematic issue of supply chain disruptions, we need collaboration more than ever!”
[32.08] What onboarding and integration looks like with TraceGains.
“There’s a lot less integration that needs to be done, because people are just interacting and collaborating in the cloud.”
[34.06] The ideal client for TraceGains.
[36.29] A case study showing how TraceGains helped a leading bakery make fast and responsive manufacturing decisions and ensure product continuity, by providing vital data insights on variable ingredients.
[39.30] The future for TraceGains.
“These problems exist in every country around the globe… so growing internationally is the next logical step.”
Head over to TraceGain’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TraceGains and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram, or you can connect with Gary on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to find out more about the food and beverage supply chain, why not check out episode 245, featuring Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Then check out episode 257, a special episode of our live show Action Items with Dyci Sfregola, in which Dyci interviews Atia Yarbrough, Director of Demand and Supply Planning at Mason Dixie Foods, to discover more about building successful S&OP processes, finding the right partners, and the importance of dual sourcing.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Ashley Yentz, a supply chain leader who is passionate about driving sustainability and creating solutions that improve lives.
Ashley discovered her love for supply chain during several successful internships at automotive megabrand, Toyota. And, after a stint as a logistics analyst at Hilti, Ashley’s career really took flight at LeanCor Supply Chain Group. She developed, implemented, and managed lean supply chains totalling around $300M in annual transportation spend and, in 2021, she brought all of her experience, knowledge and passion to her current role as VP of Supply Chain and Material Flow at Sleep Number, a leader in sleep and wellness technology.
Today Ashley will be talking to us about her career so far; her passion for creating a more inclusive workforce; developing customer-focused solutions; and why her ultimate goal is to influence a priority shift toward climate change and social consciousness in the logistics and supply chain industry. 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.
[07.09] Ashley’s career journey, from being raised by creative entrepreneurs and gaining a degree in mathematics, to being introduced to supply chain by a mentor.
“I met one of my mentors, she was the Vice President of Customer Service at Toyota… and she was the one that looked at me, heard about my skillset in math and my passions and said ‘hey – I think you’d be really good in supply chain!’”
[11.28] What Ashley learned during her time working for Toyota.
“I understood the great care that we had to take to make sure a customer was satisfied. Lean is about ‘what is it that this customer really wants, and how do we make sure we’re providing them the best value.’”
[16.55] Ashley’s journey within Toyota, from strategic planning to inventory; how the recession led to a move to Hilti; and why a passion for Lean Systems eventually took her to LeanCor.
“I started doing a lot of research on ‘what do I want to do, where do I want to be, where do I want to spend my time?’"
[23.01] Ashley’s experience of being one of only two female senior leaders at LeanCor, and the importance of finding people that value what you have to say.
“When we talk about career growth and development, seeking to understand is such a huge part of anyone’s job, and it will set you apart.”
[28.03] Why Ashley moved to Sleep Number, her advice on finding the right career fit, and why Sleep Number values wellness.
“You have to be surrounded by a community that you’re enjoying, that is getting the best out of you and you feel your best at, where you can bring your authentic self to work... you have to make sure it’s aligning to you and your life.”
[35.21] Ashley’s biggest career achievements to date.
[38.03] Ashley’s experience as a woman in the male-dominated fields of construction, supply chain and automotive, how she built courage over time and her advice for how women can thrive.
[42.59] Ashley’s favorite thing about supply chain.
“My favorite thing about supply chain is that you can learn so much – you’ll never get bored!”
[44.15] Ashley’s thoughts on the importance of sustainability in supply chain.
“I believe that profit and sustainability go hand in hand.”
You can connect with Ashley over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, check out 310: Women in Supply Chain, Grace Sharkey, featuring another woman in supply chain who has followed her heart when it comes to her career journey. Or, if you're keen to hear more about the importance of sustainability in supply chain, why not listen to what Mary McNelly has to say in episode 250.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Lean Solutions Group, a super-successful business service provider that’s using its impressive suite of solutions to make scaling simple.
Lean Solutions Group is a nearshore and offshore services provider with a highly scalable and flexible workforce of 7,000 employees with operations at seven satellite offices in Colombia, Guatemala, and the Philippines. Partnering with more than 500 U.S.-based companies, Lean Solutions Group’s expanded service offerings include staffing, technology, marketing, sales, and business process outsourcing services, all in one place.
Today Hunter Bell, Senior Account Executive at Lean Solutions, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; overcoming recruitment challenges; making scaling simple; the power of ‘global shoring’; and how to broaden your reach, without borders.
[07.05] Hunter's journey, how he came to join Lean Solutions and why logistics is in his blood.
“I’ve been familiar with the industry. My Dad was in transportation logistics for 25 years… so growing up, I was able to see what that industry is all about, and the amount of hours you’ve got to put in…”
[08.18] How Lean Solutions Group was founded, its evolution, and an overview of what they do now.
“We set up satellite offices for transportation logistics companies. We have everything turnkey down there ready to go, office space and a recruiting team… we teach them the industry and then build out an infrastructure.”
[10.28] How staffing has changed since the pandemic, the current labor challenges, and the opportunities provided by embracing satellite and remote teams.
“When COVID hit, everyone was forced to go remote, which opened people’s eyes to: companies don’t only have to source talent in their cites now… remote work does work!”
[12.53] A closer look at the process of working with Lean Solutions, from identifying a business’s key needs to working on process efficiencies.
[14.19] The challenges involved in remote working, and how Lean works to solve them.
“COVID exposed an issue with people’s ability to manage expectations and what you really want your staff doing… a lot of companies struggled to figure out what those expectations and KPI’s were.”
[16.17] How Lean can help organizations to mitigate the risks involved in remote staffing.
[18.23] Utilizing data to better understand productivity, and how Lean can support in understanding those data insights.
“What do you with the data? That’s what a lot of companies don’t know. They have all this data, they’re tracking it, but they don’t know how to leverage it.”
[19.57] The ideal client for Lean Solutions.
[20.32] What onboarding and integration looks like with Lean Solutions.
“We use a lot of automation, automating your processes is key.”
[21.37] A case study showing how Lean helped a brokerage with their back end so they could focus on achieving fast growth, ultimately supporting that company to grow from $30-40 million a year to close to $1 billion.
[23.19] The future for Lean Solutions.
“There are a lot of good people everywhere in this world – we’re just looking to find them and connect them with our customers!”
Head over to Lean Solution’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Lean and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram, or you can connect with Hunter on LinkedIn.
This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode 27 of Blended: I’m joined by another talented panel of guests and, today, we’re talking about addiction. This is a topic that is still very taboo. But, as with most things in life, it’s not black and white. Not all addicts are the same, and not everyone is addicted to alcohol or drugs. Our rapidly evolving culture has seen the rise of addiction to things like shopping, social media and even work, but our attitudes to addiction are still very much based in the past. And, around a very certain type of addict – the one I’m sure we’re all used to seeing meet a terrible fate in film and TV.
And this kind of thing always worries me, because none of our conversations around DEI can move forward if we’re still holding on to stereotypes and judgments. Things are moving forward for women, people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community – it’s time to do the same for all those struggling with, or supporting loved ones who are struggling with, addiction.
Today, our guests will be sharing their experiences of addiction; the power of nature in aiding recovery; loss and grief; tackling addiction in the workplace; and advice on how we can support those struggling, at work and in our communities.
[01.15] Introductions to our Blended panelists.
[03.41] The group reflect on what addiction really is, and share their personal experiences, of struggling with addiction themselves and of supporting others.
“It really isn’t down to one specific thing or specific challenge, it’s a result of a lot of things.” Angie
“I grew up in a family of addicts… and through coping and dealing with trauma I, at a young age, got into drugs and drinking.” Ariel
[25.09] The panel discusses the power of nature in aiding recovery and share their different recovery journeys.
“Nature provides in every single way – it’s not just the biological, it’s the spiritual.” Ariel
[34.22] The group discusses what recovery looks like, tackling addiction in the workplace, and what companies can do to provide support and change mindsets when it comes to addiction.
“I would challenge some companies to start using the phrase ‘sober curious’.” Angie
“The HR industry has to figure this one out, because there are so many legalities of ‘how deeply do you get involved in an employee’s personal life?' ” Angie
[54.03] The panel reflects on the loss that often comes hand in hand with addiction, and how best to support people.
[1.07.02] The group sum up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
“When it comes to addiction, we can put ourselves on a pedestal. ‘Oh we don’t do that.’ There’s that stigma that comes with addiction. And once we take ourselves off that pedestal, we realize those people aren’t different to us, that we can help and support them and they have a place in this world.” Ariel
You can connect with Ariel on Instagram, or find out more about Angie's podcast Siblinghood of Recovery over on her website, or on Instagram.
If you enjoyed this podcast, why not check out 252: Blended – Hiding in Plain Sight: The Reality of Workplace Discrimination or 158: Blended – Story of my Life.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by GoBolt, a fast-growing tech-enabled, sustainably-focused logistics provider for local e-commerce shops as well as national brands.
GoBolt provides a technology-driven, customer-centric and sustainable approach to fulfillment, including reliable warehousing, pick and pack, shipping, and last-mile delivery. By operating as an extension of their customer's team, they are able to deliver best-in-class services every step of the way, ensuring faster, more cost-effective, and complete customer deliveries.
Today Mark Ang, Co-founder and CEO at GoBolt, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; bringing sustainability to an industry notorious for its heavy impact on the environment; its recent Series B funding success; why logistics is broken; and their goal to reach carbon-negative deliveries by the end of 2023.
[06.02] How GoBolt began as a different kind of business and evolved based on customer demands and market needs.
“Before we knew it, we were acting more like a logistics business than we thought… I don’t think people wake up and dream about starting a warehousing and logistics business!”
[09.26] An overview of GoBolt – what they do and how they help their customers.
“Essentially what we’re trying to create is a unified platform for every single logistics requirement for a scaling, or scaled, brand.”
[10.23] What GoBolt means when they say “we are the only thing between you and your customers” – and why that interface is so important.
“Our NPS [Net Promoter Score] is extremely high, up in the 80’s… typically in the last mile space, you see NPS's in the low teens.”
[12.24] A closer look at the technology that sits behind GoBolt, and what it does.
“What we really want to do is unshackle the customer from their day of delivery.”
[13.55] The areas across North America and Canada in which GoBolt operate, and what differentiates them from their competitors.
“What we’ve found, for enterprise brands and folks that are scaling quickly, is that the last thing they want to invest in is logistics – it's expensive and hard to get it right… but it’s the one thing that touches your customer every single time and reliability, or lack thereof, in your supply chain can make or break your brand.”
[15.56] How GoBolt supports reverse logistics, and facilitates different product outcomes, from donation to refurbishment for resale and recycling.
[17.55] What onboarding and integration look like with GoBolt.
[19.06] The ideal client for GoBolt.
“Part of our vision is to enable commerce by making logistics easy.”
[20.37] GoBolt’s commitment to sustainability, and why carbon offset isn’t the answer.
“There’s only 500 million hectares of re-forestable area in the world, and Shell for example has already committed to planting a tenth of that – so there’s not going to be that much land to go around! We actually need to do our part to become net zero as quickly as possible.”
[22.56] A case study showing how GoBolt helped a client to vastly increase customer satisfaction in last mile logistics, leading them to further leverage GoBolt’s skillsets across many other areas, from fulfillment to mid-mile.
[25.31] The future for GoBolt.
Head over to GoBolt’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with GoBolt and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or you can connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by GoBolt, a fast-growing tech-enabled, sustainably-focused logistics provider for local e-commerce shops as well as national brands.
GoBolt provides a technology-driven, customer-centric and sustainable approach to fulfillment, including reliable warehousing, pick and pack, shipping, and last-mile delivery. By operating as an extension of their customer's team, they are able to deliver best-in-class services every step of the way, ensuring faster, more cost-effective, and complete customer deliveries.
Today Mark Ang, Co-founder and CEO at GoBolt, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; bringing sustainability to an industry notorious for its heavy impact on the environment; its recent Series B funding success; why logistics is broken; and their goal to reach carbon-negative deliveries by the end of 2023.
[06.02] How GoBolt began as a different kind of business and evolved based on customer demands and market needs.
“Before we knew it, we were acting more like a logistics business than we thought… I don’t think people wake up and dream about starting a warehousing and logistics business!”
[09.26] An overview of GoBolt – what they do and how they help their customers.
“Essentially what we’re trying to create is a unified platform for every single logistics requirement for a scaling, or scaled, brand.”
[10.23] What GoBolt means when they say “we are the only thing between you and your customers” – and why that interface is so important.
“Our NPS [Net Promoter Score] is extremely high, up in the 80’s… typically in the last mile space, you see NPS's in the low teens.”
[12.24] A closer look at the technology that sits behind GoBolt, and what it does.
“What we really want to do is unshackle the customer from their day of delivery.”
[13.55] The areas across North America and Canada in which GoBolt operate, and what differentiates them from their competitors.
“What we’ve found, for enterprise brands and folks that are scaling quickly, is that the last thing they want to invest in is logistics – it's expensive and hard to get it right… but it’s the one thing that touches your customer every single time and reliability, or lack thereof, in your supply chain can make or break your brand.”
[15.56] How GoBolt supports reverse logistics, and facilitates different product outcomes, from donation to refurbishment for resale and recycling.
[17.55] What onboarding and integration look like with GoBolt.
[19.06] The ideal client for GoBolt.
“Part of our vision is to enable commerce by making logistics easy.”
[20.37] GoBolt’s commitment to sustainability, and why carbon offset isn’t the answer.
“There’s only 500 million hectares of re-forestable area in the world, and Shell for example has already committed to planting a tenth of that – so there’s not going to be that much land to go around! We actually need to do our part to become net zero as quickly as possible.”
[22.56] A case study showing how GoBolt helped a client to vastly increase customer satisfaction in last mile logistics, leading them to further leverage GoBolt’s skillsets across many other areas, from fulfillment to mid-mile.
[25.31] The future for GoBolt.
Head over to GoBolt’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with GoBolt and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or you can connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Envase Technologies, an innovative and fast-growing transportation software brand that is on a mission to deliver a single, streamlined system that digitizes the lifecycle of a container across the intermodal ecosystem.
Envase bring together everything you need to gain visibility and control over your operations, expose inefficiency, and de-clutter your system, including industry-leading TMS options to fit your needs, business intelligence, rate management tools, an integrated mobile driver app, and a complete marketplace.
Today Allen Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Envase Technologies, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the importance of digitizing drayage; how simplicity empowers growth; and why the freight industry is vital to the future of the nation.
[07.24] How Envase Technologies was established, and the challenges that founder, Larry Cuddy, faced that led him to create his own solution.
“It all started with the challenges that the drivers face... the drivers in supply chain are left to pick up the pieces and deal with the inefficiencies.”
[09.45] Envase’s growth, from start-up to the largest drayage TMS provider in North America, and the role that a strategic acquisition strategy played in that growth.
“If you could integrate visibility, streamline processes, create a common mobile application that drivers could use – you could really improve the day to day process efficiencies.”
[11.56] An overview of Envase Technologies – what they do and how they help their customers.
[14.49] The key challenges faced by the industry right now, and why companies that don’t use a cloud-based drayage TMS face increasing issues.
“Everybody, from very small to very large, has the same two big challenges – visibility, and process efficiency.”
[19.25] A closer look at the Envase system for intermodal and drayage customers.
[24.37] A deeper dive into Envase’s over-the-road solutions, and how they’re helping carriers and brokers to compete in a difficult market and achieve success.
[27.44] The importance of building a wider ecosystem, why simplicity empowers growth, and how Envase is facilitating both of these things for their customers.
[31.43] What onboarding and integration looks like with Envase.
“We take a lot of time... to analyze and diagnose before we start prescribing.”
[34.08] The ideal client for Envase Technologies.
[35.44] A case study showing how Envase helped a client, that was struggling with cargo stuck in ports incurring costly charges, to overcome their challenges, ultimately reducing charges and increasing efficiency.
[39.12] The future for Envase Technologies.
Head over to Envase Technologies’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Envase and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram, or you can connect with Allen on LinkedIn.
If you want to hear more about drayage, why not check out one of our incredible live shows: No Bullshipping with Hope White. Hope brings an upbeat and uncensored take on key industry issues impacting the ocean freight market, global supply chain, drayage and their suppliers, ocean freight rates, technology, warehousing, and so much more.
Or, if you fancy a bit of fun, listen to our Halloween spooktacular, where Sarah and a group of special guests share their favorite supply chain horror stories. Expect financial fails, freaky guests, technology nightmares and highway horror stories!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Envase Technologies, an innovative and fast-growing transportation software brand that is on a mission to deliver a single, streamlined system that digitizes the lifecycle of a container across the intermodal ecosystem.
Envase bring together everything you need to gain visibility and control over your operations, expose inefficiency, and de-clutter your system, including industry-leading TMS options to fit your needs, business intelligence, rate management tools, an integrated mobile driver app, and a complete marketplace.
Today Allen Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Envase Technologies, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the importance of digitizing drayage; how simplicity empowers growth; and why the freight industry is vital to the future of the nation.
[07.24] How Envase Technologies was established, and the challenges that founder, Larry Cuddy, faced that led him to create his own solution.
“It all started with the challenges that the drivers face... the drivers in supply chain are left to pick up the pieces and deal with the inefficiencies.”
[09.45] Envase’s growth, from start-up to the largest drayage TMS provider in North America, and the role that a strategic acquisition strategy played in that growth.
“If you could integrate visibility, streamline processes, create a common mobile application that drivers could use – you could really improve the day to day process efficiencies.”
[11.56] An overview of Envase Technologies – what they do and how they help their customers.
[14.49] The key challenges faced by the industry right now, and why companies that don’t use a cloud-based drayage TMS face increasing issues.
“Everybody, from very small to very large, has the same two big challenges – visibility, and process efficiency.”
[19.25] A closer look at the Envase system for intermodal and drayage customers.
[24.37] A deeper dive into Envase’s over-the-road solutions, and how they’re helping carriers and brokers to compete in a difficult market and achieve success.
[27.44] The importance of building a wider ecosystem, why simplicity empowers growth, and how Envase is facilitating both of these things for their customers.
[31.43] What onboarding and integration looks like with Envase.
“We take a lot of time... to analyze and diagnose before we start prescribing.”
[34.08] The ideal client for Envase Technologies.
[35.44] A case study showing how Envase helped a client, that was struggling with cargo stuck in ports incurring costly charges, to overcome their challenges, ultimately reducing charges and increasing efficiency.
[39.12] The future for Envase Technologies.
Head over to Envase Technologies’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Envase and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram, or you can connect with Allen on LinkedIn.
If you want to hear more about drayage, why not check out one of our incredible live shows: No Bullshipping with Hope White. Hope brings an upbeat and uncensored take on key industry issues impacting the ocean freight market, global supply chain, drayage and their suppliers, ocean freight rates, technology, warehousing, and so much more.
Or, if you fancy a bit of fun, listen to our Halloween spooktacular, where Sarah and a group of special guests share their favorite supply chain horror stories. Expect financial fails, freaky guests, technology nightmares and highway horror stories!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Grace Sharkey – writer, podcaster and self-confessed freight tech nerd.
Grace started her career as an account rep at Fifth Wheel Freight, a 3PL consistently honored on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Over her time with FWF, Grace honed her skills in roles across sales, operations, business development and strategy, before deciding to pivot in 2021, when she joined FreightWaves. Utilizing all of her supply chain knowledge, Grace thrived as a writer and, earlier this year, also became the host of popular radio show, FreightWaves Drive Time on SiriusXM.
Today Grace will be talking to us about her career so far; her love of freight technology innovation; making the leap from brokerage to broadcasting; and why supply chain was built for women. 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.
[06.41] Grace’s career journey, from a degree in international relations and affairs to supply chain, and why the two are so well suited.
“I was fundraising… And a number of logistics companies would actually come and recruit out of that job because it was the same type of work – on the phone, and being able to be scrappy with what people throw at you.”
[12.01] How a fundraising role led Grace to a start-up 3PL, and why she fell in love with supply chain.
“When you start in a start-up within this industry, you get a whole different view of problems, how they can be solved and how you want to grow a business… it was a great way to learn the industry from a grassroot level.”
[14.32] Grace’s growth and success at Fifth Wheel Freight, and what she learned along the way.
“Operations was my favorite. I love the carriers, they’re absolutely great – they’re more helpful than people think they are, you just have to listen to them!”
[18.51] Grace’s advice for people that might be eager to give supply chain a try, but are worried they don’t have the right education.
“If I was going to look at going back to school for something, I think I would stop myself first and say: 'what part of the supply chain do I want to be a part of?' - and find a way to shadow it.”
[24.15] Why Grace chose to pivot her career in 2021 and take the leap across to media to join FreightWaves, as a writer and host.
“I took a risk on something I didn’t know I would love so much.”
[30.39] As a writer and host, one question Grace wishes people would ask her.
[35.10] Why Grace founded The Shark Start, and why helping others is so important to her.
“If, as an industry, we said ‘how about we scrap these non-competes and we change them into partnerships?’ How quickly could we have our businesses grow, and have each of us winning?”
[40.13] Grace’s thoughts on why we are still not seeing enough women in supply chain leadership roles, and her advice for how we tackle the problem.
You can connect with Grace over on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out another woman in media, Marina Mayer. In episode 245, Marina talks all about her role as editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, as well as her views on mentorship and experiences as a working mother.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode 26 of Blended: I’m joined by another fantastic panel of guests and, today, we’re talking about veterans. This is a discussion I like to have every year on Blended around this time. Veterans Day provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the role that veterans have played in our country. As we honor the brave people that have served, it’s important to also hear their stories.
Today, our guests will be sharing their life experiences, both professionally and personally; debating the well-known phrases ‘thank you for your service’ and ‘call of duty’; discussing transitioning from military to civilian life; and sharing advice on how we can both support veterans, and help businesses to become more veteran friendly.
[00.52] Introductions to our Blended panellists.
“It was an interesting period of time in the early 2000’s, where we looking at what culture used to look like, what used to be acceptable and what isn’t now. There was a lot of cross-functional abuse.” Sylena
[07.27] The group discuss why they chose to join the military, their experiences and how they found supply chain.
“Joining the military was something brand new to our family, I was the first generation to join the military, so I had no insight, no clue… everything that I knew of the military was from movies.” Jerry
“I joined the military to see the world!” Kris
[25.46] The panel explore the phrases 'going above and beyond the call of duty' and 'thank you for your service', and some of the mental impacts around them.
“I like to leave it for the folks that paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Jerry
[42.54] The group discuss the transition from military service to civilian life and share thier advice to both businesses and veterans.
“I did supply chain in the marine corps so my transition out was a little bit easier.” Jerry
“Have confidence in yourself, you’ve been trained and you have skills.” Kris
“Hire veterans! Remove the barriers to your hiring processes, give them their own hiring path, take away the need for a degree and have conversations – they will bring things to your organization that no one else will.” Sylena
[1.05.25] The group sum-up their thoughts from today’s discussion with what surprises them about veterans.
“I’m always surprised by how immensely talented, capable and qualified folks are!” Sylena
You can connect with Sylena, Jerry and Kris over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not listen to episode 231: Blended – Veterans and Civil life: Winning the Battle of Workplace Discrimination, where our guests shared their personal experiences of the military and transitioning to civilian life; inclusion and supplier diversity; employment struggles and entrepreneurship; and their advice and tips for both veterans, and businesses looking to support them.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Ideal Warehouse Innovations, a product innovator that is asking all logistics, transportation and warehousing brands one big question – when it comes to your workplace, how safe is safe enough?
With more than 1100 warehouse and loading dock safety products in their arsenal, Ideal Warehouse’s products help saves lives, prevent injury and minimize damage and downtime. Founded in 1982, they’ve long been passionate about providing products and equipment to warehouse and manufacturing facilities that make them safer places to work, protecting people as well as enhancing productivity, profitability and timely delivery.
Today Dirk Seis, Director of Marketing at Ideal Warehouse, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; their “thousand-product safety story”; the importance of strategic prevention; and their passion for helping to ensure that the world’s supply chain never breaks a link.
[06.54] Dirk’s career journey, how the industry has changed, and what he loves so much about helping businesses tackle their safety challenges.
“Back then, it seemed to me that the industry was very siloed… and, over the years, what’s happened is that everybody’s understood that this is now a vital link in the supply chain. If the goods aren’t coming in the door, they’re not going out the door – loading docks are very important!”
[08.50] An overview of Ideal Warehouse – what they do, how they help their customers and Dirk’s key role.
[09.55] A closer look at Ideal Warehouse's forklift safety accessories and guarding line.
“One of the simple ways we help is to provide guarding systems to help delineate people from things that move, in other words, dangers.”
[11.27] A closer look at how Ideal Warehouse works collaboratively with their customers to develop innovative solutions to emerging challenges.
“I call them our mad scientists! We have an engineering group and an R&D group that basically takes a customer’s inquiry or unmet need, and says lets develop something that’s a little bit more unique and creative to help solve that problem.”
[14.31] Collaboration and planning: two key approaches to tackling common industry challenges.
“The most important move is planning… and involving all of the key players in the decision making process… when the whole group comes together and builds the solution together, chances are that solution is much better.”
[15.49] In an ever-evolving industry, why cleaner air is a key focus for many customers in a post-pandemic environment.
"The White House commissioned a study and they found that 30% less illness happens when the workplaces air has been cleaned.”
[18.29] What onboarding looks like with Ideal Warehouse.
[19.34] The ideal client for Ideal Warehouse, and some of the questions a potential client should ask themselves before reaching out.
“The people that appreciate our solutions the most are the ones that have a deep safety culture.”
[21.36] A case study showing how Ideal Warehouse developed a new solution to a dangerous dock trailer stand issue for an automotive client, helping to keep people out of harms way, as well as delivering time and cost savings.
“It’s our 'no boots on the ground' solution.”
[26.56] The future for Ideal Warehouse Innovations.
Head over to Ideal Warehouse Innovations’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Ideal Warehouse and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Dirk on LinkedIn.
This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes 306: Create Long-Standing Opportunities and Reduce Costs, With DM Delivers; 304: Discover Success at the Intersection of Logistics and Technology, with Flexe, 299: Modernize Your Ecommerce Supply Chain, with Shipium, 297: Make Smarter Packing Decisions, with Paccurate, 296: Take Control of Managing Your Demand Chain, with SEKO, 294: Optimize Warehouse Productivity, with Locus Robotics or 289: Achieve Control, Capacity and Care, with Estes Forwarding Worldwide.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s the fourth and final episode of our Driving Your Parcel Performance mini-series, in collaboration with Sifted!
Last week in episode three, I was joined by Elle Brown for an episode called “Check Engine Light!” We talked all about measuring your contract health; contract compliance; strengthening carrier relationships; and the growing trend in ensuring customer success.
And today in episode four, the final episode in the series, we’ll be jumping into Sifted’s virtual sandbox! I’m joined by Cameron Clark, Product and Logistics Engineer at Sifted, to talk all about contract modeling; its role in providing internal visibility, as well as external carrier management; and empowering businesses to negotiate with confidence in a very challenging environment.
[01.32] How Sifted’s virtual sandbox complements the other tools within the carrier management suite, to help support shippers in their contract negotiations, aid understanding and simplify the process.
[03.05] The relationship between shippers and carriers, and the challenges in the current environment from a negotiation standpoint.
“It’s an interesting dynamic out there right now… you’ve got to really understand where you’re coming from, what kind of shipping profile you have and be able to maximise that for what the carrier’s are doing… it’s no longer an us versus them, it’s really become a partnership.”
[05.02] How simulation and modeling can give customers a leg up when it comes to difficult contract negotiations in a carriers market.
“Modelling is the first step. It’s going to show you, in a simplified way: 'here’s where your spend is, here’s where you can make the biggest impact, here’s where you can make improvements' – and really give you that roadmap.”
[06.50] How data can help shippers to understand the carriers perspective, make themselves more desirable as a client, have more successful conversations and ultimately give them the confidence to make better decisions.
[10.40] As both a logistics and product engineer, how Cameron uses his passion and expertise to work with clients to help them engineer and execute strategies.
“I get to take all of that information and all of the requests I get and say ‘we need a software solution for this.’”
[12.13] The many negotiable parts within any one contract, and how Sifted can help shippers model changes.
“We have an entire engine built to say… ‘you have this discount today, but we really think you should be aiming for this discount’ and to help guide you through that process.”
[15.35] A closer look at how the virtual sandbox works.
“It’s geared towards doing everything in bitesize chunks, rather than being thrown 150 different variables all at once… you can see those dollar amounts change service by service until you’ve completed your entire contract."
[16.48] How Sifted’s virtual sandbox can support the challenges of dual sourcing, and how that functionality will expand, based on customer feedback.
[17.53] How the virtual sandbox can help with internal buy-in, stakeholder management and team development.
“One of the first bits of feedback we got when we started to show this tool was ‘this is the best thing I’ve ever seen to be able to teach my own teams how a contract works!’”
[21.16 ] The ideal client for Sifted’s virtual sandbox.
[22.00] How shippers have been using Sifted’s tools to better understand how contract negotiation works, and shine a light on carrier relationships.
[25.42] Cameron’s final thoughts for the future of the industry.
“The market today is more volatile than ever… and if you’re still working from Excel spreadsheets and sticky notes, there’s a better way! There are tools out there to make your life easier and help you get more effective results.”
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 Cameron on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not catch up with the rest of our Driving Your Parcel Performance series: episode 301, Contract Monitoring , episode 303, Better Performance and episode 305 Check Engine Light.
Don’t forget that you can also listen to our Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today mini-series in collaboration with Sifted. In episode 286, Ami Bensman took a closer look at the Sifted Score; in episode 288, Kevin Miller talked all about simulation and modelling; in episode 290, Caleb Nelson took us on a deep dive into Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; and in episode 293, Adam Moulding introduced us to Sifted’s Contract Management Suite.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by DM Delivers, a long-standing logistics service provider that is passionate about providing logistics services that deliver time and cost savings across your entire organization.
DM manages the inbound, outbound and drop shipment logistics needs for their clients. As well as leveraging DM’s services to reduce costs, clients of all sizes can also benefit from utilizing DM's cost-free services including claims management, freight bill auditing, general ledger coding, consolidated invoicing and vendor compliance. And, customers can manage it all with EasyFreight™, DM’s proprietary cloud-based Transportation Management System.
Today Nicholas Isasi, Executive Vice President at DM Delivers, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; acting as an extension of your business; finding the balance between reducing cost and enhancing service; and bringing visibility and control to your supply chain.
[06.44] Nicholas’s career journey and how he came to fall in love with supply chain.
“I think that, for most people, that are in supply chain and logistics, they don’t get into it on purpose! And my story is pretty much the same… I was going to school to become a recording engineer, all my classes got cancelled, I looked in the paper and got a job driving a forklift!”
[07.56] How, and why, DM Delivers was founded, and how it evolved over the years.
“We evolved and, as our catalogue guys became e-comm guys, we started having more forward logistics problems, and so we had to come up with a lot of reverse logistics type solutions.”
[08.31] An overview of DM Delivers – what they do, how they help their customers and their key focus areas.
“We consider ourselves a full service company, but the majority of our focus is on ecommerce deliveries and reverse logistics.”
[10.08] The challenges in reverse logistics, and why DM’s unique solutions are so important in helping companies tackle them.
“We soon discovered that there were a lot better things we could be doing for the environment, and socially… we’ve developed a hyper local solution… and we’re able to report back to our clients the true ESG’s.”
[12.01] Why DM Delivers is so intentional about sustainability.
“We saw a lot of good product, that could’ve been used to help people, being disposed of. And it didn’t sit right with any of us at DM. We kept looking at each other and thinking ‘there’s got to be a better way.’”
[15.32] A closer look at EasyFreight™, the proprietary technology that powers DM’s solutions.
[16.51] What onboarding and implementation looks like with DM Delivers.
“We’re able to accommodate whatever our clients want because, for us, it’s all about keeping it simple.”
[17.36] The ideal client for DM.
“We’re looking for somebody that has non-conveyable freight… something that UPS or FedEx will over max you for... Anything that’s big and bulky. You have a kayak? Were all about it!”
[18.42] A case study showing how DM helped a fitness equipment client to manage their returns, allowing them to reduce time in home and re-commmerce items locally, resulting in big transportation cost savings and ESG goals being met.
[20.11] The future for DM.
“We’ll continue to find new ways to make returns and reverse logistics easy – and to just do more good in the world.”
Head over to DM Delivers’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with DM and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Nichloas on LinkedIn.
This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes 304: Discover Success at the Intersection of Logistics and Technology, with Flexe, 299: Modernize Your Ecommerce Supply Chain, with Shipium, 297: Make Smarter Packing Decisions, with Paccurate, 296: Take Control of Managing Your Demand Chain, with SEKO, 294: Optimize Warehouse Productivity, with Locus Robotics or 289: Achieve Control, Capacity and Care, with Estes Forwarding Worldwide.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode three of our Driving Your Parcel Performance mini-series, in collaboration with Sifted!
Last week, we put the spotlight on the complex area of contract performance. I was joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer and friend of the show, to dive deeper into Sifted’s carrier management suite – we talked all about some of the big challenges happening in the industry right now and where carrier relationships fit in; analyzing and scoring contract performance; and how you can tackle the complexities of your agreements, to drive performance-enhancing outcomes, with Sifted.
And today in episode three, I’m joined by Elle Brown, Senior Client Success Manager at Sifted, to chat all about measuring your contract health; contract compliance; strengthening carrier relationships; and the growing trend in ensuring customer success.
[01.45] The different ‘check engine’ lights within Sifted’s carrier management suite, and how they help clients to understand when they have a problem.
“The great thing about the suite is that there are different kinds of check engine lights – we have different tools to determine all the different types of problems a shipper may, or may not, have.”
[04.37] How Sifted works with their customers to look under the hood and determine what’s gone wrong, once a problem is identified.
“The problems that we’re helping shippers solve – they may be similar to other shippers, they may be similar to the market, but each shipper is unique.”
[07.26] Contract health: what it means, and a closer look at what a healthy contract is vs an unhealthy one.
“When a contract isn’t in optimal health, it’s one that isn’t optimized with rates, discounts, minimums, terms, in a way that we know is possible for the types of clients we’re working with. Or, it doesn’t take into account the specs of that unique shipper in a way that benefits the shipper – and their relationship with the carrier.”
[10.36] What it means to make your contract health measurable and scalable, and why it’s so important.
“Measurable contract health allows you to have constant conversations, internally and with your carriers.”
[15.10] How compliance works within Sifted’s carrier management suite, and exactly why compliance is so important.
“It allows you to evaluate whether perceived situations are true or not… I’ve had clients feel some distrust with their rep or carrier…we’ve been able to audit agreements and see that ‘yes the carrier is in compliance’ and that this perceived issue is from an unintended situation… so they have that peace of mind.”
[18.35] From cost savings to improved relationships, the positive impacts of ensuring, and understanding, compliance and achieving optimal contract health.
“Having the data you need really does help to strengthen those relationships with your carrier… so that, through collaboration, all parties are benefiting.”
[22.31] The rise of client success, and the shift in focus towards a ‘my customer’s success is my success’ mindset.
[25.31] Why the growing trend in client success is going to continue to grow, and the wider implications for the industry when we start to think more collaboratively about creating environments that breed success for everyone.
" 'Let's really make sure we understand your organization, let's understand what success looks like to you, and let's do everything we can to create success for you.' If you’re collaborating with someone like that, it's hard to want to stop!"
[27.56] Examples around how utilizing the tools within Sifted’s carrier management suite has helped customers make data-powered decisions, form better strategies and optimize their operations.
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 Elle on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not catch up with episodes one and two in our Driving Your Parcel Performance series, episode 301, Contract Monitoring and episode 303, Better Performance [LINK WHEN LIVE].
You can also listen to our first mini-series in collaboration with Sifted. In episode 286, Ami Bensman took a closer look at the Sifted Score; in episode 288, Kevin Miller talked all about simulation and modelling; in episode 290, Caleb Nelson took us on a deep dive into Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; and in episode 293, Adam Moulding introduced us to Sifted’s Contract Management Suite.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Charlie Saffro – entrepreneur, industry expert, master networker and mindful leader.
Charlie began her career as a marketing account manager, working on big name accounts like Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and Gatorade. But, as a connector by heart, Charlie found her true calling when she embraced a career in supply chain recruitment. Charlie founded her own firm, CS Recruiting in back in 2010 and has gone from strength to strength, growing the business from a team of one to 40 and boasting an impressive client list, whilst earning some top industry accolades along the way.
Today Charlie will be talking to us about her career so far; tackling supply chain labor shortages; creating a culture of connectivity; and why recruitment is both a science, and an art. 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.
[07.12] Charlie’s early career in marketing, and her experience of working on big name brands like Proctor and Gamble and PepsiCo.
“It feels like it was a different lifetime!... But when I reflect back, it actually makes so much sense that I landed where I am today with those roots.”
[08.59] How, and why, Charlie pivoted in her career, away from B2C marketing to logistics HR and recruitment.
“Starting very scrappy is what got me, not only interested, but it got me very well-rounded exposure to the industry.”
[13.02] Charlie’s experience of being entirely self-taught, and the general move, in recruitment, away from a focus simply on education.
“We are seeing more and more employers now really emphasizing: ‘We want the right person. We want the personality, we want someone who aligns with our values, who’s going to fit in with our culture.”
[18.59] Charlie’s experience of founding CS Recruiting, whilst raising a family.
“Looking back, it was so crazy that I never stopped, but that’s what gave me that head start. It was almost like I was competing with myself to take advantage of every spare moment I had to either learn or network or put myself out there.”
[24.25] Charlie’s perspective on the current recruitment landscape, and how she is tackling key industry challenges within her business.
“The market is very confusing right now! We’re talking about this recession, we’re hearing about layoffs, but yet what we’re seeing is that the demand for people is way greater than the supply. There are more jobs than there are qualified, available, interested people.”
[28.11] Why Charlie calls herself a master networker, and her top tips for networking success.
“Being passive is a big part of networking, finding what you have in common with someone before just trying to sell them something… LinkedIn makes it easy to network, but it also makes it very hard to sift through the garbage to find out who’s legit.”
[33.55] Charlie’s role as the very first Blended Pledge grant recipient, how she used the grant, and the potential impact the Blended program could have on the industry.
“There’s so much talent out there… and I want to see more females in the industry.”
[40.15] From her parents to a young author, Charlie shares her inspirations.
[42.15] Charlie’s advice for all of the girls and women looking to follow in her footsteps.
You can connect with Charlie over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show, why not check out episode 21 of Blended - Boost Your Bottom Line: Why You Should Be Retaining Diverse Talent, in which an expert panel discuss the current landscape in supply chain when it comes to talent; how to successfully hire and retain talent; and how we navigate bias to improve company culture.
And if you want to hear more from our next Blended Pledge grant recipient, Dr Gennifer – Founder/Executive Director at TransNewYork – check out episode 20 of Blended: DEI in the Workplace – Not Just The Smart Thing To Do, But The Right Thing To Do or episode 22 of Blended: Tokenism: The Wrong Route to Diversity.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by SEKO Logistics, a global, market-leading provider of logistics services who are small enough to care, but big enough to scale, for shippers around the world.
SEKO provides complete supply chain solutions, specializing in transportation, logistics, forwarding and warehousing. Powered by their innovative and customizable IT solutions, SEKO provide a seamless flow of information, giving their ever-growing customer base true supply chain visibility. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, the SEKO model enables customers to benefit from global implementation experience, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and service at the local level.
Today Brian Bourke, Chief Growth Officer at SEKO Logistics, joins me to chat all about the company and exactly how they help their customers; supply chain visibility; the importance of customer satisfaction; and the increasing trend for using supply chain as a competitive advantage.
[07.30] Brian’s career journey, and the huge growth that he’s helped to drive at SEKO.
“We doubled in a size [within a year]… it’s a testament to our investment and expansion in ecommerce, ecommerce logistics, international ecommerce shipping, home delivery and last mile!”
[09.29] An overview of SEKO Logistics – what they do and how they help their customers.
“Wherever our clients are sourcing from, we can help them bring it into their home market. And, from there, it’s all about connecting to ecommerce.”
[15.31] The exponential growth that SEKO experienced during the pandemic, and what they learned.
“It used to be, clients in the same industry followed similar patterns. Well that’s no longer the case. Everyone is unique: everyone’s implementing different things at different times, launching new sourcing in new countries, slowing down their supply chain, speeding it up… all of these things are happening in real time.”
[19.53] SEKO Live’s easy onboarding and implementation process, and the solutions’ ideal customer.
“It’s a disjointed process. We want to create a seamless, integrated, on-brand and ultimately easy process.”
[22.15] A case study showing how SEKO Live helped a key customer to identify which vendor was causing the most service issues with their deliveries, so that they could be laser-focused in creating solutions that reduce returns and ultimately save money.
“Having agile, nimble, flexible, responsive partners that can help you pivot has been ever more critical.”
[24.01] From strategic partnerships and acquisitions to the growth of e-commerce, the future for SEKO Logistics.
“There’s an ecosystem out there, and we should all leverage it… it’s so important to partner with, and purchase from, best-in-class providers. Technology is critically important – but you don’t need to do it all on your own anymore!”
Want to dive in a little deeper? Head over to SEKO Logistics’ website now to learn more and discover how they could help you. You can also connect with SEKO Logistics and keep up to date with everything they have going on over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Brian on LinkedIn. You have your option, so take control of your demand chain today.
If you enjoyed this episode, and are interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities to be found in shipping, why not check out No Bullshipping with Hope White, one of our incredible live shows, that regularly features the key players, and their suppliers, that support both the global and domestic supply chain. And if you're thinking about how ecommerce has changed as we head into 2023, why not listen to 238: Year In Review, featuring journalist and logistics tech expert Eric Johnson - what a year 2022 has been!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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.
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.
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.