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Let's Talk Supply Chain

Let's Talk Supply Chain

De : Sarah Barnes-Humphrey
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 Let's Talk Supply Chain is not your average supply chain podcast. We feature not just the top of the industry, but also diverse voices from within the community, new innovations and the disrupters making waves in the industry. Don’t listen to the same ol' same ol', be sparked by new ideas and fresh perspectives only on Let's Talk Supply Chain. Economie Politique et gouvernement
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    • 497: Transform Your Returns Management and Delight Customers, with Blue Yonder

      497: Transform Your Returns Management and Delight Customers, with Blue Yonder
      Oct 22 2025
      Tim Robinson of Blue Yonder talks about returns: the challenges & potential, role of AI, inventory management, tariffs, & the importance of customer experience. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.42] Tim’s career; how he founded his business, Doddle, and the story behind the name; and how that journey led him to Blue Yonder. “It’s quite rare that you isolate and identify supply chain as your chosen goal in life, but I fell into it and have loved it ever since.” [06.34] The current returns landscape, and what Blue Yonder’s recent survey revealed about consumer-brand relationships, and how retailers approach returns. “Free and easy access returns, or buy as many as you like and return as many as you like – that philosophy has been one of the major drivers behind the success of ecommerce. How do you create the convenience and the relevance of physical shopping, where I can see a product, touch it, try it on?” [12.10] How tariffs and market turbulence are putting pressure on businesses, squeezing margins; and the importance of customer experience. “This is ultimately an age of uncertainty, if you’re in a business that involves crossing borders for any reason. Whilst the challenge around tariffs may have emanated in one part of the world, the reality is that the ripple effect means the whole landscape is re-setting itself – it’s a global phenomena now.” “The majority of consumers consider a poor return policy as a bad experience, whether they want to return or not. They may love the product, but now they have a poor sentiment of you and your brand... And if a bad policy is a bad experience, you’ve lost a customer. ” [20.46] Changing customer expectations and shopping habits, and the challenge of inventory management. “The pace of ever-changing demands is at the heart of everything.” [25.59] The role AI and machine learning can have in overcoming returns and inventory management challenges; and the importance of transparency in consumer communication. “You have complex inventory allocation decisions being made at the time a consumer hits the return button... We’re able to orchestrate, influence consumer behavior, and make allocation and replenishment decisions in real-time.” “If we want to change consumer behavior, want them to think more carefully about shopping habits and the choices they make, we should be more transparent with them.” [29.52] The problem and opportunity of returns, and the impact businesses could make by considering returns as a source of extra inventory. [33.28] Blue Yonder’s recent acquisition of Optoro, and what that means for customers as they navigate returns and inventory management. [38.57] Why Blue Yonder is so committed to ‘sustainable abundance,’ and how businesses can work with them. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Blue Yonder’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Blue Yonder and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Tim on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Blue Yonder, check out 434: Synchronize Your Supply Chain Execution, with Blue Yonder or 417: Fulfill Your Potential, with Blue Yonder. Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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      47 min
    • 496: AI-Powered, Human-Led – Discover the Future of Routing, with OneRail

      496: AI-Powered, Human-Led – Discover the Future of Routing, with OneRail
      Oct 20 2025
      Bill Catania of OneRail & Adam Isenberg of National Association of Wholesale Distributors discuss routing - the challenges, the tech & why unification is key. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.02] An introduction to Adam and the National Association of Wholesale Distributors (NAW). “We’re the leading advocacy and government affairs voice for the distributors, whether you’re moving computer chips, potato chips, or anything in between!” [04.34] How listeners can catch up on OneRail content, and why Bill believes in collaboration and connection. [06.03] An overview of OneRail – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. “We’re really focused on exercising our horsepower around data science and AI to help internal fleets optimize. When you take that internal optimization, and bolt on third-party, you have something really unique. And over the top of all of that is the human component.” [08.12] Traditional routing engines, and their biggest weaknesses. “The problem with routing software in general is that it’s really just a calculator… And there are a lot more constraints now; there’s a tighter SLA window, more demands on the wholesale channel – the routing solution has to contemplate many more variables, and a lot of the solutions out there don’t do that.” [10.32] The biggest pain points right now for distributors, and the impact of changing, multi-generational workforces. “The wholesale distribution industry, as vast as it is, are laggers in technology historically. But now, with the advent of so much technology, changing so fast, you’re seeing distributors say: ‘We can’t wait any longer.’” [14.33] The business impact of using routing engines that can’t consider all the relevant inputs. [18.13] How exceptions and traditional routing solutions erode profitability, the importance of extracting tribal knowledge in the workplace, and how new technology can allow businesses to make smarter decisions, reducing costs and empowering teams. “It’s about being able to move those levers in real time, and that’s the difference between the visibility era and the actionable insights era, which is where we are today.” [24.16] The challenge with change management and how new technology can ease the transition and remove friction. [26.38] The importance of leaning into tech, and how wholesalers are balancing rising delivery expectations and cost pressures with data-driven decision-making. “People want to make informed decisions but they need data, they need intelligence. And when you have a software and a partner that provides you real-time intelligence, that’s how people are going to make those informed decisions to drive their business forward.” [30.19] Why many dispatchers ‘swivel-chair’ between systems, and why it’s such a big problem. [33.57] The new mindset, innovative distribution strategies and technologies NAW members are adopting to improve fulfilment and the last mile. [37.04] Why OneRail is uniquely positioned to lead the future of last mile, and why their network is as important as their software. “We have a large network that allows us to execute; not just connect with a courier, but pick a courier because of price, quality, time of day, zip code, SKU… So when we’re matching a delivery, it’s extremely informed.” “It’s a chief supply chain officers best friend, because it allows that professional to let their team do their job, but be more accountable; to leverage external partners and bring their data back in, make sense of it, and apply it.” [42.21] How partnerships between wholesalers, carriers and technology providers are shaping the future of last mile. [46.20] The future of last mile, and why the market is finally coming to OneRail. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to OneRail’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with OneRail and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or X (Twitter) or you can connect with Bill or Adam on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more from OneRail, we have plenty more great content for you. Check out: 481: Combine the Power of In-House and Outsourced Fleet Management, with OneRail 461: Go Behind the Scenes of a History-Making Partnership, with OneRail and PepsiCo 440: Level Up Your Fulfillment Capabilities, with OneRail 419: Discover OmniPoint Inventory Visibility and Tackle Shrinkage, with OneRail 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail 349: Deliver a Frictionless Last Mile, with OneRail Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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      55 min
    • 495: Discover Hyper-Intelligent Orchestration, with GreyOrange

      495: Discover Hyper-Intelligent Orchestration, with GreyOrange
      Oct 15 2025

      Akash Gupta of GreyOrange talks about warehousing and inventory challenges; taking a vendor-agnostic approach to tech; and hyper-intelligent orchestration.

      IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

      [03.43] Akash’s background and how and why he co-founded GreyOrange.

      “When we were in college, we were building humanoids… But the technology wasn’t mature enough, so we explored industries that could really benefit from a combination of AI and robotics – and supply chain came to light!”

      [06.33] The story behind the name GreyOrange, and why culture is key to business success.

      [08.25] An overview of GreyOrange – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.

      [13.27] The ideal client for GreyOrange.

      [15.55] The current challenges and considerations in warehousing and inventory, and why optimizing inventory is crucial.

      “Optimizing inventory and working capital has been top of mind for the last few years, and balancing between warehouses and stores – how do you make sure you’re able to use every single node?”

      [19.56] How industry challenges, and the way businesses are thinking about their changing operations, are driving GreyOrange’s approach to innovation with flexibility, machine learning and commercial collaboration in mind.

      [23.40] GreyOrange’s warehouse orchestration solution GreyMatter, and what makes it ‘hyper-intelligent.’

      “It’s looking at every single aspect of the warehouse every second, and evolving the decision that can be taken for the next second.”

      [27.54] The challenge of change management, and how GreyOrange encourage tech adoption by empowering teams.

      “Change management is still a challenge in the industry… When you go from a manual warehouse to a technology-driven warehouse, leadership can feel that they’re losing control, so we give them enough real-time visibility and power to influence decisions.”

      [31.51] From 30-40% cost-per-unit reduction to 250 thousand units picked per day, how working with GreyOrange drives big results in warehouses.

      [35.01] GreyOrange’s approach to multi-robot infrastructures.

      “We support a wide spectrum of AMR’s… GreyOrange is pretty much the only software that can bring all of these technologies together.”

      [37.45] The growth of GreyOrange’s other flagship solution, gStore.

      “We’ve gone from having no presence in retail stores in 2022 to now operating more than 3,000 stores, connected to tens of thousands of IoT devices.”

      [41.00] Why GreyOrange put a focus on store associates to create a better experience for the end consumer, and why that’s crucial for successful tech adoption.

      [43.19] A case study exploring how GreyOrange helped Fabletics with store inventory accuracy, boosting sales across their store network by 15-20% and increasing customer satisfaction, in only nine months.

      [46.03] Why GreyOrange is investing in building even more intelligent foundational models for warehouses and stores in 2026.

      RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

      Head over to GreyOrange’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with GreyOrange and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Akash on LinkedIn.

      Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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      52 min
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