The Supply Chainer

As supply chain leaders face mounting pressure to move from experimentation to execution, the gap between early-stage innovation and enterprise-scale deployment is becoming more visible. Technologies often stall in pilot phases, unable to navigate operational complexity, regulatory friction, or lack of access to real-world environments. This challenge is intensifying as companies look for faster ways to test and implement solutions across transportation, construction, and log

In a special roundtable hosted by Tom Raftery, three supply chain technology leaders examined a core question shaping the industry: are companies truly optimizing operations, or simply coping with growing complexity? The discussion, featuring Gonzalo Benedit (Aera Technology), Keith Moore (AutoScheduler), and Mor Peretz (CaPow), pointed to a clear shift toward decision orchestration as the next frontier. Listen to the full discussion on Resilient Supply Chain Podcast Roundtab

As supply chains stabilize at the macro level, pressure is shifting into last-mile operations, where performance is determined in real time. First-time delivery success, cost control, and service reliability depend less on planning accuracy and more on how well systems adapt once conditions change. In response to a query from The Supply Chainer, Rico van Leuken, CEO of Bluerock TMS , outlined three operational shifts driving improvement: “First, the integration of customer-le

In large-scale manufacturing and infrastructure programs, supply chain performance is often treated as a support function, important but secondary to engineering innovation or program management. In practice, however, supplier capability, risk visibility, and execution discipline frequently determine whether a project meets its milestones or quietly accumulates delays that only become visible once recovery is expensive. The Reality of Supplier Performance This becomes especia

Supply chain innovation is increasingly defined by what actually changes on the ground. Speed, sustainability, and decision-making are no longer separate tracks. They are converging into systems that reduce friction in execution rather than add complexity upstream. Recent developments across packaging, warehouse AI, and port operations show how that shift is taking shape. Packaging rethinks waste and throughput Packsize’s X6 system, which recently won the Intralogistics Categ

The functional beverages category is expanding rapidly - but the supply chains behind it are struggling to keep pace. What began as a niche segment of wellness-driven products has evolved into a fast-growing, highly competitive category. Energy alternatives, adaptogenic drinks, and botanical infusions are moving into the mainstream, with new brands and SKUs entering the market at a sustained rate. Consumer demand is not the constraint. Jennifer Creevy, Food & Drink Director a

Large-scale military operations are rarely discussed in the language of supply chain management. Yet when viewed through a logistics lens, operations such as the recent Epic Fury  campaign illustrate one of the most complex supply chains on earth - a tightly synchronized network moving sensitive payloads across thousands of kilometers through air, sea, and land corridors under extreme time pressure. For supply chain professionals, the operation offers a striking case study in

In discussions around a potential U.S.–Iran conflict, much of the focus tends to center on advanced weapons systems, airpower, and frontline combat units. Yet experience from recent U.S. operations suggests a different, often overlooked reality: some of the most consistent risks may fall not on combat troops, but on the logistics and supply chain personnel who sustain them. If a broader confrontation with Iran were to unfold - especially across dispersed theaters and proxy en

Returns have long been retail’s weakest link. Refund delays frustrate customers, and cross-country parcel routing wastes money and adds emissions. In 2025, the economics of returns are forcing a reset. Retailers want faster refunds and lower freight costs. Carriers want fewer empty miles. Sustainability goals demand tighter routing. The ReBound–SEKO partnership aims to solve all three with a regionalized returns network spanning New Jersey, Texas, and Nevada. The strategy is

The latest episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast examines a familiar but costly problem in large-scale enterprise change: transformation efforts that appear sound on the technology side but fail because the wider business is making decisions on very different terms. Hosted by Tom Raftery, the episode features Don Mahoney, Global Head of Products and Innovation at SNP Group, whose experience includes nearly 15 years at SAP working with some of its largest global custom

A series of recent announcements across logistics and supply chain companies points to a consistent shift: operational control is moving to the center of strategy. From leadership recognition to infrastructure investment and visibility tools, companies are tightening their grip on execution layers that were historically fragmented. Maersk is further advancing its end-to-end logistics strategy by expanding its inland warehousing and distribution footprint. By integrating ocean