Sat.Mar 22, 2025 - Fri.Mar 28, 2025

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Amazon and the Shift to AI-Driven Supply Chain Planning

Logistics Viewpoints

Supply chain disruptions have become a persistent operational risk. Geopolitical instability, extreme weather, labor shortages, and fluctuating consumer demand regularly impact global logistics. Traditional supply chain planning, which relies on historical data and reactive adjustments, is no longer adequate for managing these challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping supply chain operations by enabling predictive planning, allowing companies to anticipate disruptions before they occ

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Procurement Cost Reduction: How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners

Precoro

Rising costs, supply chain chaos, and economic swings put businesses under enormous pressure to protect their margins. According to McKinsey & Company, procurement accounts for 50% to 80% of a company’s cost base. That’s why organizations zero in on strategies to achieve procurement cost reduction.  The key thing to remember is that cost reduction in procurement isn’t just about slashing expenses.

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Dealing with Strategic Risks

Enterra Insights

The late Sir Winston Churchill once stated, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” He was, of course, spot on with that observation. The aim of any strategy is to accomplish a stated goal. Anything that can derail accomplishing a company’s stated goal is a strategic risk. As Henry Mintzberg , the Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies at McGill University in Montreal, has pointed out, “The real challenge in crafting strategy lies

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AI for supply chains or supply chains for AI?

Supply Chain Movement

Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, artificial intelligence has been the buzzword in almost every sector. AI has also attracted attention in supply chain management. Expectations are high, but the real impact remains difficult to pinpoint. Generative AI (GenAI) promises to improve processes and support decision-making. There are certainly applications that show potential, but the greatest successes in supply chains still come from traditional AI: statistical models and optimisation algorit

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Speeding Robotics Automation with AI

The $53 trillion manufacturing economy in the US is undergoing a major automation paradigm shift due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to new practical frameworks, automation projects that were once impossible or inefficient to implement are now being fast-tracked, and robotics automation is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing number of users and scenarios.

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Reshoring and Regionalized Freight Networks: The Future of Logistics

TransAudit

The logistics landscape is evolving rapidly as more manufacturers relocate production closer to domestic markets. This trend, known as reshoring , is driving the emergence of regionalized freight networks , optimizing supply chains for efficiency, cost savings, and resilience. Industries such as semiconductors, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and transportation equipment are at the forefront of reshoring efforts , leading to a fundamental shift in freight demand patterns.

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What the iPhone Can Teach Politicians About Trade

SCM Research

I increasingly wish that politicians would acquire basic knowledge of supply chains. In their insightful article The Guts of an Apple iPhone Show Exactly What Trump Gets Wrong About Trade , Dedrick, Linden, and Kraemer critique common misconceptions surrounding reshoring, using the iPhone to illustrate complexities in global supply chains. Amidst debates intensified by Trumps tariffs on imports, the authors emphasize that China actually contributes minimal value – less than $10 per phone &

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What is Purchase Price Variance (PPV) and How to Calculate it?

SCMDOJO

Introduction Gardner, (1954) and Huntzinger, (2007) define Purchase price variance (PPV) as a metric used to measure the effectiveness of cost-saving efforts by calculating the difference between the planned cost (standard pricing) allocated for purchasing activities and the actual cost incurred. Purchase Price Variance (PPV) can be tracked monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually for a specific item or the overall spending over a given period.

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The Growing Challenge of Geopolitical Risks in Supply Chains

All Things Supply Chain

Imagine ordering a smartphone online, expecting swift delivery, only to receive a notification that the estimated arrival time has been pushed back by several months.

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Mastering Center of Gravity Analysis in Supply Chain Network Design – Best Practices

AIMMS

What makes center of gravity analysis a cornerstone of any supply chain network optimization strategy? Find answers from best practices.

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Tail Inventory: The Silent Cost Driver You Shouldn't Ignore

Learn how centralizing slow-moving SKUs can help reduce fulfillment costs by $300M+ while boosting fulfillment efficiency.

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Mastering Disruption: A Smarter, More Connected Approach

Logistics Viewpoints

Five years ago, we all thought the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the most disrupted supply chain landscape we would ever see. We were wrong. Since then, supply chain disruptions and volatility have only increased. Three months into 2025, we have seen a barrage of on-again, off-again tariffs that have supply chain and logistics teams reeling, as they must rethink everything from next weeks shipping route to their foundational network models.

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Contractor Chaos: Fixing the Last Mile’s Biggest Headache with Jon Doolen

The Logistics of Logistics

Jon Doolen and Joe Lynch discuss contractor chaos: fixing the last mile’s biggest headache. Jon is a Strategy Leader at Doolen Strategy Partners that specializes in providing leadership development programs, business advisory services, and public speaking engagements. About Jon Doolen Jon Doolen is a seasoned business coach with over two decades of expertise in retail logistics, particularly specializing in final mile delivery and third-party logistics for home furnishings and luxury produ

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Machine Learning in Demand Planning: How to Boost Forecasting

ToolsGroup

Machine learning (ML)a specialized field within artificial intelligence (AI)is revolutionizing demand planning and supply chain management. Beyond simply improving forecast accuracy, todays ML-powered demand forecasting software uncovers hidden supply trends, anticipates pricing fluctuations, and enables proactive supply chain planning decisions. According to McKinsey , organizations implementing AI-driven demand forecasting solutions can reduce forecast errors by 30% to 50%.

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Editor’s Pick: Fundamentals of a Successful Transportation Management System

Talking Logistics

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Pick” series where we highlight posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics. This recent post by Brad Forester from JBF Consulting’s blog highlights the most frequent traps shippers fall into during the project phase.

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Tariffs on the Table: How to Brief the Board and C‑Suite With Confidence

“What should we do about the tariffs?” There’s no straightforward answer — every leader has a different expectation. CFOs want numbers. COOs want action. CEOs want strategy. And supply chain and procurement leaders need to be ready with the right response — fast. That’s why GEP has created a simple three-part framework that will help CPOs and CSCOs brief the board and C-suite with clarity and confidence.

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5 Things To Consider When Choosing a 3PL for Blind Shipping

GlobalTranz

Blind shipping is a strategic method of drop shipping where the supplier's identity is concealed, and products are shipped directly from the supplier to the customer, maintaining confidentiality along your supply chain. It's rapidly gaining popularity in the freight shipping world as businesses look to cut costs and streamline their logistics operations.

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Infor and Kinaxis Launch Enterprise Planning Solution for Discrete Manufacturers

Logistics Viewpoints

NEW YORK & OTTAWA, ON March 24, 2025 Infor, the industry cloud complete company, and Kinaxis Inc. (TSX: KXS) an end-to-end supply chain orchestration, today announced a new partnership that will deliver improved alignment of supply chain plans with business objectives and strategies for midmarket discrete manufacturing companies. The partnership includes launching Kinaxis Planning One for Infor CloudSuite, which integrates Infors industry-specific CloudSuite solutions for discrete manufact

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Safety Stock – Mastering Demand and Supply Chain Planning

ToolsGroup

Safety Stock: Navigating Supply Chain Volatility Through Strategic Inventory Planning Demand volatility represents a critical challenge for supply chain executives today, with safety stock emerging as a key strategic tool to mitigate market uncertainties. Recent tariff policies have intensified these challenges, creating unpredictable shifts in demand planning requirements and increasing market volatility.

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I Don’t Know Who Needs To Hear This But… with Ryan Schreiber

The Logistics of Logistics

Ryan Schreiber and Joe Lynch discuss I don’t know who needs to hear this but… Ryan is the Chief Growth Officer at Metafora , the leading business consulting and software development firm that exclusively serves the Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chain space. About Ryan Schreiber Ryan Schreiber is the Chief Growth Officer at Metafora.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Unlocking the Power of Invisible Networks for Strategic Change Management

Bristlecone

The supply chain landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements and evolving leadership paradigms. Enhanced human-machine interactions and Industry 5.0 technologies are significantly improving resilience and operational efficiency. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing supply chain operations at an unprecedented pace.

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What Spend Matters’ Spring 2025 SolutionMap Tells Us About Supply Chain Risk Management & Compliance

Resilinc

Spend Matters recently released their Spring 2025 SolutionMap for Risk Management , and we’re pleased to share that Resilinc has maintained a strong position ahead of competitors in the Supply Chain Risk Management module. Where Resilincs Supply Chain Technology Excels Spend Matters’ independent analysis provides valuable insights into our platform’s capabilities.

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E2open Introduces Innovations in Global Trade Compliance Technology to Help Companies Address New and Evolving Challenges

E2open

New AI capabilities and enhancements to proven global trade software help streamline classifications, global trade content, due diligence, and unstructured document processing DALLAS – March 26, 2025 – E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ETWO), the connected supply chain SaaS platform with the largest multi-enterprise network, announces the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) tools across its Global Trade technology suite designed to ease compliance and increase productivity for clients.

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Top Trends From ProMat 2025

BlueYonder

Often, the ideas that permeate ProMat are the same topics that pop up in conversations throughout the year. Whether people are excited about a new technology or focusing on solving the same problem, the trends at ProMat often last beyond the four days of the conference. After listening to speakers from all different tracks, it was clear that this years trends touched every part of the supply chain.

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Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

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How PLM Software Helps Global Battery Companies Navigate Growth and Challenges

Arena Solutions

The battery industry is at the center of the global transition when it comes to clean energy, sustainable strategies, and finding innovative power solutions. As batteries play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, the need for finding alternative resources, staying on top of compliance, and implementing sustainable reuse/recycle strategies is becoming even more critical.

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How Kechie ERP Software Transforms Operations Across Key Business Sectors

My Office Apps

How Kechie ERP Software Transforms Operations Across Key Business Sectors How are companies managing the external and internal challenges that increase the complexity of their operations every day? From shifting market demands to navigating new regulatory changes, the pressure on organizations continues to grow. To stay competitive, businesses must adapt to cloud-based solutions that automate processes, boost productivity, and offer real-time access.

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E2open Named a Leader in Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Transportation Management Systems for Third Consecutive Year

E2open

Recognized for completeness of vision and ability to execute DALLAS – March 27, 2025 – E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ETWO), the connected supply chain SaaS platform with the largest multi-enterprise network, today announced that e2open has been positioned by Gartner as a Leader for the third consecutive year in the 2025 Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems1.

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How FedEx is Focusing on Profitable Parcels

Cathy Roberson

FedEx’s Q3 earnings (period ending Feb 28) announcement last Thursday evening disappointed Wall Street causing its stock to drop like a brick. However, in my opinion, FedEx is doing not great but ok as it marches forward with its strategic network redo, plans to spin off FedEx Freight, combine Ground and Express and other cost-cutting measures.

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Revolutionizing Hiring: Remote-Insourcing That Slashes Turnover & Training Costs!

What is Remote-Insourcing? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Not anymore. Remote-Insourcing isn’t outsourcing—it’s a revolutionary staffing model that lets our clients fill key entry-level positions with top-tier, loyal, long-term talent, integrated seamlessly into their businesses—just like local employees but without the turnover or W2 HR hassles. With under 4% unwanted attrition, you train once and keep the same team for years.

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AIMMS Leading the Way – Key Breakthroughs in the Past 6 Months

AIMMS

These updates to SC Navigator tackle key supply chain design needs, from scenario planning to data integration and transport management.

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Two Added Warnings- FedEx and Hapag-Lloyd

Supply Chain Matters

Two companies, global parcel and logistics carrier FedEx , and global container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd recently reported warnings related to 2025 financial performance. Both can be looked upon for barometers of global trade and industry supply chain activity trending. FedEx Quarterly Financial Performance FedEx has reported financial results for the quarter ending on February 28 th , which includes the December final month of holiday fulfillment.

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A Spirited Week for e2open

E2open

Spirit Week 2025 kicked off a worldwide celebration of our amazing global team Spirit Week is a five-day celebration of e2open employees and the contributions they make toward our culture and success. This event takes place in all e2open offices around the globe, and it gives us all the chance to build each other up, praise our best and brightest stars, and celebrate the multicultural community that defines our company.