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Let's Talk Supply Chain

Let's Talk Supply Chain

By: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey
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Let's Talk Supply Chain is not your average supply chain podcast. Hosted by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, we bring you the leaders, disrupters, and diverse voices shaping global logistics, procurement, freight, and operations. No hype, no recycled takes: just candid conversations and real insights for the people running supply chains every day. Ranked in the top 1% of podcasts globally and broadcasting across North America, Asia, and Europe. Don't settle for the same ol' same ol'. Be sparked by new ideas and fresh perspectives, only on Let's Talk Supply Chain. Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 572: Built to Evolve: Rethinking Warehouse Management for Modern Operations, with Made4net

    572: Built to Evolve: Rethinking Warehouse Management for Modern Operations, with Made4net
    Oct 28 2026
    Amit Levy of Made4net explores what they do, creating smarter warehouse technology, scalable WMS, automation and preparing supply chains for the future. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.44] Amit's career journey, the founding vision behind Made4net, and his continued passion for the supply chain industry. "Supply chain is the core of our day-to-day. Any product that we buy or consume has some kind of supply chain behind it. So it's exciting to be part of technology that enables and improves the space." [05.45] The market challenges Amit identified when founding Made4net in 2005, why warehouse complexity isn't necessarily determined by size, and his vision to deliver tailored warehouse management solutions for mid-market businesses. "We kept seeing the same problem – companies needed strong warehouse functionality, but the systems that were available were too expensive, too rigid, too hard to implement and maintain." [10.35] An overview of Made4net and its solutions, its role as IKEA's exclusive warehouse management system provider, and its mission for the industry. "The main vision was to enable customers to handle their supply chain from the yard all the way to the customer, and run all of it on a single platform." [15.07] Made4net's key growth milestones, from Gartner recognition to a significant company acquisition, and how these achievements have shaped its evolution. [17.20] Made4net's ideal customer profile, the businesses it's best positioned to support, and where its solutions deliver the greatest value. "The value is really about being able to handle the operational complexity, managing different types of order volumes, growing and scaling, managing labor constraints, and inventory accuracy." [19.44] The importance of technology in modern businesses, and the benefits of consolidating complex tech stacks into a single, integrated system. [21.25] What configurability and scalability mean in warehouse operations, and how rigid technology drives up costs, limits flexibility and increases dependency on external support, rather than empowering teams to adapt as the business grows and evolves. "Configurable means that the system can reflect how the operation works, without forcing every change into a custom code. It means you can adjust workflows, rules, priorities, different types of picking methods or replenishment strategies, or implement and address customer requirements as the business changes." [26.30] What leaders should consider when embarking on a WMS project, from selecting a new system to modernizing an existing one, including key decision-making factors and common pitfalls to avoid. "Don't replicate what you've done in the past. Try to open your mind and see how things can be done in a different way." [31.00] The differing WMS requirements of 3PLs and single-brand operations, and how each approach shapes warehouse management needs, complexity and priorities. [35.26] How businesses can ensure their WMS is ready for automation, Made4net's approach to orchestrating people, robots and systems, and the key differences between a WCS and a WES. "It starts with having clean processes… Robots and automation are powerful, but they need to work together. They don't solve poor process design by themselves." [39.27] The importance of connecting warehouse operations with labor management, yard management and last-mile delivery, and how breaking down silos creates greater visibility, efficiency and coordination across the supply chain. [42.27] A case study exploring how Made4net helped a grocery distributor overcome key operational challenges to improve inventory accuracy and reduce losses, increase labour productivity and optimize shipping routes to cut fuel costs and enhance customer service. [46.05] How customer needs shape Made4net's solutions and product development, and its vision for the future - for both Made4net and the market. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Made4net's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Made4net and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube or X, or you can connect with Amit on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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    55 mins
  • 571: Discover the Future of Intelligent Supply Chains, with Zebra Technologies

    571: Discover the Future of Intelligent Supply Chains, with Zebra Technologies
    Oct 26 2026

    Wes Coleman & Matthew Fehrenbach of Zebra Technologies on automation, frontline workers, supply chain innovation & the future of intelligent operations.

    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

    [02.32] An overview of Zebra Technologies today: who they are, what they do, and the challenges they help their customers solve.

    "We're working every day to make businesses as smart and connected as the world we live in… Our goal is to give organizations enterprise asset intelligence. In a world of supply chain and retail complexity, we're helping our customers bridge the gap between high level strategy and daily frontline execution."

    [04.43] From new product launches to a pivotal acquisition, the key milestones that have shaped Zebra Technologies since its founding in 1969.

    [06.38] The acquisition of Motorola Solutions' Enterprise business, what it brought to Zebra, and how it expanded the solutions they could offer customers.

    "The acquisition instantly doubled our size, and transformed us into an end-to-end workflow solution provider."

    [07.52] Zebra's technology in action, and how it fits into customers' day-to-day workflows.

    [12.30] How Zebra's customers approach new technology and automation, balancing enthusiasm for innovation with the practicalities of turning it into tangible results.

    "Many customers think of things as individual components, like asset tracking with RFID, automating processes with machine vision, or predicting bottlenecks with generative AI. We try to guide them to stop viewing them as separate hardware components and, instead, treat them as an ecosystem."

    [15.09] From asset tracking and inventory visibility to reduced shrinkage and improved worker engagement, the key outcomes retailers look to achieve with Zebra's solutions.

    "Often retailers know they have a problem, they know what the problem is, but they're ensure what the options are for a solution."

    [17.16] What asset tracking means for Zebra and its customers, and the value it delivers to their operations.

    [18.29] An overview of Zebra's machine vision solutions and how they help customers improve quality, accuracy and operational efficiency.

    [21.33] The ideal customer profile for Zebra Technologies and the operational challenges its solutions are best placed to tackle.

    [23.14] Why Zebra champions an 'augmented workforce' approach, empowering frontline workers through technology and exploring how humans and automation can work together to improve operational performance.

    "Up until a few years ago, being replaced was a real concern for workers. But we've seen that change. Now workers have great tech in their pocket, in their car, at home. And when they get to the workplace they also have an expectation for excellent technology."

    [26.28] The evolving landscape of supply chain and frontline operations, the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry, and how customer priorities have shifted over the past five years.

    "Customers are asking for orchestration and, five years ago, that meant something completely different."

    [32.07] Looking ahead, Zebra's vision for the intelligent supply chain and the role it aims to play in helping customers realize that future.

    "The future of retail supply chain is about removing that dock door – both figuratively and literally."

    RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

    Head over to Zebra's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Zebra Technologies and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Wes or Matthew on LinkedIn.

    Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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    41 mins
  • 569: Four Eras of Freight Audit, Still Six Weeks Too Late, with Shipium

    569: Four Eras of Freight Audit, Still Six Weeks Too Late, with Shipium
    Oct 12 2026
    Kris Gosser & Tim Meester of Shipium explore the four eras of freight audit, AI startups, the control era, and how Always-On Audit impacts your bottom line. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.39] Freight audit and pay's 120-year history, the problem it was originally created to solve, and why its fundamental approach has changed so little over time. "Early on, it was about checking a bill against a tariff. Then, industry's got deregulated, things got more complicated, and the tools and processes got better – but the starting line never moved." [05.46] The four eras of freight audit – Payment, Audit, Data and Control. [12.35] How the traditional gain-share audit model works and why it can create incentives around recurring carrier billing errors. "The model rewards finding over fixing… You can't audit your way out of a problem you keep shipping into." [16.51] Why, despite seeing the same freight billing errors recur for decades, the industry has yet to address their root causes, and what has prevented a shift towards a more proactive, upstream approach. "The technology in the 90's was built for the assumptions of the simplicity of the network… Now we have an infinite set of destinations, an infinite number of SKUS and permutations of packaging… parcel went from 4% to 40% of your volume – and the technology never caught up." [23.51] What the new wave of AI-powered freight audit startups are genuinely improving, and why they're the last chapter of the data era rather than the beginning of a new era. [29.34] The distinction between knowing that a shipment was wrong and being able to do something about it while the shipment is still in motion, and why timing matters so much in freight spend. "We're moving from archeology to forensics." [37.42] The 'control era' – what changes when you move from auditing shipments after the fact to actively controlling them in real time, why the control era requires the system of record for shipping data, and the importance of upstream visibility in preventing errors before they occur. [43.31] How Shipium Compass and Always-On Audit work together to drive customer success, what logistics and transportation leaders should be doing now, and the key capabilities to look for when investing in technology. "It's managing your carrier spend and the finance side of it, but it's also your carrier relationships. How do you create clarity and reduce friction?" [50.44] What becomes possible when the industry moves beyond 120 years of looking backwards through freight audit to proactively controlling shipments, preventing errors, and shaping outcomes before they happen. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Shipium's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Shipium and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Kris or Tim on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Shipium, check out : 564: Discover Why Peak Season Is A Margin-Making Event, Not An Ops Event, with Shipium 502: Current Success vs Future Potential: Finding the AI Balance, with Shipium 491: 2028 – Shipium Counts Down to the AI Revolution 299: Modernize Your Ecommerce Supply Chain, with Shipium Check out our other podcasts HERE.
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    57 mins
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