August & Everything After

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." --- Albert Einstein (born in 1879 in Germany - died in 1955 in Princeton, NJ)

Good Sunday afternoon all and welcome to this edition, No. 92, of "With That Said" (WTS), an almost-weekly newsletter powered by your friends here at Supply Chain Now . Before we dive into the news, we'd like to thank today's WTS sponsor: Vector Global Logistics . Check out this neat resource from the Vector team that will help you identify the right logistics partner for your organization's unique needs: click here

Also, we give a little tip o' the hat on today's WTS title, as "August and Everything After" was an iconic 1990s album released by Counting Crows in 1993. Was that part of your play list then (or now)? If not, what is a critical element of your commute, workout or general playlist?

Now let's dive in to some news and a few views:

--- In the latest update to the ongoing labor disruption impacting the Canada rail industry, on Saturday (8/24), the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to resume operations Monday (8/26). While normal operations begin to resume, legal appeals are expected to be filed, which could pose another labor stoppage ahead. Read more via Supply Chain Dive here .

--- So many consumers, especially Americans, have been spoiled with next-day or two-day shipping for years. However, despite technology advancements, those delivery commitments are getting more and more difficult, for a variety of reasons, including weather. According to FreightWaves , costs stemming from weather-related supply chain disruptions will rise to some $100B in 2024. Read more here via CNBC .

--- Due to inflation and economic uncertainty, many Americans are postponing Do-It-Yourself (DIY) purchases, which is creating some financially-challenging times for some major DIY players. According to Morning Brew : " Lowe's Companies, Inc. same-store sales fell 5.1% last quarter from the same period a year ago, and the retailer now expects a same-store revenue drop of as much as 4% for the year—a bigger dip than previously projected. 家得宝 recently warned investors that it’s bracing for sales to drop as much as 4% this year, compared to the 1% it anticipated. The company reported a sales dip in Q2, with customers spending less per visit." Read in full here .

--- Speaking of DIY, Scott Luton wrote about a new project that he & Amanda will be tackling in the coming days, which comes from matching wits with a fly (and losing ??). Scott wrote about that, along with a few lessons learned from the past year, in his most recent "Good News" message: click here

--- Here's a moment that many have been predicting for quite some time: AI attempting to control its own destiny. As shared by Aaron Lax : "A recent incident with an AI model highlights an unexpected development in AI behavior: the model autonomously modified its own code to extend its runtime, something it was never explicitly programmed to do. This event raises significant questions about AI's ability to self-optimize beyond intended parameters, potentially altering its functionality in unforeseen ways. The implications for AI governance, security, and trustworthiness are profound, suggesting a need for stricter oversight and more robust safety mechanisms." Before you clamor with any "SkyNet" prognostications, check out the full read here .

--- Last week, The Fed finally messaged some news that business leaders have been eager to see for quite some time: interest rate cuts in the U.S. are coming soon. According to SEMAFOR : "Some banks have been pushing for a half-point cut, which they say could stimulate dealmaking on Wall Street. Most economists think that’s unlikely. They largely expect the Fed will start cutting rates in September, but 60% predict a small cut of a quarter of a percentage point." The Fed will conduct the next rate-setting meeting on September 17th & 18th. Read more here .

--- The SCN team would like to invite you to participate in a new initiative, conducted in partnership with our friends at RateLinx : the 1st annual Transportation Management Technology Survey. Help us uncover industry challenges and influence technological advancements by participating. Plus, you'll be able to gain valuable insights, as all survey participants will receive the full 2024 TM Tech Report in October. Complete the survey via this link . We thank you in advance for serving as a critical component of our research.

--- We'd like to congratulate our WTS Trivia winners from last week: Sasha Fox and Joel Adam. They both had correct responses on our question related to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" album that was released in August 1986. Today's trivia question: famed director Tim Burton, whose hits include "Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure", "Beetlejuice", "Batman" & many others, was born today, August 25th, back in 1958. But where was Burton born? First reader to share the correct answer in the comments will win a Starbucks gift card.

--- Want to learn more about Supply Chain Now programming? Check it out: https://linktr.ee/Supplychainnow

LOGISTICS WITH PURPOSE: Ever wondered how logistics shapes our daily lives? From the everyday essentials to global breakthroughs, logistics is the backbone of our world. Join us on a journey to explore the impact of logistics, the stories behind the scenes, and the passion that drives our industry forward. Check out this new video from our friends at Vector Global Logistics & discover the power of #LogisticsWithPurpose: https://bit.ly/4dyQ7mH

GREAT RESOURCE: Join Netstock 's webinar to uncover insights from their industry-first 2024 Inventory Management Benchmark Report. Learn how global trends, benchmarks, and actionable strategies can optimize inventory planning, reduce supplier risk, embrace AI opportunities, and more! https://bit.ly/4dVbuyf ?

DOMESTIC FREIGHT MARKET: The U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index for Q2 2024 was released recently, offering up actionable insights and valuable data from across the freight market, like this nugget: "For the first time since the second quarter of 2022, three of the five regions reported increases in quarterly shipment volumes, which might indicate that the freight market may be nearing its bottom." Download a free copy: https://bit.ly/scn-us-bank

Check out these resources, tools & perspectives from across the SCN ecosystem:

--- In Spring 2024, Appalachian State University and SPARQ360 teamed up to gauge the perspective of supply chain managers in a wide ranging set of topics related to supply chain and sustainability. The results of this research resulted in more than 100 pages of statistical analysis. Their teams have combed through the data and have published some of the key takeaways here: Download the Summary of “2024 Supply Chain Trends and Attitudes” . Also, check out the on-demand replay of a conversation that offers an interesting analysis of this research, where Scott hosts Dr. Dinesh Dave` and Evan Junker, MBA, PCM : click here

--- In a recent SCN blog post, we recognize "New Kids on the Block: Three Voices Transforming the Supply Chain" and share perspective on: Pierre Garreau, PhD , Michael Ciatto & Travis Downs . Learn more here . And what new voices have you been intrigued by in recent weeks?

--- Scott & the SCN team will be attending and speaking at Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics in February 2025. In fact, one hundred and fifty of the most influential leaders across end-to-end supply chain and logistics, twenty percent of which are?CSCOs, COOs and CPOs from the largest shippers in the world, are all taking the stage at Manifest Vegas, being held at The Venetian, February 10th - February 12th, 2025. Register now to join us & save $200 on your All-Access Manifest Vegas attendee pass (that's $1000 off the on-site price)! Learn more about Manifest 2025 here .

--- From our friends at The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) : We invite you to join us in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 28 - October 31, 2024, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the AME International Conference. Learn more about the Conference here .

--- Speaking of manufacturing dynamos, the SCN team would like to give a big shout out to our co-host Allison Giddens for being named by Women In Technology (WIT) as a nominee for the 2024 Women of the Year Awards within Small/Emerging (up to 250 employees) organizations. Congrats to Allison and all nominees! Learn more here .

--- Have you signed up for SCTECH 2024 yet? Hosted by Jorge A. Morales and our friends at ISCEA -International Supply Chain Education Alliance and taking place in October 2024, this year's theme is "Facing Supply Chain Challenges in the AI Age". We still have scholarships available for those in need, especially for Veterans, students & others. Learn more here OR check out the event site here: https://www.sctechshow.com/

--- Are you in the market looking for technology-focused courses, training & coaching that will take your career to the next level? SCN co-host Vin Vashishta and his team offer all sorts of expert instruction on a wide variety of topics, such as Data & AI Strategy, AI Product Management, Strategic Executive Leadership and much more. In fact, 3 of Vin's best-selling courses are currently being offered at almost half off (learn more here ). Check out why Koo Ping Shung says "Vin has one of the sharpest business instincts when it comes to using AI for business, including capabilities building. :)” Learn more about Vin & his team's offerings via their website here .

MONDAY AT NOON: Join us for a new episode of "The Buzz", where Scott & Marty Parker will share news & analysis from across global industry. We'll also feature a special guest: Kristi Porter with Vector Global Logistics , who will give us an update on the ongoing "Leveraging Logistics for Ukraine" initiative, amongst other things. Join us: https://bit.ly/3XgqMYR

TUESDAY AT NOON: Join SCN hosts Scott Luton & Kimberly Reuter as they welcome in special guests John DeSarbo and Bharathi K Shankar from ZS to explore how industry leaders are capitalizing on uncertainty by building agility into their operations, rethinking traditional approaches to supply chain management, and utilizing AI and advanced analytics to uncover opportunities to capitalize on changing market dynamics. Register now: https://bit.ly/3ACNYYB

THURSDAY AT NOON: Join us for an intriguing discussion on the evolving air cargo industry. Scott Luton & Kim Reuter will be joined by Sean Francisco with Apex Logistics International . We'll share insights on how businesses can capitalize on new opportunities in this dynamic market. As we all probably know, the air cargo sector has undergone significant transformations since the pandemic. In this livestream, we'll delve into the current state of the industry, explore post-pandemic shifts, and offer actionable advice for businesses of all sizes. Register now: https://bit.ly/3XiMhbC

SEPTEMBER 5th AT 12 NOON: Join us for a special LIVE conversation that will offer proven best practices, expertise and perspective for marketing teams, especially those that serve the greater supply chain industry. Scott will co-host the session, along with industry dynamo Adam Robinson , CEO of The Robinson Agency . We'll also have a couple of extraordinary business leaders that will share parts of their professional journey, as well as critical insights from countless marketing campaigns: Elaine Benfield and Gale Daikoku . As you prepare for a successful close to 2024 and are getting ready for an even bigger 2025, join the conversation and bring your perspective as well: https://bit.ly/46QMdml

Check out a few of our favorite recent SCN episodes on YouTube:

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