Glimpses of the Future

“I like to tell people that "free returns" & "free shipping" happen to live in the same neighborhood with Santa Claus, Bigfoot and the Easter Bunny.” --- Daniel Stanton , aka Mr. Supply Chain & author of the popular book "Supply Chain Management for Dummies"

Good Saturday afternoon all and welcome to this edition, No. 106, of "With That Said" (WTS), an almost-weekly newsletter powered by your friends here at Supply Chain Now. Today's edition is sponsored by our friends over at Vector Global Logistics .

Our friend Enrique Alvarez was in Seoul earlier this year, representing Vector Global Logistics at the Homeless World Cup , one of their main charity partners. This incredible event highlights the transformative power of sport, bringing players together to compete, heal, and rebuild their lives. Vector’s video from the tournament captures the heart of this movement: resilience, hope, and connection in action. Learn more about the amazing work of the Homeless World Cup and consider supporting their mission here. Together, we can help foster meaningful change.

Let's share a few perspectives from across the SCN ecosystem:

--- Harold Sinnott recently shared a few thoughts about an exciting new tool: "On December 9, 2024, OpenAI announced Sora, a groundbreaking text-to-video generation tool as part of its “12 Days of OpenAI” event. Sora represents a bold step into the future of AI-driven multimedia, enabling users to generate videos from text prompts, animate static images, and even remix existing videos. With its advanced capabilities and user-friendly features, Sora is set to revolutionize the way individuals and businesses create and share video content." Read more here from Harold.

--- Helen Yu offered up a few bold predictions for 2025 earlier this week. This was our favorite: "Nuclear-powered #DataCenters emerge: By 2025, we could see the rise of nuclear-powered data centers, which would provide a sustainable and reliable energy source to meet the growing demands for data storage and processing. These data centers would help alleviate the strain on the energy grid and reduce the carbon footprint of the digital economy, promoting a greener, more resilient future for tech infrastructure." Read all five of Helen's 2025 predictions here.

--- Speaking of 2025, Theodora Lau shared a few trends to make sure are on your radar for the months ahead. She sums them up as so: "[1] Agentic AI will transform your business—but first you must reskill your people. [2] Despite efforts to slow its growth, technical debt continues to increase. [3] In the age of AI, location is everything. [4] The rapid pivot to AI has upended IT budgets, but self-funding is imminent. [5] AI product and service innovation is the Number 1 goal for CEO, yet business models aren’t keeping up." Read more from Theo and the IBM Institute for Business Value : click here.

--- In his latest "Good News" message, Scott Luton shares a critical lesson learned from his rescue hound Ruby: "Here in the holiday season and the end-of-the-year, there is plenty of stress, pressure, anxiety and loss that many may be experiencing. To be able to turn away from the triggers, even if only temporarily, to find a therapeutic sense of inner peace, warmth, light & placidity - - that sure does seem like a best practice worth intentionally instilling into our daily routines, doesn't it? Emails, bills, meetings, chores, etc - - they can all wait. And they are all meaningless anyway if we don't take the time to take care of ourselves and those that we love." Read in full and see a video of ol' Ruby here.

--- On the latest edition of "Whiteboard Wisdom", Scott interviews the one & only Vin Vashishta and they delve into five crucial things CEOs must know about artificial intelligence. Vin, a seasoned AI advisor, published author and CEO of V Squared, shares his extensive knowledge on defining transformation, the big picture of AI platforms, foundational models, the current capabilities of generative AI, and the future of simulations. This insightful discussion is packed with practical advice and forward-looking strategies to help business leaders navigate the evolving landscape of AI. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's leading experts. Check out the full episode here on YouTube.

--- Constantine Limberakis recently shared a somewhat contrarian take on the current state of technology in procurement & supply chain. One thought from the read: "Consider this: user-centricity has always been the goal. Since the early days of enterprise software, the holy grail has been creating systems for users to engage better with tech. The difference now lies in the tools at our disposal, not the ambition itself. From green screens to GUI, GUI to Web-Based Interface, Web to Mobile, Mobile to Touch, Touch to Responsive & Adaptive, etc., the intent remains to help users work faster, better, and smarter. What’s changed is the scale and sophistication of what “easy to use” means, but the core challenge is unchanged. This will always be a priority on every survey and stat." Read the rest of Dino's take here.

--- LATEST SCN BLOG ARTICLE: Global trade practitioners face waves of uncertainty with the possibilities of slews of international tariffs and work stoppages at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. There are other weighty challenges as well, including conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East, increasingly dangerous storms, and seasonal capacity strains and congestion. Technology plays an increasingly important role in overcoming the many challenges in the global supply chain.?In this blog article, SCN highlights e2open, WCAworld, and DP World, three companies continually working on innovative solutions to global trade’s most pressing challenges. Read in full here.

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

REIMAGINING SUPPLY CHAIN: Curious how Johnson & Johnson is driving end-to-end value with OMP ? Discover key insights from Agathe Blanchard, Director of Integrated Business Planning, on how J&J's digital transformation is driving business growth. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gz6LUd

You just can't miss this conversation

As billions of dollars of goods move through the global supply chain, freight operators are facing waves of thefts that are forcing them to rethink their approach to cargo security and loss prevention. With the average cargo theft reaching nearly $300,000 – and incidents increasing by as much as 50% in the past year – many operators are realizing that it’s not enough to add some security and technology and call it a day.

On a recent webinar, Supply Chain Now hosts Scott Luton and Tevon E. Taylor recently dove into this complex situation and spoke with industry experts on how to minimize risk and safeguard logistics operations. Top of mind is finding the right technology solutions that can provide real-time monitoring to enhance awareness, ensure business continuity and protect carriers and service partners.

The technology won’t be very effective in isolation, however. It’s critical to align technology with strong industry partners who can assess vulnerabilities and create security plans based on real-time tracking and monitoring, as well as their knowledge of global security issues.

“A key part of awareness needs to be the realization that it's bigger than what you can do inside your four walls,” says Michael C. , Chief Commercial Officer with Highway , a leading technology provider specializing in Carrier Identity solutions for freight brokers. “You have to work with partners that are adaptive to each situation and are monitoring situations in real-time and committed to owning the outcome.”

Awareness throughout the freight movement process is also important for supporting business continuity as it helps identify issues early and can lead to quicker action. “Real-time temperature monitoring can be critical in identifying movement in cargo areas, for example, where an operator might be moving extra goods in a trailer without authorization or walking through a pharmaceutical area that was supposed to be a sterile environment,” said Richie Daigle , Enterprise Account Executive with Tive , a technology solutions company providing end-to-end supply chain and logistics monitoring.

Managing the carrier relationship is also important as it involves understanding and monitoring the carrier’s capabilities, performance and systems throughout the transportation system. By establishing solid industry relationships and taking control of the freight tracking decisions, companies can minimize business risks and avoid being a cargo theft victim.

View the on-demand version of the webinar here for more tips on preventing cargo theft and safeguarding logistics operations.

PARTNER UP: "Consulting Strategies for Warehouse Distribution Operations" is a new strategy guide from our friends at Bastian Solutions . Learn the importance of distribution integration consultants, how to create a roadmap for success and a lot more. Download now! https://hubs.ly/Q02-Xc9f0

REBATE TRENDS: From Mark Gilham & our friends at Enable, discover insights from hundreds of manufacturers and distributors: 26% don’t assess rebate effectiveness, and 43% see rebates as a necessary evil. Curious about more? Read the full "State of Volume Rebates 2025 Report" now! Download here: https://bit.ly/3D06sn0

Outstanding new podcast recently launched

You may have caught Karen Betancourt 's appearance on an episode of "The Buzz" earlier this year. She is a savvy executive that has spent time in leadership roles with companies such as Amazon & Walmart. Karen has just launched an exceptional podcast series entitled: "Business Casuals".

In the first episode, she interviews Phaedra Boinodiris , IBM Consulting ’s Global Leader for Trustworthy AI. They discuss the ethical challenges of generative AI, balancing innovation with responsibility, and how businesses can navigate AI’s transformative potential while maintaining trust, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making. Check out the full conversation here via YouTube.

In a subsequent show, Karen sits down with our own Scott W. Luton, Founder & CEO of Supply Chain Now. Together, they dive into the intersection of media, supply chain innovation, and the challenges of staying competitive in the age of Amazon.

From hyper-local fulfillment to personalized service and sustainable practices, Scott offers actionable strategies for small businesses to carve out their niche in a competitive market. Drawing on their extensive backgrounds, Karen and Scott share their perspectives on resilience and agility as essential tools for navigating the rapid pace of industry change.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the role of media, the future of supply chain, and expert advice for emerging leaders: watch on YouTube here.

Business-Casuals is a provocative and insightful podcast that dives deep into the intersections of business, technology, and innovation. Hosted by seasoned executive Karen Betancourt, the show explores the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping industries today, from the rise of Gen-AI to sustainable supply chains and leadership in the digital age.

SUPPLY CHAIN REAL ESTATE: In need of warehouse space in the hot markets of El Paso and/or Fort Worth, Texas? Tevon E. Taylor & the Pegasus Logistics Group team have over 200k square feet of available space in El Paso, conveniently located 5 miles from the Ysleta Port of Entry; and 300k+ square feet of temperature controlled space available near the intermodal facility for BNSF, Alliance Airport for FedEx cargo, and DFW for UPS and other airlines. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3YrNrki

Join us LIVE Monday on "The Buzz" at 12 noon ET

You know what time it is! Come join us on our weekly news journey with hosts Scott Luton and Tandreia Bellamy on "The Buzz". Explore some of the top supply chain & business news of the week on Monday, December 16th at 12 noon ET / 6 pm CET and dive into discussions that go beyond the surface. Stay tuned for appearances by special industry guests and business leaders, ensuring you’re always in the loop with News That Matters.

On Monday, 12/16, it is the last edition of "The Buzz" for 2024. We are excited to welcome special guest Brandon Daniels, CEO of Exiger. Brandon will be offering his perspective on some of the top stories of the week, as well as sharing about Exiger's noble mission to help eradicate the world of modern slavery. Join us on LinkedIn here: https://bit.ly/3ZWWrQA

Will we see you at Manifest 2025 in Las Vegas in February?

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: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics in February 2025. This 4th annual event has created a lot of buzz out across industry.

Scott Luton will be hosting an intriguing panel session focused on the topic of: "Unlocking True End-to-End Visibility: A Key to Exception-Based Planning Success".

Manifest Vegas is being held at The Venetian, February 10th - February 12th, 2025. Learn more about Manifest 2025 & register here.

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