Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean explore the evolving landscape of last-mile delivery, highlighting the impact of consumer expectations and technological advancements. They are joined by Nate Skiver, Founder of LPF Spend Management, who shares insights into the demand side and evolution of parcel services, and Bill Catania, the CEO of OneRail, who discusses how technology is helping retailers streamline their last-mile delivery solutions and optimize operations for both shippers and carriers.

Key topics discussed:

• Challenges and opportunities in last-mile delivery, including the shift from traditional delivery models to carrier diversification for maximizing efficiency
• The influence of Amazon and Walmart on consumer demand and expectations for faster, more reliable delivery
• How retailers are adapting their strategies to meet the rising demand for same-day and next-day services
• The role of AI and technology in optimizing delivery routes, predicting supply and demand, and driving business growth and innovation

Additional Resources:

Follow Nate Skiver on LinkedIn

Follow Bill Catania on LinkedIn

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Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean examine the evolving landscape of logistics and investment in innovation within the supply chain sector. They engage with Will O'Donnell, Managing Partner at Prologis Ventures, who shares insights into the venture investment landscape and emerging technologies reshaping logistics. Later, Mike Griffin, President of Razor Logistics, shares how private equity investment has unlocked new growth and collaboration opportunities for his team.

Key topics discussed:

• Challenges and opportunities in strategic investments in supply chain technology and sustainable infrastructure
• The impact of post-COVID economic shifts and funding constraints on logistics tech investments - McKinsey reports a 90% drop in logistics startup funding in 2023 (1)
• AI’s potential to increase supply chain efficiency through better data connectivity, facilitating predictive insights and improving the decision-making process
• The importance of sustainable logistics solutions, including green materials and renewable energy sources

Links:

Follow Will O'Donnell on LinkedIn

Follow Mike Griffin on LinkedIn

McKinsey Report (1)

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Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean kick off season two with a deep dive into the current logistics landscape and macroeconomic trends. Dr. Zac Rogers, Associate Professor at Colorado State University, discusses the Logistics Managers' Index (LMI), a key tool for monitoring the industry's performance and predicting future trends. Meanwhile, Dr. John Min, Macroeconomics Professor at Northern Virginia, offers insights into broader economic conditions, discussing the resilience of the U.S. economy, the impact of tariffs, and the ongoing shifts in global trade dynamics.

Key topics discussed:

• How the LMI helps in predicting logistics trends and the state of the economy
• The end of the freight recession and the anticipated recovery of transportation demand
• The global impact of protectionist policies and tariffs on supply chains
• The growing reliance on AI to forecast logistics trends

Recorded in Aug 2024

Links:

Learn more about the Logistics Managers' Index

Access GPDNow

Follow Zac Rogers on LinkedIn

Follow John Min on LinkedIn

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Ongoing disruptions. Rising complexities. New opportunities. Season 2 of the Logistics Leadership Podcast dives deeper into the critical issues shaping today’s supply chain landscape. Hosted by Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean, this season features expert insights, discussions on the latest logistics innovations, and actionable strategies that supply chain leaders need to thrive in a rapidly evolving environment.

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Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean (Flexe Sr. Director of Network Strategy & Optimization) conclude season one of the Logistics Leadership Podcast and highlight key moments and conversations. They discuss how to prepare supply chains for uncertainty, evolve to meet strategic goals and continuously optimize to improve outcomes.

Some of the topics explored:

• How to build agility into the forecasting process and prepare for disruption
• Evolving omnichannel supply chains to create great customer experiences
• Test-and-learn approaches to optimize supply chains

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Karl Siebrecht and Ben Dean (Flexe Sr. Director of Network Strategy & Optimization) consider the future of logistics and reflect on past guests’ supply chain predictions. They examine trends from digitization to rising consumer expectations to the cyclical nature of the logistics industry.

Some of the topics explored:

• The cycle of supply and demand in logistics
• The benefits created by the digitization of supply chains
• Why supply chain leaders focus on customers, costs, and carbon
• The future of supply chain innovation, infrastructure and agility

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Jon Schechter (VP of Fulfillment Solutions, AutoStore) joins Karl to discuss robotics and warehouse automation. Listen in to learn about the acceleration of robotics in the past decade, automation challenges and how great people and processes accelerate ROI. Then hear from Jordan Lawrence (Flexe Director of Logistics Strategy) and Ben Dean (Flexe Sr. Director of Network Strategy & Optimization) as they discuss the rapid growth of warehousing and automation solutions, automation’s ROI and future innovations in the space.

Some of the topics explored:

• The rapid acceleration of robotics over the past decade
• The benefits of automation, from maximizing space to meeting customer SLAs
• How investments in automation intersect with 2024 labor trends
• How great people and processes accelerate robotics ROI

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Rob Garrison (Managing Director, WiseTech Global) joins Karl to discuss global onshoring and nearshoring trends. Listen in to learn about three nearshoring approaches, the intersection of innovation and nearshoring, and what industries may benefit. Then hear from George Holland (VP of Business Development, JT Logistic), Jordan Lawrence (Flexe Director of Logistics Strategy) and Ben Dean (Flexe Sr. Director of Network Strategy & Optimization) as they discuss supply chain bottlenecks, hybrid nearshoring strategies and new solutions over the next decade.

Some of the topics explored:

• Post-pandemic trends and supply chain bottlenecks
• Three approaches to nearshoring and their strengths and weaknesses
• The intersection of technology, innovation and nearshoring
• Industries interested in nearshoring strategies
• How nearshoring increases supply chain resilience

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