Blogs
Unlocking the Automated Economy through Digital Enablement
3 Interconnected Pillars of Change Can Drive Better Business Outcomes Today's era of perpetual disruption continually smashes traditional business models and ushers in new paradigms. The "automated economy" lies at the forefront of this economic transformation. What...
Free Trade Is Dead; Global Supply Chain Redesign Is Alive
Nearshoring, Friendshoring, Reshoring Carry Risks and Opportunities Any doubt that free trade has lost favor in political circles? Last week’s sweeping tariffs on everything from Chinese steel to electric vehicles should end that conversation. I have been saying it...
The Right Competitive Edge Boosts eCommerce Profitability
Tales of Shipping Costs, Service Levels and Reverse Logistics Several brands are concluding that making a net profit via eCommerce is almost impossible. Fulfillment costs can eat into 20% – or more – of your revenues. Startup and other operational expenses can be...
Future of Work Might Require Rethinking Office Location
Your Team Members Hate Commuting More Than They Love Your Office The last few years have ushered in a seismic shift in how we work. Remote and hybrid options have become more popular with employees. Yet many bosses continue trying to lure, cajole and order remote...
For Hypergrowth, Cash Flow Often Beats Raising Capital
Supply Chain Financing Funds Operations, Limits Debt, Preserves Equity In the world of business, cash flow often beats capital. Especially if you're a small or medium business (SME) poised for hypergrowth. I talk to a lot of company leaders each week. And...
Adventure and Insights in the Dominican Republic
From Handshakes to Helicopter Rides to Logistics Hub Ideas, a Business Trip Like No Other … A week in the Dominican Republic – including a few hours in an associate’s helicopter – gave me even more insights into the country’s potential. You read that right. Steve...
Debunking Common Myths about Chief Supply Chain Officers
Navigating Complex Global Networks Outside Your Organization’s Walls What does a chief supply chain officer do? Seems simple enough, right? Your chief supply chain officer should take charge of your organization’s supply chain. That is … so wrong and limiting....
My Journey with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot
The Strengths and Limitations of 2 AI Tools that Enhance Productivity and Creativity I have been an enthusiastic booster of artificial intelligence for years, and an avid user of ChatGPT since it became publicly available. ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, which...
Innovation Trifecta Can Deliver Supply Chain Resiliency
Harnessing the Power of Visibility, Insightfulness and Actionability For decades, global supply chains have battled to develop the optionality necessary for supply chain resilience. Predictive analytics sometimes fail to predict too well. Natural disasters create...
Family-Friendly, Flexibility Redefine the Future of Work
Red Rooster Coffee, Bayer Prioritize Childcare, Cut Bureaucracy At long last, some companies are realizing that insightful leaders need to adopt a comprehensive reinvention of work for the future. For quite some time, I have been emphasizing two key changes. First,...
Supply Chain Consulting – When Discovery Misses the Mark
Your Client’s Level of Expertise Will Guide Your Solutions Supply chain consulting projects often tank during the initial discovery phase. Consultants assume their client knows about logistics, operations and supply chain dynamics. Not true. I’m an expert in supply...
Embracing Labor on Demand in Today’s VUCA World
Scaling Your Workforce, Decoupling Constraints Can Slice Manufacturing, Distribution Costs I’ve written many times about how VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) characterize today’s business environment....