Supply Chain Now

In this episode of The Buzz, we break down rising cargo theft, global supply chain disruptions, and the growing gap in AI readiness—plus what it all means for leaders trying to stay ahead—welcome to The Buzz, powered by DOSS!
Hosts Scott Luton and Yaseen Ahmid break down major forces shaping today’s supply chains—from geopolitical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and its ripple effects on fuel, fertilizer, and costs, to a surprising gap in AI readiness where most employees can’t apply what they’ve learned. Joined by Danny Ramon, the conversation dives into the rapid rise of cargo theft, how increasingly sophisticated criminal networks are exploiting digital systems and documentation, and why high-demand goods are more vulnerable than ever. This episode delivers clear, real-world insight into where supply chains are most exposed right now—and what leaders must do to stay ahead.
Cargo theft is rising fast—with continued double-digit growth and increasing sophistication
Criminal networks are exploiting digital gaps, paperwork fraud, and fragmented systems
High-demand, easily resold goods (electronics, food, clothing) are top theft targets
Global disruptions (fuel, fertilizer, shipping routes) are driving widespread cost increases
AI training is falling short—most employees can’t apply it to real workflows
Visibility—not just technology—is the key to reducing supply chain risk
Economic pressure and global instability are accelerating both disruption and theft

If you want to understand where supply chains are most vulnerable right now—and how to stay ahead of rising risk, disruption, and complexity—this episode is a must-listen. The leaders who prioritize visibility, adaptability, and real execution won’t just survive this environment—they’ll outperform it.

Additional Links & Resources:
DOSS: https://www.doss.com/
With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-19April2026
National Supply Chain Day: https://bit.ly/NSCD-2026
Gartner Supply Chain Symposium: https://gtnr.it/48hXcap
Luna: https://luna-resume.com/
Live updates: Pakistan prepares for upcoming peace talks despite US seizure of Iranian cargo ship: https://bit.ly/4sPRXq3
What to know about CBP’s tariff refund process launching Monday: https://bit.ly/Tariff-Refunds
Why AI readiness training fails: https://bit.ly/AI-Readiness-Training
The KitKat heist exposed a confectionery crime crisis: https://bit.ly/Kit-Kats-Stolen
United States 2025 Annual Cargo Theft Report: https://bit.ly/42j8wja
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Overhaul: https://www.over-haul.com/
Danny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-ramon-97472855/
Yaseen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaseen-ahmid/
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
WEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKp
WEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfB
WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3b
WEBINAR- How “Almost Right” Shipping Decisions Turn Into Six-Figure Losses: https://bit.ly/4mMov2T

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Yaseen Ahmid, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/the-buzz-cargo-theft-ai-gaps-rising-risk-1575

Speed has long dominated the conversation in shipping, but today’s reality tells a different story. In a volatile and unpredictable environment, success comes down to smarter decisions, not just faster deliveries.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Tevon Taylor are joined by Lori Boyer, Head of Content Marketing at EasyPost and host of Unboxing Logistics. Together, they break down what’s really driving shipping challenges today, from fragmented consumer demand to rising costs hidden in accessory fees, packaging inefficiencies, and routing decisions rather than just carrier rate increases.
The discussion highlights how demand has become less predictable, with promotion-driven spikes creating operational strain and forcing reactive, costly decisions. At the same time, customer expectations have shifted. Cost, reliability, visibility, and accuracy now matter more than speed, pushing companies to rethink how they design their shipping strategies.
Lori also shares how leading teams are responding by improving visibility, aligning service levels with customer needs, and using AI to support faster, data-driven decisions. This episode offers a practical look at how organizations can reduce costs, adapt to uncertainty, and build more resilient and efficient shipping operations.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(07:08) State of consumer demand
(10:07) Rising costs and volatility
(16:02) Do customers really value speed?
(21:34) The role of artificial intelligence in the supply chain
(25:16) Utilizing correct data before solving other problems
(27:51) Aligning service level with customer expectations
(32:25) About EasyPost
(34:21) About unboxing logistics
(36:01) Where sustainability comes in
(39:09) LLMs and shipping: What teams are already doing, with or without permission
Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Lori Boyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/
Learn more about EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/
Learn more about Tevon Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tevontaylor/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
WEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfB
WEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKp
WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3b

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/uncertain-times-skittish-customers-impact-shipping-costs-1574

Most people don’t think about supply chain until something goes wrong. But behind the scenes, it drives everything from sustainability progress to whether products even make it to your door.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now and ongoing Now Generation series, Scott W. Luton is joined by Professor Catarina Carvalho, faculty member at Columbia University and Associate Principal at Arup, alongside Briana Stregiel from Columbia Business School, Curran Murphy, Distribution Planning Manager at Louis Vuitton, and Ingrid Eck, Graduate Student, M.S. in Sustainability Management at Columbia University. Together, they share how the next wave of supply chain leaders is already tackling complex challenges across sustainability, data, and global operations.
The conversation highlights how diverse backgrounds, from luxury fashion and food systems to natural gas trading, help students bridge classroom learning to real global challenges. Topics such as decarbonization, scope 3 emissions, climate risk, and cross-functional collaboration take center stage as each guest shares what drives them most. Their perspectives reveal a generation that is not only career-focused but deeply motivated to create meaningful change.
Catarina also shares insights into how Columbia's program intentionally develops well-rounded leaders by bridging academic rigor with hands-on, real-world practitioner expertise. This episode offers a glimpse of how the next generation is approaching the supply chain with curiosity, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(02:05) Meet the panel: Professor Catarina Carvalho and students
(06:26) Student backgrounds, studies, and personal hobbies
(18:30) What each guest loves most about the global supply chain
(27:06) What will define the best supply chain leaders in 5 years
(27:17) Briana: Transparency and closing the Scope 3 emissions gap
(29:34) Catarina: Supply chain accounts for 94% of your emissions
(37:30) The Columbia University student experience
(52:37) Wise organization, closing thoughts, and how to connect
Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Catarina Carvalho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catarina--carvalho/
Connect with Curran Murphy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curranjmurphy/
Connect with Briana Stregiel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briana-stregiel/
Connect with Ingrid Eck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-eck
Learn more about Arup: https://www.arup.com/
Learn more about Columbia University: https://www.columbia.edu/
Learn more about Columbia Business School: https://business.columbia.edu/
Learn more about WISE by The University of Arkansas: https://walton.uark.edu/departments/supplychain/wise.php
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
WEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfB
WEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKp
WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3b

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/now-generation-columbia-university-fueling-top-talent-pipeline-1573

In this episode of The Buzz, we unpack the latest manufacturing signals, leadership priorities, and the growing impact of AI—plus a candid look at corporate jargon and why clarity matters more than ever—welcome to The Buzz, powered by DOSS!
Hosts Scott Luton and Billy Ray Taylor dive into March manufacturing data showing modest growth and improving job trends, while also highlighting ongoing cost pressures and global disruptions. From there, the conversation shifts to what’s really on the minds of business leaders today—uncertainty, decision-making challenges, and the widening gap between strategy and execution. This episode delivers practical, real-world perspectives on how organizations can move forward with confidence.
Key Learnings & Takeaways:
Manufacturing momentum is steady—but fragile with growth signals tempered by inflation and disruption
Today’s labor market = “low hire, low fire” driven by uncertainty and hesitation
AI isn’t transforming your business—it’s exposing it (data gaps, inefficiencies, misalignment)
Execution beats strategy—most companies don’t fail from bad plans, but poor follow-through
KPIs vs. KPAs—why actions (not just metrics) drive real performance
Corporate jargon can damage performance by masking clarity and weakening decision-making
Great leadership = clarity, standards, and accountability, not buzzwords

Bottom line: In today’s complex environment, leaders who prioritize execution, clarity, and honest communication will separate themselves from the pack—and drive real results.

Additional Links & Resources:
DOSS: https://www.doss.com/
National Supply Chain Day: https://bit.ly/NSCD-2026
AME Lean Summit: https://bit.ly/AME-Lean-Summit-2026
Manufacturing employment bounces back in March, adding 15K jobs: https://bit.ly/Mfg-Data-March-2026
Corporate jargon is more than buzzwords. It’s ‘bulls--t.’ https://bit.ly/The-Dangers-of-Corporate-BS
Gartner Supply Chain Symposium: https://gtnr.it/48hXcap
The Winning Link: https://amzn.to/4e0UPfS
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
LinkedXL: https://linkedxl.com/
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
WEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfB
WEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKp
WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3b

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Billy Ray Taylor and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-from-data-decisions-why-execution-wins-todays-supply-chain-1572

Warehouses have become one of the most important battlegrounds in modern supply chain.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by industry leaders Lance Olmsted, Chief Revenue Officer at IFS, and Patrick Maley, Chief Revenue Officer at IFS Softeon, to explore why warehouse execution now plays a much bigger strategic role across the business. As customer expectations rise and supply chains face more pressure to move faster, they explain how companies are rethinking the warehouse as a source of speed, flexibility, and competitive advantage.
The conversation covers how real-time visibility, modern warehouse systems, and industrial AI can help teams make better decisions, respond faster to disruptions, and close the gap between planning and execution. Lance and Patrick also share their perspective on where warehouse operations are headed next and why adaptability will be critical moving forward.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(03:54) IFS acquires Softeon: what happened
(07:34) Why warehouses became a strategic lever
(09:31) Biggest pressures: AI adoption & tariffs
(18:22) Closing the gap between planning and execution
(20:36) Real-time visibility and faster decision-making
(22:30) Industrial AI defined & applied in warehouses
(29:05) Real-world operational improvements & customer examples
(37:10) The warehouse of the next 3–5 years
Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Lance Olmsted: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-olmsted-98708568/
Connect with Patrick Maley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmaley/
Learn more about IFS: https://www.ifs.com/en
Learn more about IFS Softeon: https://www.softeon.com/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
WEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfB
WEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKp
WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3b