Unless existing players in logistics change their outlook on technology, it’s going to be difficult to compete with disruptors like Uber or Amazon. The basis of Uber’s ability to disrupt markets is their investment in sophisticated cloud-based information networks that enhance visibility and enable optimization. Companies that embrace the future will look at how to get their systems in the cloud, agile, and connected.

This podcast features Leela Rao-Kataria discussing her viewpoints around what changes consumers can expect to see in 2016. She combines highlights collected from the RILA conference, journals and articles, as well as retail studies to hone in on the retail landscape and what actions Target, Lucky Brand Jeans, and Amazon are taking to understand their consumers and pioneer a new retail way.

Data has changed the way we deal with finance. As consumers, it’s placed information about our transactions, habits, and histories at our fingertips. And in the world of supply chain finance, it’s having an even bigger effect: creating healthy, sustainable, ethical suppliers who can deliver goods to buyers reliably.

If it can happen to Toyota, it can happen to anyone. A recent explosion of a steel furnace in eastern Japan is going to set Toyota's production back by 30,000 fewer vehicles this year. Supply chain disruptions are a growing problem in today's globalized economy. They're frequent, they're unpredictable, and they come at the worst times possible. How will businesses cope?

This is the last episode of a three-part interview that Boris Felgendreher conducted with Mick Jones, former head of supply chain and logistics at Lenovo, the world’s largest PC maker. Mick talks about the intersection of a number of technology trends that will dramatically change the areas of logistics and supply chain in the next five years. From 3D printing and the Internet of Things to the role of data and how disruptive new business models will threaten the established players in the market – this interview covers a lot of ground and is full of great insights for everyone in the fields of manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and transportation.

Manufacturers anticipate major supply chain challenges and risks in 2016. Many factors are behind this, from internal ones like labor and technology issues, to unpredictable external forces like port strikes and natural disasters. Companies often fall into the trap of looking solely at cost cutting, instead of viewing their supply chains holistically, in order to mitigate the huge losses that come from disruptions. Listen to this podcast to find out how this disconnect often starts at the top level, where 76% of manufacturers operate entirely without a Chief Supply Chain Officer.

From flowers to candy to wine, Valentine’s Day is a $14 billion industry. Greg Kefer and Richard Barnett discuss some of the supply chain and logistics challenges retailers face during a major shopping holiday like Valentine’s Day in this podcast.

In part two of this three-part series, Boris Felgendreher interviews Mick Jones, who has held several senior-level positions in supply chain and logistics at Lenovo, the world’s largest PC maker. Mick talks about how he and his team navigated Lenovo’s supply chain through constantly changing market conditions and unexpected disruptions during a time of massive growth for the company. Mick’s insights on the importance of supply chain agility enabled by network-wide data sharing and analytics are especially usefully for Supply Chain Executives across all industries.

In part one of this three-part series, Insights from a Supply Chain Executive, Mick Jones, former head of supply chain management at Lenovo, reveals his fascinating route to leading one of the world's most prominent supply chains.

Greg Kefer and Richard Barnett discuss a recent Boston Consulting Group article on digital disruption in this podcast. Using the example of Amazon, BCG describes how three different waves of digital disruption have changed businesses and brought on a convergence of new capabilities. This provides a broader strategic map for how to orchestrate data with the broader supply chain to achieve new levels of agility, responsiveness, and time to market. BCG article: http://digitaldisrupt.bcgperspectives.com/

The world’s leading manufacturers face constant pressure to grow the business, protect margins and minimize risk. And the supply chain has increasingly been seen as a means to achieve these goals while gaining a strategic advantage in the race to win market share around the globe. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio we discuss the top trends and technologies that will lead the way in building faster, more agile, and responsive supply chains in the year ahead.

Although the vehicles are more advanced, the car buying experience is just about the same today as it was 10 years ago. However, consumer expectations have changed. Automakers are challenged to provide a high level of service in existing and emerging markets across the globe. Find out why they're struggling to keep up, and how finished vehicle logistics could revolutionize automakers' ability to meet demand.

The new Safety of Life at Sea Container Weight Verification Requirements will take effect soon. All packed containers will have to be verified and reported to the carrier and terminal before anything is loaded. Shippers and carriers have to be technologically prepared to provide documentation. Some carriers are taking steps to utilize an ecommerce platform to simplify the certification process. Listen to this podcast to find out how shippers, carriers, and terminals can prepare and collaborate to implement the new rules.

For the first time ever, Black Friday might not be the pinnacle of holiday shopping. Of course some retailers are pushing the envelope with excessive store hours and promotions. But many are reducing the emphasis on Black Friday for their own profitability, including innovators like REI who are closing their doors altogether.

The dynamics behind global trade have changed our traditional notions of import logistics and export logistics. Companies no longer just source from low-cost countries to sell at high margins domestically. Emerging markets, near-sourcing, and foreign franchises have shaken up where companies export to and how their supply chains are structured. Information flow, as much the physical flow of goods, is the key for businesses to manage this new complexity.

No matter what area of supply chain you’re in, there’s no hiding from the large shadow Amazon casts over the industry. Amazon’s recent innovations, Prime Now and Flex, focus on transforming last mile delivery to be even quicker and more convenient than ever before. How is Amazon consistently able to come up with radical solutions to longstanding problems? In this episode, we explore what it takes to develop revolutionary technological innovations for the supply chain.

On this very spooky episode of Supply Chain Radio, we peer into a dark tale of supply chain horror. The year, 1999. The time, Halloween. The plot, a large scale candy manufacturer is about to experience a supply chain nightmare of Frankensteinian proportions. Listen on, if you dare... Sound Effects and Music Used: Lightning - http://soundbible.com/2015-Thunder-Strike-1.html Wolf Howl - http://www.freesound.org/people/adrilahan/sounds/172652/ Heartbeat - http://soundbible.com/1001-Heartbeat.html Creaky Door - http://soundbible.com/1870-Sqeaking-Door.html Crowd Shouting - http://www.freesound.org/people/DickBlox/sounds/101871/ Woman Scream - http://www.freesound.org/people/sironboy/sounds/132106/ Grandfather Clock Ticking - http://www.freesound.org/people/Ryding/sounds/125968/ Grandfather Clock Chiming - http://www.freesound.org/people/ollyoldhoff/sounds/69976/ Maniacal Laugh - http://www.freesound.org/people/AP3850/sounds/221798/ Ghostly Moan - http://www.freesound.org/people/Billy_Storm/sounds/164285/ Zombies Eating - http://www.freesound.org/people/indieground/sounds/235799/ Scary and Eerie Sound - http://soundbible.com/1801-Scary-And-Eerie.html Dark Ambient Music 3 - http://www.freesound.org/people/Xanco123/sounds/233311/ Horror Soundscape - http://www.freesound.org/people/Headphaze/sounds/170653/ Dark Ambient - http://www.freesound.org/people/Zerynox/sounds/80556/

American Apparel is going bankrupt, and other retailers are likely to follow. What made this iconic brand become obsolete? There are a variety of reasons, but major blame is due to their inability to compete with fast fashion brands like Zara & H&M who are cannibalizing market share from most traditional retailers. Is there any way to flourish amidst the fast fashion brands? Find out in this podcast.

Data provides the visibility needed to make decisions. If the data isn’t clear, companies run into risk. In supply chain, it’s even harder working with a large network of suppliers all on different technology systems. But there is a very important shift in the way that this problem is being addressed – the concept of crowdsourcing on a networked platform to raise the overall quality of data. At the end of the day, data is not a magic light switch, it’s a critical ongoing investment.

The alarming findings resulting from a 5,000 person survey, highlighting the frequency with which customers faced stock-outs and their reaction to it, is discussed in this podcast. Stock-outs are prolific and consistent across the globe, and retailers need to deploy technology solutions that will eliminate them to preserve excellent customer experience.

Pragmatic examples of supply chain innovation show how data-minded employees created quantifiable results.

The relationship between a buyer and a seller in the direct supply chain is a delicate balance. Communications have shifted from paper-based to web-based portals, and now include a more sophisticated exchange of data. It’s shortsighted to think of suppliers merely as vendors. Instead, a more robust strategy is to think of them as partners in a network.

Reading might seem like a luxury sometimes, but ideas and innovation can come from a variety of inspiring sources. From Elon Musk to TED Talks, here are five books sure to stimulate the minds of supply chain professionals.

Manufacturing might be moving all over the world but now production facilities are popping up in the most remote parts of the globe. Hear about why manufacturers are setting up shop in places like northern Russia and what challenges they bring.

From self-ordering inks to push-button detergent delivery, new technology is changing the way we buy goods. What might these innovations in the consumer space bring to the business world?