Supply Chain Now

What should supply chain leaders be focused on as the second half of the year begins? This week's episode of The Buzz, powered by Zebra Technologies, delivers practical leadership advice, industry news, and expert insights to help organizations prepare for what's next.

Supply Chain Now hosts Scott Luton and Kim Reuter explore the supply chain stories making headlines, from July 4th supply chain facts and rising food costs to the growing impact of GLP-1 medications on cold chain logistics and healthcare distribution. They also discuss why now is the time for supply chain leaders to conduct a mid-year operational review and begin planning for peak season.

Later in the episode, Scott sits down with Todd Heimes, Vice President and General Manager of Amazon Business Worldwide, for an insightful conversation about AI, procurement transformation, automation, and Amazon Quick. Together, they discuss how organizations can reduce manual work, improve visibility, and use AI to build more agile procurement operations.

The episode wraps with predictions for the remainder of 2026, including rising transportation costs, ongoing geopolitical disruptions, cargo theft, and what leaders should do today to stay ahead.

Key Takeaways

Conduct a mid-year operational review to compare projections against actual performance.

Begin holiday and peak season planning now by partnering with marketing and merchandising teams.

AI is helping procurement teams shift from reactive operations to proactive decision-making.

GLP-1 medications are driving increased demand for sophisticated cold chain logistics.

Visibility, automation, and reducing manual processes remain critical priorities for supply chain leaders.

Organizations that embrace AI today will be better positioned to compete in the years ahead.

Whether you're leading procurement, transportation, operations, or supply chain strategy, this episode offers timely insights you can immediately apply. From practical leadership advice and emerging logistics trends to AI-powered procurement innovations, The Buzz delivers actionable conversations that help supply chain professionals stay informed and stay ahead.

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Todd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-heimes-854666/

Learn more about Amazon Business: https://business.amazon.com/

Prime Business Quick overview: https://business.amazon.com/en/blog/amazon-quick-prime-business-discount

Reshape 2026: https://business.amazon.com/en/events/reshape

Learn more about Zebra: https://www.zebra.com/machinevision

Check out Zebra's guide to Warehousing and Logistics Solutions: https://www.zebra.com/content/dam/zebra_dam/en/guide/portfolio/warehousing-and-logistics-solutions-guide-portfolio-en-us.pdf/?tactic_type=SPS&tactic_detail=TL_TheBuzzPodcast_Video_ENUS_NA

UPS to invest $48 million in temperature-controlled facilities amid healthcare boom: https://cnb.cx/4eDjwO1

The Sustainability Voice Missing From Most Boardrooms: https://bit.ly/Voice-Missing-on-Sustainability

U.S. watermelon production reached 3.7 billion pounds in 2024, with Florida leading output: https://www-tx.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/112972

Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/

Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

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://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- The Automotive Industry’s Next Digital Breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4vhUwT4

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Kim Reuter, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-amazon-business-glp-1-logistics-mid-year-supply-chain-leadership-pulse-check-1607

 

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The real problem isn't that organizations don't have resilience plans. It's that those plans sit on paper, never operationalized, never tested, until the next disruption forces their hand.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now's Never Normal series, Scott W. Luton is joined by regular Supply Chain Now hosts Karin Bursa, CEO of NIRAKIO, Scott DeGroot, Managing Director of the Global Supply Chain Institute at The University of Tennessee, and Jake Barr, CEO of BlueWorld Supply Chain Consulting, for a candid, experience-driven conversation on what it actually takes to lead through continuous disruption.

Drawing from decades of collective experience across manufacturing, consulting, and academia, the panel unpacks why the pace and amplitude of today's disruption demands a fundamentally different leadership model, one built on adaptive intelligence, structured decision frameworks, and cultures that reward learning over blame. From separating reversible decisions from irreversible ones, to building teams with cognitive flexibility, to understanding why perfection is the enemy of progress, the discussion cuts through the noise on what separates organizations that thrive from those that stall.

Together, they explore why supply chain deserves a permanent strategic seat at the C-suite table, why resilience must be woven into culture rather than sprinkled on top, and why the leaders of the next decade won't win with the best plans, they'll win with the best ability to diagnose, pivot, and execute when the plan expires.

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:41) Karin on trust, emotion, and the function of leadership

(05:41) Jake on developing people until they no longer need you

(07:33) Scott on self-improvement and not being self-righteous

(09:18) Is disruption truly permanent, or just faster and louder?

(14:12) Leading when you don't have all the answers: reversible vs. irreversible decisions

(14:12) Building confident decision frameworks under uncertainty

(17:20) Karin on confidence, clear frameworks, and trusting the process

(21:46) What separates organizations that adapt from those that stall

(22:34) Why perfection is the enemy of progress

(29:42) What resilience actually looks like inside a high-performing team

(33:01) You can't just sprinkle resilience on top, it has to be cultural

(35:19) What role does culture play in organizational resilience

(39:35) Geopolitical risk and its growing role in supply chain planning

(41:40) The new premium skills: cognitive flexibility, AI fluency, and storytelling

(48:39) What today's talent expects from their organizations and leaders

(51:25) One leadership trait that has never mattered more

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Karin Bursa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinbursa/

Connect with Jake Barr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-barr-3883501/

Connect with Scott DeGroot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-degroot-4600368/

Learn more about NIRAKIO: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nirakio/

Learn more about The University of Tennessee: https://haslam.utk.edu/

Learn more about BlueWorld Supply Chain Consulting: https://www.blueworldscc.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- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- The Automotive Industry’s Next Digital Breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4vhUwT4

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/never-normal-successful-leadership-age-constant-disruption-1606

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Healthcare supply chain technology is evolving rapidly, but systemic data fragmentation and operational inefficiencies are moving even faster. 

 

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Scott DeGroot are joined by Mark Holmes of InterSystems and Michael LaRocca of Ready Computing to discuss the shift from legacy networks to proactive, AI-driven decision intelligence.  

 

The panel explores the severe consequences of a 10% global surgery cancellation rate due to supply failures, noting that a single canceled orthopedic procedure can cost up to $250,000, while the human toll can be tragic. They address how a lack of visibility leads to duplicate data entry and supply hoarding, outlining a blueprint for a smart data fabric. By leveraging real-time telemetry and agentic AI, healthcare organizations can automate inventory replenishment and resolve disruptions before they impact care. Scott DeGroot concludes by challenging healthcare leaders to audit their tech stacks and bridge the gap between clinical and supply chain data.

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro 

(02:12) Meet InterSystems and Ready Computing leaders 

(08:28) Ready Computing's 15-year history of system connection 

(10:43) InterSystems' 48 years of mission-critical data tech 

(12:29) The life-or-death stakes of healthcare supply chains 

(17:29) Global surgery cancellations inflict severe financial penalties 

(21:13) Interoperability standards stitch disconnected databases together 

(24:43) The "swivel-chair effect" and supply chain hoarding 

(30:40) Supply Chain Orchestrator powers proactive data orchestration 

(34:45) Channels360 unifies case management and logistics workflows 

(40:11) Practical applications of RAG and agentic AI 

(55:16) Expanding rural healthcare infrastructure strains traditional supply lines

 

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Mark Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-s-holmes/

Connect with Michael LaRocca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlaroccaready

Connect with Scott DeGroot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-degroot-4600368/

Learn more about InterSystems: http://www.intersystems.com

Learn more about Ready Computing: https://readycomputing.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- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

 

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Scott DeGroot and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/how-readiness-drives-better-patient-outcomes-1605

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by APL Logistics, Scott Luton and Kim Reuter are joined by Edmund Zagorin, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Arkestro, for a timely conversation on the latest supply chain and business news shaping the second half of 2026.

From U.S. manufacturing trends and Prime Day consumer behavior to AI’s growing role in sourcing and supplier management, this episode explores how procurement is evolving from a cost-focused function into a strategic driver of resilience, speed, and value. Edmund shares practical insight into predictive procurement, why supplier relationships still matter in an AI-powered world, and how procurement leaders can prepare their teams for the future.

Key Takeaways

AI can support procurement teams, but humans still need to lead relationship-driven decisions.

Predictive procurement helps teams move from reactive buying to proactive supplier engagement.

Speed is becoming a major competitive advantage in uncertain supply chain environments.

Supplier relationships, long-term agreements, and guaranteed access are becoming more important than lowest cost.

Procurement teams must rethink how success is measured, moving from compliance to value creation.

Culture, people, and execution remain critical, even as technology continues to advance.

Tune in to hear how supply chain and procurement leaders can cut through today’s volatility, use AI more strategically, and build stronger supplier partnerships that drive real business value.

Additional Links & Resources:

APL Logistics: https://www.apllogistics.com/

With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-28-June-2026

AI Is Good at Picking Qualified Suppliers. It Still Struggles to Pick the Best One.https://bit.ly/AI-Study-in-Procurement-Sourcing

Venezuela Contacts: https://bit.ly/Venezuela-Contact-Gathering

Info Call: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HfnI1aaESm6Osbpb1qeADQ#/registration

Manufacturing grows at fastest rate since 2021 amid big job cuts: https://bit.ly/USA-Mfg-Activity-Increases

How Amazon Is Redefining Logistics and Fulfillment for Businesses of All Sizes: https://bit.ly/Peter-Larsen-ASCS

Amazon’s Prime Day kickoff was the biggest online shopping day of 2026: https://bit.ly/Prime-Day-2026

Big Tech Is Rewriting Procurement. The Rest of B2B Is Next: https://bit.ly/Rewriting-Procurement

Learn more about APL Logistics: https://www.apllogistics.com/responsibility/apll_fixes_the_gap

Arkestro: https://arkestro.com/

Your Supply Chain Isn’t Broken. Your Data Is.https://bit.ly/Your-Data-Is-Broken

Connect with Edmund on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmund-zagorin-41291b13/

Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/

Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Kim Reuter. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-why-procurement-becoming-strategic-advantage-1604

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most companies don't have a transportation problem. They have a management problem.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton, together with co-host Kim Humphrey, President and CEO of AME, is joined by Onu Okebie, CEO of HTL, for a straight-talking conversation on freight, entrepreneurship, and what it actually takes to build a logistics company from scratch in one of the most volatile markets in recent memory. From buying his first truck to completing five acquisitions in five years and growing HTL 15X, Onu brings a grounded, finance-first perspective to questions most operators avoid. Kim adds her continuous improvement lens to the mix, drawing connections between change management, organizational culture, and the kind of problem-solving mindset that separates companies that adapt from those that stall.

The conversation covers a lot of ground: how the freight recession really unfolded and what's actually driving the current shift in pricing, why transportation remains the most mismanaged cost on a shipper's P&L, where human judgment stays irreplaceable even as AI reshapes logistics, and what it looks like to build a company where entrepreneurial instinct and operational discipline coexist. If you're leading through change, thinking about growth through acquisition, or trying to figure out how to position your organization for what's coming next in freight and technology, this one is worth your time.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:44) Onu Okebie's background and entrepreneurial origins

(09:30) HTL's growth story and five acquisitions in five years

(16:27) Lessons from M&A and how people embrace change

(20:27) Balancing entrepreneurial culture with systems and scale

(24:10) The freight market breakdown and what's driving the current shift

(29:19) Human judgment vs. AI in logistics and why both matter

(35:19) The five-year outlook and going AI-led as an organization

(39:37) Key takeaways on mindset, people, and embracing change

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Onu Okebie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onuokebie/

Learn more about HTL Freight: https://gohtl.com/

Connect with Kim Humphrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlee-kim-h-5977474/

Learn more about AME: https://www.ame.org/

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- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

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/how-entrepreneurial-leadership-drives-growth-innovation-supply-chain-1603

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.