Let's Talk Supply Chain

Written by: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey
  • Summary

  • Let's Talk Supply Chain is not your average supply chain podcast. We feature not just the top of the industry, but also diverse voices from within the community, new innovations and the disrupters making waves in the industry. Don’t listen to the same ol' same ol', be sparked by new ideas and fresh perspectives only on Let's Talk Supply Chain.
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Episodes
  • 428: Create Customer Experiences that Supercharge Success, with Narvar
    Sep 30 2024

    Amit Sharma of Narvar talks about leveraging intelligent communication to boost consumer trust, create memorable shopping experiences & maximize conversions.

    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

    [07.56] Amit’s career journey, and how it led him to establish Narvar.

    [10.12] An overview of Narvar – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.

    “Online, after we buy, there’s a waiting period. And often that waiting period is overlooked, or under-invested. We help businesses engage their customers with the intention of driving long term loyalty and advocacy.”

    [12.54] The ideal client for Narvar.

    [14.28] Amit’s take on the biggest e-commerce challenges right now, especially when it comes to the post-purchase experience.

    “Once you buy a product, it’s a chore. ‘Find a tracking number; When can I get it?; Do I have to be at home,?; Will the package be secure?’… There are all these questions that lead to anxiety about the order you placed. So the challenge is to build the trust every step of the way.”

    “There’s a disconnect... you have to understand the customers context and provide the right information at the right time.”

    [17.13] Narvar’s mission to simplify the everyday lives of consumers, and why taking care of retail customers isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good business.

    “Everything is “and” now. It has to be cheaper AND it has to be faster AND it has to be on time AND it has to be an amazing customer experience.”

    “Consumers want returns policies and processes that are easy to understand and follow… and making it convenient is better for the retailer as well.”

    [25.18] Why 60% of shoppers are more likely to choose a retailer that can tell them the exact date a package will arrive at the time of order; and the role of Narvar’s ‘Promise’ solution in helping retailers utilize intelligent delivery estimates to drive conversion and deliver transparency.

    “Given a choice, customers select visibility and predictability of delivery dates versus faster delivery. And, from the merchant perspective, we then see consumers buy more, and make less customer service enquiries, because you’ve built trust and confidence…. There’s a big benefit from setting that expectation.”

    [31.46] How Narvar helps retailers continue to communicate with consumers using post-purchase marketing and different touchpoints to keep them informed, but also boost trust, keep experience levels high and upsell.

    [35.35] The challenge of returns, and how Narvar helps retailers to find the balance of retaining revenue and reducing costs, whilst also offering customers easy, convenient, positive experiences.

    “All of the data and sophistication gets applied on the acquisition side, but not much on the retention side. Returns is an opportunity for that.”

    [40.38] Why Narvar is fostering collaboration between retailers, and how a unique relationship with Kohl’s is setting a standard for smoother, cheaper, and more sustainable returns experiences for brands and consumers alike.

    “Cheaper, convenient, and beneficial for everybody.”

    [44.42] The upcoming trends and opportunities in the ecommerce industry that we should be looking out for.

    “Using intelligence, the supply chain is going to get more and more intuitive, more consumer-friendly, and more cost-effective for all the players involved.”

    RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

    Head over to Narvar’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Narvar and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Amit on LinkedIn.

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    52 mins
  • 427: Leverage Technology to Automate Supplier Data Validation and Mitigate Risk, with Relish
    Sep 23 2024

    Jeremy Reeves of Relish & Matt Montgomery of SAP talk about how technology can automate supplier data validation and mitigate risk; our data end games; & AI.

    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

    [07.15] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do.

    [08.59] An overview of the landscape of supplier data and the challenges of validation.

    “Supplier management needs to be thought of as the foundation for everything. It’s the knowledge that you need to have for every single decision you’re making.”

    “As we look at solutions and talk about supplier data, we can’t just talk about ‘company name and address.’ We have to think: What do you need to know to make the choice to use that supplier, to make a better decision, to streamline processes? … How do you collaborate and drive efficiency so you can spend more time on the good decisions versus data collection?”

    [13.25] The supplier data end game – what supplier data should look like, and what it should do for their businesses, if organizations have the right solutions to their challenges.

    “Speed and efficiency are the name of the game.”

    [17.11] How businesses should be measuring and validating supplier data, and the different techniques and strategies they can use to do it.

    “You first have to understand where the problems are lying within the overall process, so measuring that information is key.”

    [20.52] The role of technology in automating the supplier data validation process.

    “Speed becomes a competitive differentiator.”

    [23.26] Whether process drives technology, or technology drives process.

    “Technology can really optimize that knowledge of region, industry, commodity, business unit… but as much as the technology can optimize, it becomes much more efficient when you can trust the data source.”

    [28.27] How technology can help suppliers be active participants in the risk management process.

    [32.51] The hidden prevalence of AI; where the industry is at on its AI journey; and what the future of supplier data validation and risk mitigation is going to look like.

    “The term is overused – it means everything! People think Siri, ChatGPT – people’s perception of AI is the microcosm of how they’re experiencing it.”

    [36.53] How SAP and Relish are automating supplier data validation, and what we can learn from their approach.

    [43.44] The future for Relish and SAP, and for the industry, as we look towards 2025.

    “The ability for technology to automate the speed of development – we’re going to see a lot more capabilities, delivered faster.”

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    57 mins
  • 426: Discover the Truth About Digitalization in Container Shipping in 2024, with DCSA
    Sep 16 2024
    Thomas Bagge of DCSA & Thomas Morris of FINN Partners talk about digitalization in container shipping; drivers & barriers to change; and progress & priorities. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.45] Introductions to today’s guests and what they do. “DCSA aims to help digitalize and make container shipping more effective. We’re open source and vendor neutral… and our members represent about 75% of the world’s containerized capacity.” [10.13] An overview of DCSA’s new state of the industry report: what it’s about, why they commissioned it, and what they’re aiming to achieve. “Decision makers are strongly advocating for more digital tools, more interoperability – they want to improve efficiency… So how do we convert these demands into firm commitments that will help drive digitalization forward?” [13.41] A closer look at the methodology and analytics that were used in the creation of the report. “We’re excited. Given the amount of ground we’ve covered, and the amount of research we’ve done – we think it’s one of the most comprehensive reports looking at digitalization within container shipping.” [17.35] The landscape of digitalization in container shipping, and the historic issues with data, visibility and interoperability. “There have been a lot of great initiatives and strides made in our industry… but we need to take the next steps. A lot of those previous digital initiatives were invented in siloes. So, the biggest issues we have today are a lack of data and interoperability.” [21.32] The current sentiment in the industry towards digital, and whether or not that sentiment was a surprise; and the impact being made by increasing standardization. “I was surprised by the level of manual interventions that we still see in the industry!” “86% of cargo owners said that digitalization is a tool that would help improve efficiency and process, and they see the opportunity – we saw cargo owners talk about customer satisfaction, operational costs, and competitive advantage.” [26.18] The key drivers and barriers to digitalization in the container shipping industry. “Cargo owners are ready to go, but two thirds said they need help and support. Some are fearful of legacy systems… and there’s also some internal company resistance. We need to get the tech right, but businesses are made of people, and we need to bring them along on the journey as well.” [30.55] Industry progress, and supply chain stakeholders’ priorities for further change. “We have a complex industry, there are many stakeholders – this is a problem of a whole ecosystem…. Removing the barriers to trade is in everybody’s interest.” [36.51] Why sustainability has to be one of the industry’s biggest priorities; how organizations are approaching increasingly stringent regulations and impending ESG deadlines; and how digitalization is going to make a difference. “The fuel transition is not something that’s around the corner, we’re going to have emissions for many years to come… but the industry can save up to 14% on fuel through collaboration and implementation of just-in-time standards – and that’s work we can do today, we don’t have to wait for 2040.” [39.23] What DCSA are currently working on to help address key industry priorities, and an example of how they helped a retailer save costs, standardize, and integrate quickly through effective digitalization. [41.05] How enhanced collaboration can help to accelerate the adoption of digital tools. “Almost a third of cargo owners talked about hesitancy to adopt new technology solutions before their peers or partners. It’s a classic case of ‘who jumps first?’!” [43.40] DCSA’s vision for the future of container shipping, and how the industry is going to continue to evolve. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to DCSA’s website now to find out more and download the report. You can also connect with DCSA and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Thomas Morris on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about container shipping, listen to 340: Container Confusion: Are Shipping Trends Lost at Sea? with Steve Ferreira, or read The Use Cases and ROI of Container Tracking for Freight Forwarders.
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    50 mins
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