Warehouse operations often highlight the gap between business strategy and execution, particularly as small and mid-sized companies grow. Challenges like fulfillment pressure, inventory inaccuracies, and manual workarounds can turn warehouses into bottlenecks that hinder organizational efficiency. When teams lose confidence in their data, scaling becomes more difficult, leaving leadership reactive instead of proactive.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Kurt Heusner, CEO of Endpoint Automation Solutions, about warehouse execution in the SMB market. Kurt discusses his experience with growth-focused businesses and emphasizes the importance of time-to-value, adoption, and simplicity over complexity. He explains how trust in systems affects team performance and why warehouses often reveal operational challenges first.

The conversation also addresses ERP warehouse modules versus standalone WMS solutions as complexity grows, modular implementation approaches, the ongoing significance of barcoding, and how newer technologies fit into modernization strategies. The episode concludes with insights into Endpoint’s peer communities and grant programs designed to enhance warehouse execution without disrupting daily operations.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Meet Kurt Heusner: career and insights

(02:52) Kurt Heusner’s passion for music explained

(04:58) Kurt's journey in SMB technology industry

(06:22) Warehouse automation: SMBs’ needs and insights

(10:46) Cultural impact on technology implementation

(11:31) Serving SMBs: key challenges uncovered

(14:56) Evolution of endpoint automation solutions explained

(17:16) Modular approach to WMS for success

(19:30) Final thoughts on SMB problem-solving

(23:56) Experience and continuous learning in tech

(24:36) The history and evolution of barcoding

(26:05) Barcoding's role in modern supply chains

(29:06) Integrating technologies with barcoding in operations

(31:39) Signs your ERP system needs upgrading

(34:05) Building trust in tech and teams

(39:33) Peer communities and learning program value

(43:00) Grant programs for small manufacturers explained

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Kurt Heusner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtheusner/
2. Learn more about Endpoint Automation Solutions: https://endpointas.com/
3. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
4. Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
5. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
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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/solving-warehouse-execution-gaps-SMB-market-1544

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