Special guest Kevin Lawton, host of The New Warehouse podcast, takes a turn on the other side of the mic, sharing his his path from warehouse inventory control to one of the industry's most recognized voices.

One of the biggest things he's learned on his automation journey? Successful warehouse automation projects start with great planning (making sure you're not automating before actually ready) and make time during implementation for comprehensive change management and workforce training.

To close out the conversation, Kevin and host Marissa Dierlam talk about which areas of the warehouse are still bottlenecking operations, the automation trends that deserve the most attention right now, and where warehouse operations are headed next.

Whether you're evaluating automation currently or simply trying to stay ahead of what's next, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and real-life stories.

Listen to The New Warehouse | Follow Kevin Lawton on LinkedIn | Read our blog about change management best practices

Everyone tells you relationships matter in supply chain—but how do you actually build them, and where do you even start? In this episode of The Automation Journey, host Marissa Dierlam sits down with Nathan Cheney, founder of Supply Chaney and Supply Chain Social Club, to break down what real networking looks like in this industry.

Nathan shares his path from life on a Texas farm to running TI's chip distribution during the pandemic shortage, to building a community that spans the globe. Along the way, he gets candid about:

• How a few key relationships have shaped his life and career
• Why local roundtable, trade shows, and even happy hours can outweigh research reports when it comes to real industry insight
• Suggestions on how introverts can push past the fear and awkwardness of networking
• Why offering value to others first pays off later
• One simple, five-minute action you can take this week to reignite an old professional relationship

Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro who's been too heads-down to network, this conversation is a reminder that your next big moment—a job, a partnership, or a crucial piece of advice—is probably one conversation away.

Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn | Check out upcoming Supply Chain Social Club events | Learn more about our Campfire Talk events for supply chain executives

Modern warehouses generate more data than ever—but are companies actually turning it into better decisions? In this episode, host Marissa Dierlam is joined by Rebecca Call of TGW North America and Shari Christofferson, President of Connect Inc., to explore how connected systems, software, and people transform warehouse data into actionable insights.

From WMS and WES architecture to real-time visibility, dashboards, predictive analytics, and IT security, the conversation uncovers why warehouse automation projects often fall short—and how stronger connectivity between the warehouse floor and the operational dashboard can unlock better performance, resilience, and scalability. If you're evaluating warehouse automation or looking to find the "ghosts" in your existing operation, this episode offers practical insights into building a warehouse that's truly connected from end to end. Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn. Connect with Shari on LinkedIn.

In this episode, special guest Pete Bennett from Cardinal Health joins host Marissa Dierlam and Blake Neal (TGW Logistics) to discuss the supply chain pressures facing the healthcare and medical device industries and the shift coming from being reluctant adopters of warehouse automation to big investors of automation and AI. The discussion covers the reasons behind the historical risk averse stance of these industries, the biggest bottlenecks in distribution centers, which warehouse automation technologies are especially interesting to these companies, and where the future of supply chain is going for this industry—including the role of AI. Connect with Pete on LinkedIn. Connect with Blake on LinkedIn. Read our blog about the role of warehouse automation to achieve lean logistics in the healthcare industry.

In this episode of The Automation Journey, we take a big-picture look at the maintenance and logistics services that automated warehouses need. Mike Elliott (Director of Lifetime Services North America) and Jared Call (LTS Business Development Manager) sit down with Marissa Dierlam to discuss from before go-live to twenty years on what to do and consider when it comes to keeping your site running. It may be tempting to let automated material handling services do their thing with minimal care and support, but Mike and Jared share how long-term thinking and regular investments into maintenance prolong the lifetime of warehouse automation and lead to a smaller total cost of ownership. They also stress the importance of working with a partner you trust and have open, transparent communication with. Learn more about TGW's Lifetime Services. Learn more about our availability guarantee. Connect with Jared Call on LinkedIn. Connect with Mike Elliott on LinkedIn.

In this podcast episode, Nathan Wolf and Michael Schedlbauer share their insights and expertise, based on recent research and customer conversations, into what's happening in the world of grocery logistics. Starting with the different forces that have shaped the grocery industry in the last few years, they then dive deep into the different economic, consumer behavior, and technological trends at play. In a low-margin and high-pressure environment, capital investments into supply chain may sound risky, but Nathan and Michael share how warehouse automation can actually be a strategic lever that allows grocery businesses to get out of "react mode" and become more resilient to whatever trends lie ahead. Read more about grocery logistics trends on our blog. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn. Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn.

In this episode of The Automation Journey, Ryan Chesterfield (Founder and CEO of Auto-FX and Auto-FC) joins Meagan Gauthier (TGW Logistics) and host Marissa Dierlam for a conversation about what it really takes to build smarter, safer warehouse facilities. While warehouse automation is often discussed through the lens of throughput, labor efficiency, and cost reduction, worker safety is just as critical—and far more strategic than many realize. Together, they explore the real safety risks facing warehouses today, from manual material handling and forklift interactions to training gaps, turnover, and pressure to hit KPIs. Learn how thoughtfully designed automation (like ergonomic picking workstations) combined with smarter software, machine learning, and predictive maintenance can reduce safety risks while improving worker retention, consistency, and performance. Imagine a future for your facility where safety isn't a compliance checkbox or a regular fire to fight—and instead is a strategic lever addressed on a systems level. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn. Connect with Meagan on LinkedIn. Read more about ergonomic warehouse automation on our blog.

Warehouse automation is a significant investment that can feel risky. What if your solution doesn't meet your current needs? What if your business changes and the automation can't keep up? What if you overdesign and overpay? That's why data analysis is critical for designing the right warehouse automation solution. In this episode of the podcast, host Marissa Dierlam sits down with Daniele Bongiovanni (Data Consultant, TGW North America) and Natalie Vruwink (Solutions Designer III, TGW North America) to discuss which data points are most critical, what key design criteria can be uncovered with data, and the importance of deriving assumptions and conclusions alongside our customers. Data not only allows us to right size and scope automation solutions—it also builds a clear business case and ROI for our customers and de-risks their investment.

In this episode of the podcast, special guest Kambi Laleye (Rosefellow) joins from Montreal, Canada to discuss warehouse sustainability topics with Dexter Weber (TGW Logistics) and host Marissa Dierlam. Together, they cover the sustainability of greenfields vs. brownfields, how to achieve energy-efficient daily operations, and more. In the supply chain world, sustainability is quickly becoming less of a feel-good to-do and more of a strategic lever. Hear how the companies going above current standards—not just reacting to regulations—will retain warehouse talent better than the competition and achieve lower costs long-term. For both Rosefellow and TGW Logistics, the goal is future-proofing for our customers. Connect with Kambi on LinkedIn. Connect with Dex on LinkedIn. Read more about TGW's Smart Energy Strategy.

For goods-to-person automation systems, there are a number of buzzwords that get used over and over: flexible, scalable, modular, plug-and-play, future-proof, smart, innovative, energy-efficient, high-performance, etc. And so often these words get misused or are intentionally vague—leaving people lost in jargon and wondering how to benchmark warehouse automation solutions. In this honest conversation, Patricio Miranda Febres (Chief Sales Officer, TGW North America) draws from his over 20 years of experience to share how he sees the industry using buzzwords and how these words ought to be explained to companies interested in goods-to-person automation. If you're evaluating warehouse automation options, this episode is for you. Learn how to translate these buzzwords to your operational requirements and get to the heart of what solutions are right for you. Connect with Pato on LinkedIn. Learn more about our two main goods to person systems.