This week we, together with Andres Mendoza Pena from Kearney, explore findings from the annual State of Logistics Report. We discuss the ongoing challenges in the motor carrier sector, growth in e-commerce and last-mile delivery, the increasing importance of sustainability, and how emerging technologies including AI are shaping the future of supply chains amid growing uncertainty.

Andres is a Senior Partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm, where he leads the Americas Transportation & Travel practice. He advises leading corporations and financial sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, organic growth strategies, and performance transformations.

Andres brings a unique perspective by combining boardroom-level strategic expertise with hands-on experience from working with digital startups and incubators. His approach bridges logistics and emerging technology, helping clients navigate complex challenges at the intersection of innovation and operations.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

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State of Logistics landing page: State of Logistics 2025: Navigating through the fog | Kearney 

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The post Episode 123:The State of Logistics Report with Kearney’s Andres Mendoza Pena first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This episode explores one of the most critical challenges facing global supply chains: sustainability. Joined by SAP experts Katja Keller and Mathias Kaldenhoff, the discussion sheds light on how sustainable practices are evolving and why they’re becoming a strategic priority for businesses worldwide.
Key topics include:
• The changing definition of sustainability, from purely environmental to a broader economic and social perspective
• The growing importance of regulatory compliance and how it’s shaping supply chain strategies
• The vital role of data and digital technologies in enabling transparency and action

Katja Keller is Market Unit Lead Germany for Sustainability Solutions at SAP and she brings a total of 23 years of SAP experience in various roles. She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering and gained her first experiences in sustainability during her studies, focusing on recycling and disassembly. Since her former boss introduced her to the UN’s sustainability goals in 2016 to give a presentation about them at a team meeting, she has been deeply involved with this topic at SAP.

Mathias Kaldenhoff is an expert in digital transformation with a focus on sustainability. He works at SAP and is known for his contributions in areas such as big data, real-time platforms, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence. In addition to his work at SAP, he has been involved in various research and innovation projects, including those related to the circular economy and climate-friendly solutions. He is also a member of expert advisory boards, such as the German Energy Agency (dena), and participates in international alliances for circular economy standards.

M. Kaldenhoff has an academic background in history, German studies, and business informatics. He is a strong advocate for sustainability and technological integration, such as the digitalization of supply chains or the implementation of business models like “Asset-as-a-Service.” He is also active in topics such as ESG reporting and regulatory frameworks like the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG), aiming to help companies become more sustainable.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Sin To brings over 15 years of experience in the digital media and technology industry – primarily in marketing, business development, thought leadership, and editorial. At SAP, they ensure that SAP’s supply chain solutions are properly visible with a focus on future trends and sustainable innovations as part of the Thought Leadership & Awareness Supply Chain Team.

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SAP Digital Supply Chain: www.sap.com/scm

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The post Episode 122: The Circular Supply Chain: Sustainability and the Future of Business first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This podcast episode explores the complex relationship between AI and sustainability in supply chains. Experts MarySue Barrett and Regenia Sanders highlight AI’s potential to optimize operations, improve climate monitoring, and support decarbonization, while also addressing AI’s significant energy, water, and mineral consumption. They discuss strategies for responsible AI governance, transparency, and cross-industry collaboration. The conversation emphasizes the growing importance of supply chain visibility, sustainable technology innovation, federal advocacy, and supplier engagement. Highlighting the Women’s Leadership Center’s role in empowering female leaders, the episode encourages thoughtful AI adoption as a powerful tool to balance business growth with environmental responsibility.

MarySue Barrett is a super-connector. Through MSB Policy Consulting, she actively shares her knowledge and network to help institutions achieve outsized results. Her energy, make-it-happen attitude, and enthusiasm are contagious.

MarySue is thrilled to dedicate most of her time to advising Ann M. Drake and a new Women’s Leadership Center on programming, to ensure that women are at the forefront of solving global problems. She cultivates partnerships with corporations, think tanks, women’s leadership organizations, and universities on Bold Ideas such as harnessing AI to reduce environmental harms. Other clients have included M. Harris & Co., the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Pritzker Traubert Foundation, and the Brookings Institution, where she has a long affiliation as a Nonresident Senior Fellow.

MarySue draws on a notable track record as a policy changemaker. For 25 years, she was President of the independent Metropolitan Planning Council. Earlier, she served in Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Administration as Chief of Policy. She has nourished her passion for learning from other cities through seven international leadership exchanges, including one sponsored by the International Women’s Forum.

Regenia Sanders is an executive with 25+ years of experience driving business transformation and consulting for Fortune 500 and Private Equity companies, mainly in Automotive and Industrial Manufacturing. She specializes in Supply Chain Management, delivering global programs across sourcing, procurement, planning, manufacturing, and fulfillment. Regenia has led enterprise-wide transformations using technologies like SAP and best-in-class software, working from shopfloor to C-suite as a trusted advisor on cost reduction and operating models.

At EY, she served as Business Consulting practice leader for the US Central Region and previously as Supply Chain & Operations leader for the Americas. She is currently Managing Partner of EY Atlanta and helped establish EY’s Supply Chain Planning as an industry leader.

Known for translating complex ideas for broad audiences, Regenia drives supply chain innovation through analytics and advanced tech. She contributes to publications, panels, and academia, champions DEI as an executive sponsor at EY. Externally she sits on the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Alumni Board of Directors for her alma mater, and the Advisory Board for Advancing Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education (AWESOME).

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Oyku Ilgar holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Financial Administration and Accounting and another in English Translation Studies. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from her undergraduate studies in Istanbul, she pursued her master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade in Germany with a specialization in Marketing.

Since 2017, Oyku has been working in the supply chain management area at SAP. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written, audible, and visual content focused on ERP and supply chain solutions, with a strong emphasis on business trends, AI, machine learning, and sustainability.

Oyku’s SAP Community & LinkedIn

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Whitepaper: Balancing the Benefits of AI and the Health of Our Planet

www.sap.com/ERP

womensleadershipcenter.org

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The post Episode 121: Balancing the Benefits of AI and the Health of Our Planet first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week we, together with Marco Trottmann from Westernacher, explore how advanced robotics and AI are reshaping the warehouse of the future. Marco shares insights on evolving automation technologies, AI-driven orchestration, real-world use cases, and how integrating these innovations with enterprise systems creates adaptive, resilient supply chains that anticipate and respond to changing demands.

With 25 years of experience in the industry and over 20 years working with SAP solutions, he’s one of the most experienced consultants in his field, catering to a global client base. His rare mix of profound technical depth, an end-to-end business process understanding, and the ability to explain highly complex topics in simple terms makes him a sought-after consultant, advising at all levels from operational teams up to the C level.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

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Westernacher Consulting Home Page: https://westernacher.com/de/

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The post Episode 120: How Robotics and AI Enable the Warehouse of the Future with Westernacher’s Marco Trottmann first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week we, together with SAP’s Gordon Donovan, delve into strategic procurement in an era of polycrisis. We unpack the Economist Impact Report findings, discuss top risks from geopolitics to AI, the need for agility, and how procurement leaders are adapting their strategies for resilience and value.

Gordon Donovan is a seasoned procurement professional with over 30 years of experience in leading transformations and establishing functions that deliver enterprise-wide value. He holds a graduate diploma (1996) and a master’s degree in strategic procurement and is a Fellow of CIPS.

Recognized as a thought leader within procurement, Gordon is a sought-after speaker, writer, and presenter. He has led procurement teams across various sectors including Health, Rail, Finance, and the public sector in the UK, as well as across Asia.

In his role at SAP as Vice President of Research for Procurement and External Workforce, Gordon is responsible for tracking the latest trends in procurement, conducting in-depth research, and forming insights that help SAP plan their strategy accordingly.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku’s SAP Community & LinkedIn

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The resilient edge: procurement in an era of polycrisis (The Economist Impact report): https://www.sap.com/documents/2025/05/6e17a518-067f-0010-bca6-c68f7e60039b.urc.html

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The post Episode 119: Strategic Procurement in an Era of Risk with SAP’s Gordon Donovan first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week we, together with SAP’s Aladdin Mandishah, dive into the future of digital traceability in supply chains. We discuss the technologies behind traceability, its role in building trust and meeting ESG goals, real-world pharma examples, challenges in adoption, and how SAP’s solutions and AI are shaping resilient, transparent, and sustainable supply chains. Come join us we discuss the future of supply chain.

As a Global Director of Industry Advisory at SAP, Aladdin brings 15 years of experience in strategy and transformation across diverse industries. In his role, he advises executives on how to leverage SAP solutions and the SAP Business Suite to drive innovation, efficiency, and compliance.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku’s SAP Community & LinkedIn

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Solutions for serialization from SAP for the pharmaceutical sector: https://www.sap.com/documents/2021/02/28701eae-cc7d-0010-87a3-c30de2ffd8ff.html

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The post Episode 118: From Barcode to Backbone: The Future of Digital Traceability with SAP’s Aladdin Mandishah first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week, we are joined by Simon Ellis from IDC to explore the complexities and challenges that modern supply chains face. We discuss the limitations of legacy systems and the balance between resiliency and efficiency. Join us to learn about the importance of speed, data quality, and AI-enabled integrated platforms, and discover why these factors represent the future of supply chains.

As a program vice president, Simon Ellis is responsible for providing research, analysis, and guidance on key business and IT issues for manufacturers. He currently leads the supply chain strategies practices at IDC Manufacturing Insights, an IDC industry research company that addresses the current market gap by providing fact-based research and analysis on best practices and the use of IT to assist clients in improving their capabilities in critical process areas. Within the supply chain practice, Simon is directly responsible for research in the supply chain planning strategies practice while also managing the supply chain execution strategies practice. These supply chain practices specialize in advising clients on supply chain network design, sales and operations planning, global sourcing (profitable proximity and low-cost sourcing), transportation, logistics, and more.  He also supports IDC Retail Insights IT strategies practices. 

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

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IDC InfoBrief: The Importance of AI in Supply Chain and Operations 

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The post Episode 117: The role of AI in Supply Chain with IDC’s Simon Ellis first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This episode explores how Business Networks are fundamentally transforming supply chain collaboration. By connecting companies and their diverse trading partners on a unified platform, these networks automate transactions, enable real-time visibility, and replace outdated, fragmented processes. The conversation highlights how organizations leveraging Business Networks are achieving measurable results: launching products 30% faster, reducing partner onboarding time by up to 70%, and cutting invoice processing time by 59%. These gains translate into significant cost savings, greater agility, and improved compliance. Ultimately, Business Networks are breaking down silos and empowering both buyers and suppliers to thrive in today’s complex, rapidly changing global landscape – making them an essential driver of resilience and innovation in modern supply chains.

With over 30 years of experience across both Finance and IT, Tony has spent the last 20 years focused on the Procurement solutions sector and is currently responsible for product marketing for SAP Business Network.

In this role, he leads product marketing teams that form a bridge between SAP products and SAP customers, creating compelling product pricing, packaging and messaging. The team also captures market trends, customer challenges, and insights from the SAP field teams to create an outside-in view of the market that helps to drive innovation within SAP Business Network. Tony is based in London, UK.

Tony’s LinkedIn

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku’s SAP Community & LinkedIn

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The post Episode 116: Transformative Power of Business Networks with SAP’s Tony Harris first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week we discuss the evolving future of supply chains with Loftware’s Jim Bureau. Topics include the rise of cloud platforms, the critical role of data and AI, supply chain collaboration challenges, combating counterfeiting with digital product passports, and ensuring sustainability and ethical compliance. Learn how digital twins and real-time networks are revolutionizing supply chain visibility and trust. Come join us as we discuss the Future of Supply Chain

Jim is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, and leadership at Loftware. He oversees market development, software development, strategic partnerships, and company funding. 

Prior to joining Loftware, Jim served as CEO at JAGGAER in Morrisville, NC, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Additionally, Jim served as the Senior Vice President of North America at Verint Systems/KANA Software in Alpharetta, GA. Prior to that he served as Vice President of Sales for Pegasystems and, also held leadership roles at Shared Health, Oracle, and 3M.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

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2025 Top Trends in Labeling & Packaging Artwork

The Compliance Triangle

Integrate your labeling with any SAP landscape

Global Supply Chain Product Identification Leader Offers Solution to Enhance Product Data Management and Improve Customer Engagement

Loftware Unveils New SAP Labeling Integrations for Accuracy, Compliance, and Cost Savings

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The post Episode 115: Supply Chain Orchestration and Sustainability with Loftware President & CEO, Jim Bureau first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.

This week we discuss telecom industry trends with SAP’s Sandeep Chowdhury, covering 5G adoption, AI-powered network optimization, the promise of 6G, and sustainability challenges. Learn how telecom supply chains are evolving with digital transformation, circular economy practices, and integrated ecosystems to meet future connectivity and environmental demands.

Come join us as we discuss the future of Supply Chain!

Sandeep is a Senior Director in the SAP Telecommunications Business Unit . He has previously worked in Schlumberger, Ericsson, and IBM before joining SAP. He is an industry expert in the areas of Sales, Marketing, Product Management & Strategy. He has been active in several Telecommunications industry forums and has been writing in industry journals and publications. Sandeep is based out of Frankfurt, Germany.   

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard’s LinkedIn & Twitter

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku’s SAP Community & LinkedIn

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The post Episode 114: How Telecom trends are fueling the industrial economy with SAP’s Sandeep Chowdhury first appeared on The Future of Supply Chain.