In this week’s episode, hosts Richard Howells and Oyku Ilgar wrap up 2025’s biggest supply chain shifts, from AI and digital twins to cybersecurity, geopolitics, human-centric workforces, and sustainability – sharing expert insights and a look ahead to a more resilient 2026

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This week, Richard Howells and Oyku Ilgar – together with leading voices from SAP, IDC, Deloitte, Everstream, BDO, and more – revisit 2025’s hottest supply chain topics:

AI-enabled and human-centric operations, business networks, cybersecurity, geopolitics, ESG regulation, and sustainability.

Hear how digital foundations, intelligent planning and circularity are reshaping supply chains and why resilience will define success in 2026 and beyond.

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Host 1: Richard Howells, SAP

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.

Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

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Show Links:

Supply Chain Management

SAP Supply Chain Management

SAP Insights: Supply Chain

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Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X

Oyku Ilgar: LinkedIn

SAP Digital Supply Chain: LinkedIn

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Chapters:

00:00:00: Intro

00:00:37: AI-enabled, data-driven supply chains and digital foundations

00:03:10: Business networks and supply chain orchestration

00:04:16: Cybersecurity deep in ERP and operations

00:06:01: Geopolitics, tariffs and global trade disruption

00:08:32: AI, automation and the human-centric workforce

00:10:57: ESG regulation and sustainability

00:13:27: Holiday wishes and looking ahead to 2026

In this week's episode, we are joined by SAP's Tod Stenger to explore how AI and agentic AI are transforming planning roles, automation, and decision-making

This week we, together with SAP's Tod Stenger, dive into "Planning Reimagined," discussing AI's shift from machine learning in forecasting to generative AI for analysis, data quality, and agentic workflows that automate routines while keeping humans in the loop for strategic decisions.

Join Richard and Sin as they chat with 4flow’s Kai Althoff about digital transformation and tomorrow’s supply chain trends. Discover how to keep ahead in an ever-evolving logistics landscape.

Ready for a genuine glimpse into the future of supply chains?

In this episode, Richard and Sin sit down with Kai Althoff, CEO and co-founder of 4flow, to discuss everything that makes the heart of supply chain enthusiasts beat faster: digital transformation in the supply chain. Which trends will shape the supply chain of tomorrow, and how can you stay ahead?

Dive into fascinating insights on the digital transformation of logistics: How do Germans and Britons actually perceive “logistics”, and what does that mean in practice? Which trends are set to define the supply chain’s future and how can you keep a leading edge?

Experience that ‘aha’ moment as we discuss the findings of the latest BVL study, “Trends and Strategies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management”.

Discover why communication and breaking down silos are more important today than ever before.

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⁠SAP Digital Supply Chain⁠

⁠Kai Althoff - LinkedIn⁠

⁠Richard Howells - LinkedIn⁠

⁠Sin To - LinkedIn⁠

⁠SAP Digital Supply Chain - LinkedIn⁠

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Guest: Kai Althoff, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 4flow

Kai Althoff is a co-founder of 4flow and chair of the executive board of the German supply chain and logistics association BVL. As CEO of 4flow, he is responsible for 4flow’s global business and 4flow software, sales and marketing. From 2000 to 2020, Kai was COO of 4flow and was responsible for the global operations of the company. After completing an international education, Kai managed large scale supply chain and logistics projects for a global management and supply chain consulting firm with a focus on the automotive, aviation, consumer goods, industrial and software sector.

Host 1: Richard Howells

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.

Host 2: Sin To

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.

How are product carbon footprints changing the supply chain? In this episode, our hosts Richard Howells and Sin To speak with Philippe Strebler, Head of Sustainability at Ceratizit, about the future of sustainable supply chains. Discover how transparency in carbon accounting, new industry standards, and the vision of a circular economy by 2025 are revolutionising the sector. Learn why Scope 3 emissions present a particular challenge and how modern business systems support carbon accounting.
Tune in now for inspiration on how to drive the sustainable transformation of your supply chain.

Philippe Strebler, Head of Sustainability at CERATIZIT Group
Philippe leads the sustainability topic for CERATIZIT, a global leader in the carbide and cutting tool industry. With over 15 years at the company, he started in R&D, moved into Sales, and now drives the Group’s sustainability strategy—shaping long-term growth and embedding sustainable practices across the business.

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

Ceratizit Whitepaper: Know Your Product Carbon Footprint

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This week, we, together with Gordon Donovan, explore the Procurement Imperative 2030 report, which outlines four future scenarios impacting procurement and supply chain: geopolitical shifts slowing globalization, the looming talent cliff, rising cybersecurity threats, and the urgency of climate resilience. Gordon discusses adapting strategies in sourcing, workforce, digital infrastructure, and sustainability, emphasizing collaboration, trust, and AI’s role in navigating complexity toward rewarding outcomes

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.

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 The Procurement Imperative 2030 research:

https://impact.economist.com/projects/the-procurement-imperative/scenarios

Supply Chain Management: 

SAP Supply Chain Management 

SAP Insights: Supply Chain  

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This week we, together with Paige Cox, Chief Product Officer at Everstream, explore the evolving landscape of supply chain risk management. Paige shares insights on integrating AI, real-time data, and human expertise to build adaptive, measurable resilience. The conversation covers geopolitical disruptions, tariff impacts, reshoring challenges, and the future of supply chain technology platforms for improved foresight and collaboration

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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Everstream:

https://www.everstream.ai

Supply Chain Management: 

SAP Supply Chain Management 

SAP Insights: Supply Chain  

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In this insightful episode, join hosts Richard and Oyku as they welcome cybersecurity expert Gabriele Fiata from SAP to discuss how supply chains are evolving in the face of increasing cyber threats. As supply chains grow faster and more complex, security can no longer be an afterthought – it must be built into systems like ERP from the ground up. Gabriele highlights the shift towards a shared responsibility model in cloud security, emphasizing collaboration between businesses, vendors, and partners. With threats escalating, AI-powered detection and automated defenses are becoming critical tools to spot breaches before they happen. The conversation also reveals how companies are embracing new mindsets and training people to be the first line of defense, turning a potential weak point into a strength. Tune in to hear how smart planning and resilience can protect your business and keep supply chains moving smoothly. Don’t miss this chance to learn from real-world insights and a recent IDC study that quantifies the high value of these new security approaches.

Listen now and discover how securing the supply chain can secure your future.

Thought leader with a strong background in security as well as business processes, controls, and enterprise risk management.

For more than 20 years, he has been leading teams in implementing innovative process improvements to identify and mitigate risks to promote resilience for the whole enterprise and enable overall business growth.

Gabriele Fiata: 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.

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

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Related SAP Pages

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This week, we, together with Martin Rowan, reveal how private equity investment raises the stakes for companies to improve business performance. Martin explains why many SAP users underutilize their systems and offers practical steps and real case successes to unlock hidden value.

Martin Rowan is the Managing Partner with Reveal, where he helps companies leverage their existing technology to optimize integrated supply chains and achieve world-class performance. With over 20 years of global experience, he has guided transformational change for leading organizations including CITGO, the US Navy, Minuteman International, Current Lighting, Campbell’s Soup, GE, Carlisle, HD Supply, and Ryerson Steel just to name a few.

A recognized industry speaker, Martin is frequently invited to share his insights on how optimized supply chains unlock measurable business outcomes. His engaging style and practical expertise have made him a trusted voice at conferences and industry forums across the globe.

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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Reveal:

https://www.revealvalue.com

Article link:

“Private Equity doesn’t invest for stability, it invests for Performance” – Link

Supply Chain Management: 

SAP Supply Chain Management 

SAP Insights: Supply Chain  

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This week we, together with Bristlecone’s Robert Kalbach and Guru Parvati, dive into the necessity of business networks for collaboration and transparency in complex supply chains. We discuss challenges like ESG compliance, integration of business systems, AI’s role in decision-making, and how SAP and Bristlecone partner to create connected, intelligent, and autonomous supply chain ecosystems for competitive advantage.

Gururaj Parvati leads go‑to‑market programs that connect strategy to execution across Planning, Procurement, and Execution. Over a 25‑plus‑year career spanning delivery, program management, and presales, he brings a practitioner’s lens to SAP Business Network, showing the ‘art of the possible’ with AI/ML layered on S/4HANA, IBP, Ariba, and Transportation Management.

At Bristlecone, Gururaj partners closely with SAP on story‑driven, integrated demonstrations that help customers unlock real‑time supplier and logistics collaboration, improve end‑to‑end visibility, and translate network insights into measurable outcomes. His work bridges product capabilities with customer value and GTM impact, enabling organizations to modernize operations while building resilience across their extended enterprise.

Bob has over two decades of experience in academia, industry and consulting at various organizations.  He has been a divisional risk officer in financial services and the head of operations engineering in telecom.  He has led process improvement, digital transformation, SAP and technology engagements in Industrial Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Healthcare, Life Sciences and Med Tech. 

As a professor of Supply Chain and Decision Science at a local NY metro university, he maintains academic ties to leading research and innovation.  Specifically, in the areas of AI / ML application and growth benefits for operations across industries.

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.

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

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Bristlecone:

https://www.bristlecone.com

Whitepapers:

Strategic Planning for Resilient and Agile Supply Chains – Bristlecone

Revolutionizing Procurement: Lean Strategies for Sustainable Success – Bristlecone

Supply Chain Management: 

SAP Supply Chain Management 

SAP Insights: Supply Chain  

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This week, we, together with SP van Houten, explore how intelligent automation and AI are reshaping supply chain planning. The episode covers overcoming traditional silos, driving real-time collaboration, integrating sustainability goals, and empowering teams with advanced tools for continuous improvement in supply chain operations.

SP van Houten leads the Product team for the SAP Integrated Business Planning application (SCM Planning), where he is responsible for shaping and delivering advanced supply chain planning and decision-making strategies, as well as product capabilities.

With over 20 years of global experience in supply chain management, strategy, and operations, he is recognized as a thought leader and innovator in next-generation planning and decision-making applications. He holds a PhD in computer simulation and mathematical modeling from Delft University of Technology and has completed executive education at world-renowned institutions, including Berkeley, Stanford, and Cranfield.

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.

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

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Reinventing planning for a new era of supply chain:

https://www.sap.com/documents/2025/08/9094a069-1a7f-0010-bca6-c68f7e60039b.html

Supply Chain Management: 

SAP Supply Chain Management 

SAP Insights: Supply Chain  

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