While demand has dropped since then, the innovations remain, says Jakki Krage Strako, chief commerce and business solutions officer with the U.S. Postal Service.

A successful supply chain transformation begins with "changing the narrative," says George Raptis, vice president of operations at JP Outfitters. Among other things, the company had to stop viewing itself as "small."

Andrew Leto founder and chief executive officer of online truck freight procurement platform Emerge, has a habit of looking for gaps in the logistics industry that can be filled via emerging technologies.

New brands benefit by working with providers that can handle both consumer e-commerce and business-to-business fulfillment, says Austin Kreinz, founder and chief executive officer of Atomix Logistics.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword at Macy's, says Keelin Evans, vice president of sustainability at the retail giant.

Technology in support of final-mile delivery is advancing at a rapid pace. Mike Powell, chief technology officer with SEKO Logistics, traces its evolution and offers a glimpse into the future.

Wojciech Matusik, MIT professor and co-founder of Inkbit, describes a new computational method of packing a container in the most efficient way possible.

In a record-low unemployment environment, companies attract and retain supply chain talent by building flexibility into employees' schedules, says Jarah Euston, co-founder and chief executive officer of WorkWhile.

Andrew Petrisin, supply chain advisor with the U.S. Department of Transportation, describes the role of the agency's Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative.

Shobhit Elhance, vice president of business development at LogiNext, discusses the pain points faced by shippers and carriers in the delivery of big and bulky items.