The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the supply chain management industry. https://www.supplychainbrain.com/rss/articles Equipped with the right tools, procurement becomes a true force multiplier, one that drives savings, improves margins and compounds over time. Equipped with the right tools, procurement becomes a true force multiplier, one that drives savings, improves margins and compounds over time. 

]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44049-procurement-teams-are-set-up-to-fail-but-theres-a-solution http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44049 The path forward is smarter architecture — fewer platforms, governed by the people who know the business best. The path forward is smarter architecture — fewer platforms, governed by the people who know the business best.

]]> Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44221-the-quiet-rearchitecting-of-manufacturings-tech-stack http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44221 The next phase of supply chain management will be defined by how effectively companies can ensure that product identity remains accurate, aligned and executable across their network. The next phase of supply chain management will be defined by how effectively companies can ensure that product identity remains accurate, aligned and executable across their network.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44210-the-gap-between-tracking-and-execution http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44210 High-performing supply chains operate on the realization that the outcome of a crisis is largely decided long before the moment arrives. High-performing supply chains operate on the realization that the outcome of a crisis is largely decided long before the moment arrives.

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44207-supply-chain-resilience-in-todays-geo-political-mess http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44207 The cold chain industry is evolving and packaging strategies must keep up. The cold chain industry is evolving and packaging strategies must keep up.

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44201-packaging-optimization-is-boosting-cold-chain-growth http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44201 This summer, logistics leaders will need to take better advantage of forecasting data and demand planning, to reduce transportation costs wherever possible. This summer, logistics leaders will need to take better advantage of forecasting data and demand planning, to reduce transportation costs wherever possible.

]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44186-the-biggest-challenges-facing-logistics-operators-this-summer http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44186 By continuously aligning supply, workforce and financial outcomes, organizations can move beyond reactive adjustments and build operations that adapt in real time. By continuously aligning supply, workforce and financial outcomes, organizations can move beyond reactive adjustments and build operations that adapt in real time.

]]> Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44017-workforce-orchestration-how-planning-and-execution-become-one http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44017 With active caching, inventory updates complete more quickly and efficiently, so that they can accurately reflect availability across locations in real time. With active caching, inventory updates complete more quickly and efficiently, so that they can accurately reflect availability across locations in real time.

]]> Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44016-how-supply-chains-can-survive-the-next-unexpected-demand-surge http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44016 For supply chain leaders evaluating AI, the most important question is whether the organization has done the work required to make that model operative in its real environment. For supply chain leaders evaluating AI, the most important question is whether the organization has done the work required to make that model operative in its real environment.

]]> Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44179-why-ai-agents-fail-to-deliver-supply-chain-results http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44179 Spot sourcing will always be a reality in the fresh produce industry, but it doesn’t have to be a budget-breaker. Spot sourcing will always be a reality in the fresh produce industry, but it doesn’t have to be a  budget-breaker.

]]> Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44145-why-trucking-spot-rates-are-soaring-and-how-to-cope-with-them http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44145 None of this requires starting from scratch. The data most brands need to compete in an AI-driven world already exists. None of this requires starting from scratch. The data most brands need to compete in an AI-driven world already exists.

]]> Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44004-why-ai-driven-commerce-demands-a-new-standard-for-product-data-integrity http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44004 In open source, quality improves as more people contribute, and costs go down because no one extracts rent. In open source, quality improves as more people contribute, and costs go down because no one extracts rent.

]]> Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44003-why-the-future-of-freight-is-open-source http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44003 Closing the accountability gap requires a system that can keep pace with the technology it’s meant to oversee. Closing the accountability gap requires a system that can keep pace with the technology it’s meant to oversee.

]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43999-how-supply-chains-can-responsibly-implement-agentic-ai-at-scale http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43999 By embracing automation and moving away from manual data entry, logistics teams can transform billing from a cost center into a competitive advantage. By embracing automation and moving away from manual data entry, logistics teams can transform billing from a cost center into a competitive advantage.

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43993-how-logistics-teams-are-reducing-billing-errors-and-protecting-margins http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43993 To give their businesses the best chance of navigating the volatility, procurement professionals must prioritize visibility into where logistics and processing exposure sits. To give their businesses the best chance of navigating the volatility, procurement professionals must prioritize visibility into where logistics and processing exposure sits.

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44095-strait-of-hormuz-the-hidden-threat-to-food-and-packaging-supply-chains http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44095 Here are some security and privacy protections that e-commerce companies can establish, maintain, and enforce. Here are some security and privacy protections that e-commerce companies can establish, maintain, and enforce.

]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44056-security-and-privacy-impacts-of-ai-agents-in-e-commerce http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44056 Today, dashboards flag costly return rates, suspicious refund activity, or locations with abnormal behaviors. The insights are helpful, but typically arrive after the fact. Today, dashboards flag costly return rates, suspicious refund activity, or locations with abnormal behaviors. The insights are helpful, but typically arrive after the fact.

]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44044-agentic-ai-and-the-706b-returns-dilemma http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44044 As AI becomes embedded across supply chain operations, companies need to plan for heightened expectations around transparency and governance. As AI becomes embedded across supply chain operations, companies need to plan for heightened expectations around transparency and governance.

]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43916-deploying-ai-to-shed-light-on-the-murky-depths-of-multi-tier-supply-chains http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43916 The lowest-unit-cost era in sourcing is over, because unit cost alone is no longer sufficient to make a good decision. The lowest-unit-cost era in sourcing is over, because unit cost alone is no longer sufficient to make a good decision.

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44045-tariff-adjusted-landed-cost-as-the-new-sourcing-metric http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44045 While AI optimizes production and boosts efficiency, its integration also introduces advanced attack vectors, necessitating a shift in IT/OT security strategies. While AI optimizes production and boosts efficiency, its integration also introduces advanced attack vectors, necessitating a shift in IT/OT security strategies.

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43888-how-ai-in-logistics-can-both-defend-and-endanger http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43888 As organizations look to navigate volatility, labor constraints and growing complexity, AI offers a powerful opportunity to up-level finance and accounting teams. As organizations look to navigate volatility, labor constraints and growing complexity, AI offers a powerful opportunity to up-level finance and accounting teams.

]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43885-how-ai-is-letting-finance-teams-do-more-with-less http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43885 AI-enhanced partnerships don’t change the principles behind truly collaborative supply chain partnerships, but they do make goals more attainable than ever. AI-enhanced partnerships don’t change the principles behind truly collaborative supply chain partnerships, but they do make goals more attainable than ever.

]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44054-why-todays-manufacturing-buyers-expect-stronger-supply-chain-partnerships http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44054 Oral GLP-1s are set to shake up the weight-loss drug market, but industry onlookers will be wondering how these new tablets might impact healthcare supply chains. Oral GLP-1s are set to shake up the weight-loss drug market, but industry onlookers will be wondering how these new tablets might impact healthcare supply chains.

]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43886-from-needles-to-pills-glp-1-supply-chains-face-a-new-stress-test http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43886 The supply chains that lead in the years ahead will be those that treat ecosystem capability as a strategic advantage, combining AI-enabled coordination with human leadership, trust and governance. The supply chains that lead in the years ahead will be those that treat ecosystem capability as a strategic advantage, combining AI-enabled coordination with human leadership, trust and governance.

]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/44014-live-from-gartner-supply-chain-symposium-xpo http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/44014 By using automation to help make jobs safer and AI to catch issues before they lead to downtime, legacy manufacturers are finding real, measurable value. By using automation to help make jobs safer and AI to catch issues before they lead to downtime, legacy manufacturers are finding real, measurable value.

]]> Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43998-how-legacy-manufacturers-are-turning-industry-40-into-operational-reality http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43998 What may once have looked like temporary volatility in the early phase of the pandemic has instead become a more permanent condition of unpredictability. What may once have looked like temporary volatility in the early phase of the pandemic has instead become a more permanent condition of unpredictability.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43989-supply-chain-resilience-means-acting-faster-smarter http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43989 A supply chain is a network of interdependent flows. When one node accelerates, it changes the pressure on adjacent ones. A supply chain is a network of interdependent flows. When one node accelerates, it changes the pressure on adjacent ones.

]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43883-ai-is-creating-a-new-kind-of-bottleneck-in-supply-chains http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43883 Companies are reassessing where they invest, what they acquire and how much risk they’re willing to carry in extended global networks. Companies are reassessing where they invest, what they acquire and how much risk they’re willing to carry in extended global networks.

]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43882-tariffs-geopolitics-and-the-new-logic-of-global-dealmaking http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43882 For supply chain leaders, the focus is determining where circular strategies create value, and where their complexity outweighs the benefits. For supply chain leaders, the focus is determining where circular strategies create value, and where their complexity outweighs the benefits.

]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43837-understanding-the-hidden-tradeoffs-in-circular-supply-chains http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43837 AI won’t kill organizations because the technology is too powerful. It will kill them because most are weaker, blurrier and less disciplined than they think. AI won’t kill organizations because the technology is too powerful. It will kill them because most are weaker, blurrier and less disciplined than they think.

]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/43827-ai-will-kill-your-organization-but-not-the-way-you-think http://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1/post/43827