In the competitive landscape of supply chain technology, vendors frequently dangle the carrot of “free pilot programs” to entice potential customers. These seemingly generous offers promise risk-free trials of cutting-edge solutions, from AI-powered demand forecasting to blockchain-enabled traceability platforms. But as seasoned supply chain professionals know, nothing in business truly comes without a price tag,…
Category: Digitalization
How Procter & Gamble’s “One Supply Chain” Strategy Offers a Blueprint for Supply Chain Excellence
For decades, supply chains were viewed as necessary evils, back-office operations focused purely on cost reduction and efficiency. But visionary companies like Walmart, Amazon, Apple, and Zara changed that narrative, proving that supply chain excellence could become a powerful competitive differentiator. Today, few companies exemplify this transformation better than Procter & Gamble, whose “One Supply…
How Decathlon Revolutionized Retail Operations with RFID Technology: A Complete End-to-End Visibility Journey
In the competitive world of sporting goods retail, inventory management and operational efficiency can make or break a business. Decathlon, the French multinational sporting goods retailer with over 1,500 stores worldwide, recognized this challenge early and embarked on an ambitious digital transformation journey that would position them as a global leader in retail technology adoption….
MLETR: The Silent Revolution in Global Trade and Supply Chains
As global trade enters the next chapter of digitization, a silent yet powerful legal instrument is reshaping the way we exchange, finance, and secure goods across borders: the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) has created the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR). While not as publicly celebrated as blockchain or AI,…
Beyond the Buzzwords: Why Most Supply Chain Digital Transformations Are Stuck?
A supply chain leader’s perspective on Eric Kimberling’s “Final Countdown: Strategies to Reach the Third Stage of Digital Transformation“ The supply chain world is drowning in digital transformation promises. Every vendor claims their solution will revolutionize your operations. Every conference speaker talks about AI-powered forecasting, blockchain transparency, and IoT-enabled visibility. Yet despite billions invested in…
Do you always need the software package for Process Mining? Try Python instead…
Last year, I was sitting in yet another vendor demo for a process mining platform. The price tag? 6-figure$ for the first year, plus implementation costs. The sales rep was enthusiastic about their revolutionary(!) capabilities, but I couldn’t help thinking: “I could build something more tailored for a fraction of this cost.“ That’s when it…
Beyond the Desk: Why Supply Chain Leaders Must Embrace Field-Based Leadership?
“A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world,” wrote master storyteller John le Carré, and nowhere does this observation ring truer than in modern supply chain management. In an era where global supply networks span continents and encompass thousands of touchpoints, the supply chain executive who remains tethered to their office…
The Evolution of EDI: 60 Years of Transforming Global Supply Chains (1965–2025)
Introduction Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has been the backbone of B2B communications for 60 years, revolutionizing how businesses exchange documents like purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices. Since the first EDI message was sent in 1965 via telex by the Holland-America Line, this technology has grown from a niche innovation to a mandatory requirement for large retailers and global…
Dunbar Number, Can it Dump Supply Chain Management?
In the 1990s, British anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed a fascinating idea: humans have a cognitive limit to the number of meaningful relationships they can maintain somewhere between 100 and 250, with 150 being the most commonly cited figure. This concept, known as the Dunbar number, suggests that beyond this threshold, our ability to manage stable social connections breaks down. But what…
🌐 Staying Secure on the Go: WiFi Safety Tips for Traveling Professionals 🌐
In today’s fast-paced world, professionals are constantly on the move. Whether you’re attending conferences, meeting clients, or working remotely, hotel WiFi has become an essential tool for staying connected. However, public networks—especially those in hotels—are often unsecured, making them a prime target for cybercriminals. That’s the awareness about WiFi Safety is crucial. As a traveling…