The Big Picture: 2025 Wi Be…
SUPPLY CHAIN BUZZWORDS
INFLATION We have been experiencing the longest and deepest freight recession on record. With continued carrier exits due to unsustainable unit economics and a shift back toward the consumption of goods, we are likely to see freight rate inflation. Additionally, inflation on goods and services will remain top of mind for consumers as it has greatly impacted purchasing power the past few years. – JARED WEISFELD , Chief Strategy Ocer, RXO
An AI ti ing point —where machine learning systems become sophisticated enough to evaluate and accelerate many operational decisions. This convergence of artificial intelligence and vast data availability applied within the business context of supply chain performance will create the largest operational transformation since the invention of containerized shipping. – MARK TALENS , Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Solution Ocer, ParkourSC
RISK MITIGATION With an increasing sense of economic and geopolitical uncertainty in the air, proactive risk mitigation will take center stage.
– CHAO MING YING , Chief Technology Ocer, New Horizon Soft
A about cyber- security Intensifying cybersecurity threats and supply chain disruptions
COSTTOSERVE In the face of geopolitical challenges ahead, organizations will need to leverage their supply chains to reduce costs. Traditional methods for margin improvement may no longer suce, necessitating a granular assessment of cost-to-serve. – MARY ROLLMAN , Supply Chain Leader, KPMG
will accelerate cloud adoption.
COLLABORATION Companies will lean on strong shipper- carrier partnerships to navigate disruptions and volatility. – MATT MUENSTER , Chief Economist, Breakthrough
– JOHN CARRICO , Vice President, Product Management, Epicor
Protection against cybersecurity incidents, which are becoming more frequent and severe, needs to be a top priority for the supply chain, which has historically underinvested in this area. As part of every digital transformation eort, it’s critical to evaluate existing systems and processes, putting security at the forefront. – MATT ELENJICKAL , Founder and CEO, FourKites
Collaboration can be a win-win. Every stakeholder is looking for ways to become more ecient, and this often involves working with suppliers and other partners to also make them more ecient, with mutual benefit. We see it in our own business, where retail partners within our pallet ecosystem, in an eort to improve their own costs, have provided opportunities to expand our footprint within their network. – JEFF PEPPERWORTH , President and CEO, iGPS Logistics
94 Inbound Logistics • January 2025
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