In an era where artificial intelligence dominates boardroom conversations, global supply chain leaders face a new challenge: separating hype from real, scalable value. As AI becomes an essential part of the enterprise toolkit, organizations are racing to implement it not just for efficiency, but also for empowering teams, making better decisions, and transforming entire value chains.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Anouk Schoenmakers, Managing Partner Consulting Solutions at Bluecrux, and Joy Taylor, Managing Director at Alliant Consulting, to explore how organizations can move beyond the AI buzz and create meaningful, people-centered transformation across the value chain. Together, they unpack how supply chain leaders can use AI not as a shiny object, but as an enabler of better, faster, and more confident decision-making.

Anouk shares why decision intelligence is now a survival skill for modern businesses, and how companies can build the agility and mindset needed to thrive amid constant disruption.

Joy offers her perspective on change management and the human side of digital transformation, explaining why technology alone isn’t enough without trust, transparency, and a people-first culture. From decoupling data and decision flows to scaling AI adoption through trust and clarity, they explore actionable insights for leaders ready to turn transformation into lasting impact.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:45) Meet Joy Taylor and Anouk Schoenmakers

(03:07) Personal insights and warm-up questions

(07:44) Diving into AI and supply chain

(16:37) The role of AI in decision making

(20:42) Decoupling physical and data flows

(24:08) Empowering people with AI

(27:21) Pro tip for leaders: eliminating barriers

(27:52) The forward pass analogy: embracing change

(28:51) Optimizing speed and scale in AI

(30:24) The importance of trust in AI adoption

(33:46) Change management: people first approach

(37:18) Building an AI culture

(40:18) Real-world AI success stories

(48:11) Exciting future for Bluecrux

Additional Links and Resources

• Connect with Joy Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-taylor-womanleader/
• Learn more about Alliant Consulting: https://alliantconsulting.com/
• Connect with Anouk Schoenmakers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anouk-schoenmakers-45a81713/
• Learn more about Bluecrux: https://www.bluecrux.com/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform:

The future of supply chain is accelerating, and today hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson are unpacking the innovations and investments transforming the industry. From AI-driven visibility to the “zero distance” strategy by GE Appliances, this episode dives deep into what’s next for supply chain leaders. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP!

Scott and Kevin are joined by Pam Simon, Conference Chair and EVP of Programming at Manifest, to explore how technology, leadership, and collaboration are driving a smarter, more resilient supply chain ecosystem.

Together, they discuss:

• How Steph Curry’s investment in the AI-powered startup Burnt is redefining the intersection of supply chain and the food industry
• GE Appliances’ zero-distance supply chain initiative and its impact on efficiency, technology adoption, and reshoring
• The rising influence of artificial intelligence in e-commerce, predictive analytics, and logistics optimization
• New features coming to Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, including a dedicated procurement stage and expanded cold chain focus
• Why real-time visibility and autonomous systems are key to future-ready supply chains

Listen in as Scott, Kevin, and Pam unpack the trends shaping 2026 and beyond — and share how today’s leaders can stay agile, connected, and innovative in a rapidly changing world.

Additional Links & Resources:

• Learn more about OMP: https://omp.com/
• “With That Said”: https://bit.ly/WTS-16Nov2025
• SPS Commerce 5 Question Quiz: https://www.spscommerce.com/supplychainnow/
• OMP ebook: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0pgvWp0
• Vector Global Logistics: https://vectorgl.com/
• Steph Curry & Burnt: https://tcrn.ch/4r9pOus
• Manifest Vegas 2026: https://bit.ly/ManifestSCN
• Connect with Pam Simon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgranoff4/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-next-global-supply-chains-ai-manifest-2026-1509

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Kim Reuter welcome Bobby Holland, Vice President/Director of Freight Business Analytics at U.S. Bank, and Heather Shilt, Director, Global Logistics at Fortive, to unpack Q3 2025 findings from the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, one of the industry’s most referenced trucking indicators, informed by tens of billions in transactions. The panel explores why volumes are down even as costs rise, how tariffs and manufacturing softness are reshaping regional performance, and where rate pressure and capacity tightness are showing up first.

Together, they dig into nine key takeaways from the national and regional views (West, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast): most significant sequential gains in the West in four years, persistent softness in the Southwest, and mixed signals elsewhere as consumer demand, housing starts, and labor dynamics tug the market in different directions. From shipper playbooks (carrier-mix depth, lane-level cost vigilance, and alternate modes) to practical watch-outs for Q4 and early 2026, this data-driven conversation equips operators to trend, plan, and pressure-test their assumptions in a volatile environment.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(06:26) Freight market overview

(07:09) National freight insights

(16:17) Regional analysis: West

(20:22) Regional analysis: Southwest

(22:05) Southwest region analysis

(22:25) Impact of construction activity on freight

(23:52) Midwest region insights

(26:16) Northeast region overview

(29:13) Southeast region trends

(33:06) Global supply chain leadership

(35:27) Freight market predictions

(41:10) Housing starts and freight impact

Additional Links & Resources:

• Download the complete Q3 2025 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://freight.usbank.com
• Learn more about U.S. Bank: https://www.usbank.com
• Learn more about Fortive: https://www.fortive.com
• Connect with Bobby Holland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-holland-4a9355/
• Connect with Heather Shilt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-shilt-4a867430/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
• Work with us! Download...