Neurodiverse people have amazing talents that help them shine in logistics roles, but they also face unique challenges that can make it difficult to thrive in the workplace.

In this Unboxing Logistics episode, Dylan Telford and Jarlath Phelan from Summit Advisory Team share their personal experiences with neurodivergence. They and Lori discuss what neurodivergent people bring to the table, how they can be themselves, and what coworkers and leaders can do to foster inclusivity.

Lori starts the episode with a surprising statistic. According to a recent study, 58% of people in the logistics and supply chain industry identify as neurodivergent—more than double what you’d see in other industries!

Jarlath’s reaction to the stat? “It makes a lot of sense. There's a lot of pattern recognition [in logistics]. There's a lot of creative thinking required … it makes total sense that that's what neurodivergent people are drawn to.”

According to Dylan, the best way for neurodivergent people to work well with neurotypical coworkers—and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts—is to communicate openly.

He says, “When I got my diagnosis, I learned that the more open I was, the easier it was … to be part of a community of people that's all trying to make work … as easy as it can be for everybody.”

For example, after hearing feedback about talking too much, Dylan began asking coworkers to interrupt him if he was getting off track, telling them, “You need to stop me when you have enough [information].”

Jarlath and Dylan both weigh in on what logistics leaders can do to help neurodivergent employees have great experiences at work.

Jarlath’s request is simple: “Just treat me as an individual.”

Dylan adds that while leaders should definitely make an effort to be inclusive of neurodivergent individuals, they also need to recognize that inclusive workplaces benefit everyone.

“You're not creating quiet places to work in the office for people who are neurodivergent. You're creating quiet places in the office for people who may need time that is quieter … for what they do. And that could be anybody.”

• Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-telford-b7404769/
• Connect with Jarlath on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarlathphelan/
• Visit Summit Advisory Team’s website: https://summitadvisoryteam.com/

Blue Yonder recently released their 2025 Global Consumer Retail Returns Survey, and it’s jam-packed with insights.

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Lori sits down with Tim Robinson, senior vice president and general manager at Blue Yonder, to talk through the survey’s findings and offer practical suggestions for handling returns effectively.

As Tim points out, most businesses automatically equate returned items with lost profits, assuming they’ll never be able to resell the products that customers send back. But with the right tools and strategies, this doesn’t have to be the reality.

Tim explains, “The philosophical shift is [that] you have to consider these items assets. This is real-life inventory, which can be resold for full value on Wednesday.”

He continues, “If you use technology to treat returning items in exactly the same way you would a brand new outbound item—i.e. you use technology to know where it is, what it is, when it's coming, to forecast [how] to sell it, to fulfill it, to ship it—then actually, [there’s] a very high likelihood that you'll be able to resell that item … for the vast majority of its [original] sale price.”

One of the survey’s findings is that 2025 had fewer “keep-it” returns than 2024. Tim shares a possible reason why brands are avoiding this type of return.

When a business lets someone keep an item, they’re sending a subtle message that the item is low-value. “It basically means it costs them more money to deal with it than its value. If you are the consumer, how does that make you feel about that item?”

With some shoppers taking advantage of generous return policies, many businesses have added stricter rules. Should you do the same?

According to Tim, the months leading up to peak season aren’t the time to make changes. Instead, it’s best to focus on creating a great customer experience.

“I definitely feel like this is not a time to tighten your policy. … This is not a time to … make it harder for people to shop, because ultimately we all survive and grow and thrive if consumers still feel compelled to shop at this time of year.”

• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-robinson-ceo/
• Visit Blue Yonder’s website: https://blueyonder.com/
• The Global Consumer Retail Returns Survey: https://blueyonder.com/media/2025/blue-yonder-survey-stricter-returns-policies-deter-global-consumer-spending
• Survey infographic: https://blueyonder.com/resources/consumer-data-from-blue-yonder-can-help-retailers-optimize-returns

Last week, Lori Boyer and Tom Butt attended Parcel Forum, where EasyPost was the official AI in logistics sponsor. In addition to presenting on AI tools, Lori and Tom got a chance to talk with shippers about the problems they’re facing—and how artificial intelligence can help.

They share their takeaways in this episode of Unboxing Logistics.

Tom noticed a pattern at Parcel Forum: businesses were curious about adopting AI logistics technology, but they weren’t sure whether to make the leap.

He says, “Everyone … was talking and comparing notes and saying, ‘This AI thing, is it a buzzword? How are you guys using it? When is the starting gun going to go off?’”

AI is a powerful tool for collecting and analyzing data, but its capabilities go way beyond data analysis. For example, AI tools like Luma by EasyPost can identify weak areas in your shipping operations and suggest improvements.

Tom gives an example. “[You can] see if there are … delays within your carrier network. Where are those occurring? Is it pre-transit exceptions, [where] you're printing a label, but it's not scanning into the carrier network?”

“AI is going to help you identify where those exceptions are and potentially make some recommendations on how to address those things.”

One of the biggest mistakes Tom sees shippers make is not getting started with AI now. By waiting for other businesses to lead the way, these hesitant players risk getting left behind.

On the other hand, being an early adopter gives you a competitive edge.

He says, “I can tell you right now, there's not going to be a starting gun. And those that adopt AI and start to build it into some methodologies, build it into frameworks, are going to have a head start and a leg up.”

• Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombutt/
• Visit EasyPost’s website: www.easypost.com