Supply Chain Innovation Trends

Multimodal logistics is often misunderstood. It is seen as slow, complex, or difficult to coordinate. But in reality, when it’s done correctly, with integrated systems and smart working data, multimodal is not only more efficient but also essential to the future of resilient, sustainable supply chains. Across Europe, we’re proving that multimodal logistics isn’t simply about connecting ports, rail, and inland hubs: it’s about orchestrating them through a single, intelligent ecosystem. This enables seamless handovers and lower carbon emissions, resulting in greater reliability for our customers. Take our inland hubs across the region. Moving more cargo via rail, supported by real-time visibility and predictive data, we’re helping businesses decarbonise without compromising speed or service. It’s not just about moving goods from one location to another, it's about thinking how we get them there and why we choose to do it that way. This approach is helping our customers navigate rising costs, regulatory pressure, and shifting consumer expectations. It offers a blueprint for the wider industry: logistics that are not only connected but also integrated. Multimodality isn’t a complex process. It’s a smarter and more strategic way forward.

🚄 From Gati Shakti to Smart Shakti: Reinventing India’s Multimodal Terminals India’s logistics transformation is entering its most decisive phase. The Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) Policy of 2021 laid the foundation for private investment in rail-linked logistics infrastructure. But the next frontier is not just physical connectivity — it’s digital intelligence. A Smart Gati Shakti Terminal (SGST) represents this evolution — where rail, road, waterway, and air interfaces converge seamlessly through technology, sustainability, and data-driven operations. Imagine a terminal where every wagon, truck, and container is geo-tagged and IoT-tracked. Where an AI-powered Terminal Management System forecasts rake demand, schedules loading, and optimizes dwell time. Where digital twins replicate real-time operations in a command centre, enabling predictive maintenance and 24×7 visibility. Such a Smart Terminal is not a futuristic dream. It is the logical next step for India’s multimodal logistics ecosystem under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Key components of a Smart GCT include: ✅ RFID and GPS-enabled cargo tracking ✅ E-gates, ANPR, and automated weighbridges ✅ AI-based scheduling and blockchain-enabled documentation ✅ Solar rooftops, EV charging, and green building certification ✅ Drones for surveillance and yard management ✅ Integrated multimodal connectivity (rail–road–water–air) The benefits are measurable — 30–40% faster turnaround, 20% lower logistics costs, and significant reduction in carbon footprint. It’s a transformation from “terminal as infrastructure” to “terminal as ecosystem.” To achieve this, a new class of partnerships is essential — between Railways, private logistics players, EPC firms, and technology integrators. The success of this model will define how India handles the 2 billion tonnes of incremental freight expected by 2030. The Smart Gati Shakti Terminal is thus not merely an upgrade — it’s the digital backbone of India’s supply chain resilience. It embodies the spirit of “One Nation – One Network – One Digital Logistics System.” As someone who has seen the Indian Railways evolve over decades, I believe this is the moment to turn our cargo terminals into intelligent, green, and globally competitive logistics hubs — ready for the Viksit Bharat era. #GatiShakti #SmartLogistics #IndianRailways #Infrastructure #Innovation #ViksitBharat #DigitalIndia #Sustainability #RailFreight #Multimodal

🚀 Excited to share my latest project: a fully autonomous Smart Warehouse Management System built using the Agent Communication Protocol (ACP)! This innovative system features four intelligent agents InventoryBot, OrderProcessor, LogisticsBot, and WarehouseManager working seamlessly together to manage stock, schedule deliveries, and handle reorders, all through standardized, real-time communication. 🌟 What is ACP?   ACP is a framework that enables autonomous agents to communicate effectively using structured messages with defined performatives (e.g., ASK, REQUEST_ACTION, TELL, CONFIRM). It ensures clear, reliable interactions, making it ideal for complex systems like smart warehouses where coordination is key. 🌟 How It Works:   Scenario 1: Stock Alert & Reorder - The OrderProcessor checks stock levels with InventoryBot and triggers reorders to maintain minimum availability (e.g., reordering to fill low laptop stock).  Scenario 2: Delivery Scheduling - The WarehouseManager directs LogisticsBot to schedule deliveries of goods, with LogisticsBot confirming the schedule including a tracking ID for transparency.  Scenario 3: Low Stock Management - InventoryBot alerts the WarehouseManager of low stock (e.g., 5 tablets), prompting a confirmation that 15 tablets are needed; the WarehouseManager then requests OrderProcessor to place an order for 15 tablets, with OrderProcessor confirming via a PO number.  The interactive frontend visualizes these interactions, complete with a Statistics dashboard (e.g., total messages: 6, active conversations: 3, registered agents: 4) to monitor performance, making it perfect for real-world adoption. 🏭Impact on Logistics: This solution transforms the logistics industry by reducing manual oversight, optimizing stock levels, and streamlining delivery schedules. With real-time data and automated reordering, warehouses can operate 24/7, cut costs, and improve customer satisfaction key drivers in today’s fast-paced supply chain. This showcase how AI and ACP can revolutionize warehouse management. Check out the demo video to see it in action!

Maximizing Flexibility in Picking Strategies with SAP EWM One of the most powerful features of SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) is its flexibility in defining picking strategies — far beyond what traditional SAP WM offered. In this post, I’ll walk through how these strategies can be configured and where customizing ends and coding begins. The Challenge: Prioritizing HUs/Bins When the same product exists in multiple storage types/bins, the goal is to intelligently guide the system to pick from the right HU/bin first. Common Picking Scenarios: 1. FIFO (First-In, First-Out): Prioritize HUs received earliest. 2. FEFO (First-Expiry, First-Out): Prioritize HUs closest to expiry. These were possible in SAP WM too — but here's where SAP EWM takes it to the next level. What Makes EWM Different? EWM introduces the concept of Quantity Classification, enabling you to differentiate between full pallet picks and partial picks — and apply separate strategies for each. 📌 Example Requirement #1: 📦 If the ODO quantity requires full pallets (Qty Classification = P): Priority 1: Pick full pallets Priority 2: Use FIFO among full pallets ✅ Achievable through specific stock removal rule setup. 📌 Example Requirement #2: 📦 If the ODO quantity is less than a full pallet: Priority 1: Pick the HU received first (FIFO) Priority 2: Prefer HUs with smaller quantities (ascending order) ✅ Also achievable through tailored stock removal rule setup. Smart Access Strategy Optimization By configuring Storage Type Search Sequence, we instruct SAP to: First search based on Qty Classification + WPT (Warehouse Process Type) Then fallback to search based on only WPT This approach ensures both scenarios are met efficiently — improving warehouse performance and picking accuracy. 💡 Whether you're setting up a basic FIFO strategy or implementing advanced pallet prioritization logic, SAP EWM empowers your warehouse to be smarter and more responsive. #SAP #EWM #WarehouseManagement #SupplyChain #DigitalTransformation #Logistics #SAPWMS #PickingStrategy #FIFO #FEFO #WarehouseOptimization

45% of fashion brands have committed to generating at least 10% of their revenue from circular business models by 2040. Can reverse logistics help them get there? 🤔 A new report by the Global Fashion Agenda and MAERSK highlights the crucial role of reverse logistics in driving circularity within the fashion industry. 🔄 With over 520 regulations worldwide pushing companies towards circularity and regionalization, the need for efficient reverse logistics systems is becoming increasingly critical. 🌍 Here are a few stats that stood out: 🟢 The global second-hand apparel market is expected to nearly double by 2027, reaching USD 350 billion. 🟢 Approximately 30% of all clothing produced globally remains unsold.  🟢 The global second-hand apparel market is expected to nearly double by 2027, reaching USD 350 billion. 🟢 Markets for fashion restoration, resale, repair, customization, and rental are already worth over USD 73 billion. The report emphasizes that a comprehensive approach to reverse logistics is needed, encompassing: ➡️ Network design: Expanding reverse logistics beyond consumer returns to capture and valorize post-industrial textile scrap flows and unsold goods. ➡️ Financial ownership: Establishing clear financial models to define roles, responsibilities, and profit-sharing, enhancing collaboration and investment. ➡️ Boosting collection volumes: Developing infrastructure for efficient collection and processing of textile waste, essential for scaling solutions and reducing recycled fiber costs. By embracing reverse logistics and collaborating closely with logistics partners, fashion companies can optimize their supply chains, reduce waste, and unlock new economic opportunities. ♻️ #circularfashion #sustainability #reverselogistics #fashionindustry #circulareconomy

Automation may have been the first evolution of warehouse management, what’s the next one? As someone looking after the supply chain of the business, I'm always on the lookout for transformative trends that can redefine how we manage supply chains. One of the most exciting trends that I have seen reshaping our industry recently is AI in warehouse management. AI is proving to be a game changer in optimizing warehouse operations, ensuring efficiency, and reducing costs. Here are some key insights and findings from leading research: 1.⁠ ⁠Enhanced Efficiency and Accuracy AI helps in automating repetitive tasks and improving precision. According to a study by McKinsey, AI-driven warehouse solutions can boost productivity by 20-30%. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robots, powered by AI, streamline the movement of goods, reducing human errors and operational delays. (McKinsey Digital, 2020) 2.⁠ ⁠Predictive Analytics and Demand Forecasting Machine learning algorithms can analyze past data to predict future demand patterns accurately. As per a report by Deloitte, predictive analytics can reduce forecasting errors by up to 50%, enabling better inventory management and fewer stockouts. (Deloitte, 2019) 3.⁠ ⁠Enhanced Inventory Management AI-enabled systems can monitor inventory levels in real-time and automate reordering processes. Gartner points out that AI can optimize stock levels, reducing holding costs by 20%. This ensures that we always have the right amount of stock at the right time. (Gartner, 2021) 4.⁠ ⁠Improved Decision-Making AI provides actionable insights through data analysis, helping managers make informed decisions. A Harvard Business Review article highlighted that 72% of companies leveraging AI for decision support reported significant improvements in operational efficiency. (Harvard Business Review, 2020) 5.⁠ ⁠Sustainability and Cost Reduction AI not only aids in operational efficiency but also contributes to sustainability. Smart energy management and optimized routing decrease carbon footprints. According to the Environmental Leader, integrating AI can reduce warehouse energy consumption by up to 30%. (Environmental Leader, 2021) 6.⁠ ⁠Real-time Monitoring and Maintenance AI can predict maintenance needs of equipment before they fail, minimizing downtime. PwC research indicates that predictive maintenance can lower maintenance costs by 25% and reduce unexpected failures by 70%. (PwC, 2019) At Nahdi Medical Co., we're actively exploring AI-driven solutions to elevate our warehouse management systems. By embracing these technologies, we aim to continue delivering the highest standards of efficiency, accuracy, and service to our partners and patients alike. #SupplyChain #WarehouseManagement #AI #Innovation #Logistics #DigitalTransformation #NahdiMedical

In today's fast-paced global marketplace, artificial intelligence is transforming how companies manage inventory and track freight with unprecedented accuracy and insight. AI-powered forecasting is no longer a futuristic concept—it's a game-changing reality. By analyzing massive datasets, machine learning algorithms can now: ◽ Predict inventory requirements with remarkable precision, helping companies optimize stock levels and reduce costly overstock or stockout scenarios. ◽ Identify complex patterns in demand fluctuations that human analysts might miss, enabling more proactive and strategic inventory management. ◽ Dynamically adjust forecasts in real-time, accounting for external factors like seasonal trends, economic shifts, and unexpected market disruptions. But the innovation doesn't stop at inventory. AI is revolutionizing freight tracking by: ◽ Providing real-time, hyper-accurate estimated times of arrival (ETAs) by processing data from multiple sources. ◽ Predicting potential logistical challenges and suggesting optimal routing. ◽ Enhancing transparency and allowing businesses to make more informed decisions about their supply chains. ◽ Simplifying exception management, enabling quicker responses to disruptions by identifying issues as they arise and recommending corrective actions. The result? Unprecedented efficiency, reduced costs, and a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global economy. Are you leveraging AI to transform your supply chain management? Let's discuss the future of smart logistics! #AIInnovation #SupplyChain #FutureOfLogistics #DataDrivenDecisions

The logistics industry has reached a pivotal crossroads of transformation. The current fragmentation and inefficiencies drain resources and generate significant environmental impacts. At the same time, emerging technologies—electrification, autonomous vehicles, drone delivery, artificial intelligence, and geospatial data analysis—are integrating with emerging circular economy principles to show us how we could redesign logistic systems to be more productive and environmentally sustainable. DESIGNING AN ECOSYSTEM TO GENERATE SOLUTIONS To generate these new solutions, we need to bring partners together. A productive ecosystem will speed the flow of resources to promising solutions to the future of logistics. An ecosystem has four critical dimensions: talent and technology, learning and innovating networks, creation spaces, and opportunity narratives. In my experience, the place to start is to focus on the opportunity narrative. And that's where scenarios come in. Consider these scenarios for the future of logistics. SMART LOGISTICS NETWORKS Our current logistics system is highly fragmented. Parties handle different segments of goods movement, and data does not easily flow from segment to segment. These information silos create waste. Now imagine a system in which information flows alongside the movement of physical goods. The entire supply chain becomes visible and responsive. The physical infrastructure supports low-impact, autonomous vehicles moving in dedicated lanes on highways and urban corridors. SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR LOGISTICS Our current logistics systems are designed around single-use products flowing linearly. But imagine a logistic system designed around circular pathways, environmental principles, and resource conservation. The physical infrastructure promotes renewable energy integration in both vehicles and buildings. AI technologies enable tracking goods and the collection of returned products, packaging, and reusable materials for remanufacturing and recycling. ADAPTIVE REGIONAL LOGISTICS The pandemic exposed the fragility of our global logistic systems. Imagine a logistic system focused on resilience at a regional scale. Logistic networks are reorganized around regional economies, each with unique capabilities. Dynamic adaptation to changing conditions becomes easier at a regional scale. Regional distribution hubs—which balance efficiency with flexibility and adaptability—integrate multiple transportation options. Advanced scenario planning frameworks enable networks of trusted partners to adjust to unexpected challenges. SMART CROSSROADS: AN EMERGING ECOSYSTEM OF OPPORTUNITY Led by a partnership between Wabash and Purdue University, we have taken on the challenge of designing future logistics systems. These designs will incorporate elements from these three scenarios and more. I'm headed to Purdue next week to take the next step in our journey. 

What are the most exciting startups in the supply chain & logistics space right now? Here’s one we’re excited by: Two Boxes 📦 📦 I first met Kyle Bertin & Evan Stalter at Manifest in February. It felt like everyone and their mother was telling me about them. “You gotta meet Kyle & Evan at Two Boxes.” I had a free moment and decided walk over to their booth. Within 60 seconds it became clear: they’ve designed something that solves a true hair-on-fire problem and have done it with incredibly high empathy for their customers. Brands have a growing list of technologies they can pick from these days for returns / reverse-logistics: Loop, AfterShip, Happy Returns, a UPS Company, etc. As a 3PL servicing these brands, your customers might each be using a different returns tool, each with a unique SOP. This adds complexity and increases the time spent on every return (among a laundry list of other issues). For brands, this can delay the rate at which returned products are back-to-stock and deteriorate customer service. Two Boxes recognized this and partnered with all the top RMA providers (fancy jargon for returns companies) to put them under one roof for 3PLs. Here’s how it works for eComm brands: 1. Connect Two Boxes with your 3PL provider 2. Two Boxes digitizes return SOPs, integrates with your 3PL or warehouse team, and train staff on their return processing software. 3. Your 3PL can now process your returns up to 2x faster and Two Boxes collects real-time data on all of your returns as they are processed 🔥 Are you using Two Boxes? If not, check them out! (p.s., they didn’t pay or even ask me to write this - I was just so impressed I had to write something!) #startups #supplychain #logistics #warehousing #fulfillment #reverselogistics #returns

There's a piece of tech sitting in the background of most warehouses. Nobody's talking about it—yet it's quietly rewriting the rules of supply chain efficiency 👇 It's not flashy AI or cutting-edge robotics. It's the humble Warehouse Management System (WMS). Here's why it's a game-changer: 1. Real-time inventory tracking No more guesswork. You know exactly what you have, where it is, and when it's moving. 2. Optimized picking routes Workers spend less time wandering, more time picking. Efficiency skyrockets. 3. Automated replenishment Stock never runs low. The system tells you what to reorder and when. 4. Labor management Track productivity, identify bottlenecks, and coach your team to peak performance. 5. Integration with other systems Your WMS talks to your ERP, your transport management, your e-commerce platform. Everything's connected. 6. Data-driven decision making Every action in your warehouse generates data. Use it to continuously improve. 7. Scalability As your business grows, your WMS grows with you. No more growing pains. The best part? It's not just for the big players anymore. Small and medium-sized businesses can leverage this tech too. If you're not using a WMS, you're leaving money on the table. And if you are? Make sure you're squeezing every ounce of value from it. Your competitive edge might just be hiding in plain sight. Optimize your WMS, optimize your business. #SupplyChainInnovation #WarehouseEfficiency #InventoryManagement #LogisticsTech #BusinessAutomation #SmallBizSolutions #DataAnalytics #WMSAdvantages