Let's Talk Supply Chain

Mary Casillo & Patrick Noone of Pallet Alliance talk about people, process, partnership & performance, & how their unique approach drives results for customers.   
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
 
[03.22] An introduction to Patrick and Mary, their backgrounds, and roles at Pallet Alliance.
[04.42] An overview of Pallet Alliance, and the importance of using fit for purpose pallets.
[07.20] What this year's MODEX theme, 'From Every Angle,' means to Pallet Alliance and supply chain optimization.
"If you look at something from every angle, you're able to optimize it to the best it can be… And you're able to fix it from every angle."
"It's the opportunity to tear something apart and say: 'How do we put this back together for you?'"
[09.18] Why designing custom pallet programs is like playing Tetris, or being a detective.
"Every customer is different, you have to figure out what fits where… And you're factfinding along the way."
[10.37] A closer look at the journey to developing a new pallet program, from sourcing and testing through to suppliers and transportation, exactly why that process is so challenging, and Pallet Alliance's approach to problem-solving.
"The amount of work is monumental. We're so successful because we do all of it for them with our pallet management program… We want to make people in procurement look good."
[14.38] What makes Pallet Alliance's process different from traditional sourcing approaches.
[17.00] In a landscape increasingly defined by AI, why Pallet Alliance strive to find the balance between people and technology, and why AI is only as good as the data you feed it.
"Part of the challenge we have now is that people understand that the data is wrong, but they don't want to invest the time to allow us to fix it for them. Or, it's that automatic RFQ, without thinking about bad data in, bad analysis out."
[24.19] The kind of impact Pallet Alliance customers typically see, and how they can continue to uncover substantial savings across locations even with long-term customers.
"We can save millions year over year through cost savings, more efficiency, and education in general."
"We're all pallet heads!!"
[26.04] What results can look like for Pallet Alliance customers, and how to measure them.
"We don't have a crystal ball, but we can see where things are going. And if we can see that, we can be proactive instead of reactive, and that's something our customers really appreciate."
[28.19] A selection of case studies exploring how Pallet Alliance have helped customers avoid fines, improve customer experience, meet high demand, and utilize improved materials to boost resilience and drive huge cost savings.
[33.46] Where teams should start when approaching a new pallet program, and the small steps they can take towards making meaningful change.
[36.00] What Mary and Patrick want listeners to take away from today's discussion.
"Pallets and crates are way more complicated than you think!!"
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
 
Head over to Pallet Alliance's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Pallet Alliance and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or X (Twitter) or you can connect with Mary or Patrick on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Pallet Alliance, check out epsidoes:
501: Uncover Hidden Inefficiencies and Opportunities, with Pallet Alliance
482: Transform the Way Your Business Moves, with Pallet Alliance
146: A Holistic Approach to Pallets
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Scott Kramer of Infios talks about intelligent supply chain execution; why visibility & optimization are key building blocks; & leveraging AI the right way. 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
 
[02.25] An introduction to Scott, his role at Infios, and his background.
[03.20] An overview of Infios, who they are, and what they do.
[03.50] The ethos that has informed Infios's journey with AI and new technology.
"From the beginning, our solution has been based around adaptability and openness. And now, with the advent of not just AI but AMRs, that openness has allowed us to navigate these waters more easily. We're flexible in how we can operate in this environment."
[05.51] Why visibility and optimization are the building blocks for AI-enhanced execution.
"Visibility and optimization are still important… But when we add the agents, they can understand what's going on, prescribe solutions, and take away a lot of the heavy lifting of research and analysis."
[06.41] What Infios's recent supply chain execution readiness report reveals about how leaders are thinking about execution and optimization, particularly around manual workflows.
"Some workflows have been optimized, but only within their silo. They may have optimized a workflow for transportation or warehouse – but how do you connect them?"
[09.14] The biggest issue in the market right now with AI understanding and adoption.
"People are asking us: "What are you doing right now with AI?" And that's the wrong question."
[11.15] Where Scott sees companies on the reactive vs proactive scale right now, why mindset is still a limiting factor, and how visibility is changing.
"People are still thinking in the ways they've traditionally solved problems. They're thinking about automating a single task; they're not thinking about connecting the dots together."
[13.25] How leaders are thinking about the future of technology.
"The art of what's possible has changed."
[15.03] Why many AI pilots still aren't getting off the ground, and how we can actually create value from AI investments.
"I've seen all too often: 'I have a great technology, now let me go and search for a problem.' We really need to start with the problem, then define the technology. AI is an amazing tool, when leveraged correctly."
[18.13] What intelligent, connected execution should actually look like.
[20.54] Training AI slowly, how bias is holding us back, and discovering what's really possible with AI.
[22.53] The benefits to teams and businesses when they achieve intelligent, connected execution.
[24.18] The small steps teams can take now to position for success.
"Don't think of it as an LMS problem, WMS problem or TMS problem. Ultimately, it's a customer problem."
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
 
Head over to Infios' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Infios and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Scott on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Infios, check out 520: Enter the New Era of Supply Chain Management, with Infios or 532: Turning Purposeful AI into Business Outcomes, with Infios.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Mark Fralick of IFS Softeon talks about what they do; measuring your warehouse tech ROI; joining IFS; being nimble; & embracing a limitless philosophy.    
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[03.27] Why Mark is still so passionate about supply chain after over 30 years in the industry.
"I was in the industry before Amazon made it cool!... I'm driven by this idea of inspiration, it feeds me when folks come to us with ideas and notions… there's nothing better."
[04.20] An introduction to Mark, his background, and how he came to join IFS Softeon.
[05.17] Softeon's recent acquisition by IFS.
[06.30] What the IFS acquisition means for Softeon, and the new chapter it unlocks for them and their clients.
"All the things that made us successful are going to stay the same. But being part of IFS now allows us to tap into industrial AI and the abilities that being part of a larger, AI-forward organization brings."
[08.40] The ideal client for IFS Softeon.
[09.37] Why being nimble is critical in the current climate.
"A lot of people don't think about that as a core competency of a system. But it should be! Speed is life in our world."
[11.18] The importance of flow, recognizing that every business and warehouse is different, and why IFS Softeon's approach to solution design is a key differentiator for them.
"I tend not to believe in industry practices, we should just eliminate bad practices and adopt good ones… I don't want to force some industry standard… We orient our systems to be micro-tuned to your business."
[14.46] IFS Softeon's unique 'challenge and refine' process, and how it helps achieve that all-important flow.
"It's co-ordinated movement, and that's the key."
[16.05] What AI and new technology looks like now for IFS Softeon, and how it's helping companies combat variability and unlock the next level of optimization and resilience.
"If you're going to employ digital workers, you need the same ability to have measurable results that you would expect from a team member, so how do you do that? We have a circular approach to define what the digital worker does, validate the results, tune it – and create a feedback loop."
[20.20] How to determine which technology ROI measurement is right for your warehouse.
[22.39] IFS Softeon's unique philosophy of being limitless, and what that means for technology, competitive advantage and positioning for the future.
[26.16] Why Mark is so focused on time-to-value when it comes to new projects and clients.
[28.07] The other exciting announcements IFS Softeon are sharing at MODEX.
"It's a really cool, best-of-both-worlds approach."
[30.46] Mark's key takeaway from today's discussion.
 
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to IFS Softeon's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with IFS Softeon and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Ilhan Kolko of Aviro360 talks about yard blindness and how visibility & clearer decision-making shifts teams from reactive execution to predictable performance.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[02.31] An introduction to Ilhan and the career journey that led him to Aviro360.
[03.39] The industry challenges that led to the creation of Aviro360, and why they 'built what the industry needed.'
"It's a huge industry, and you have all these generations of technology within the yard and warehouse. But at the yard level, visibility is rare... And you can't manage what you can't see."
[05.13] The ideal client for Aviro360.
[05.59] Exactly what yard blindness means, and what Aviro360 research highlights around where and how it shows up.
"There's not a lack of software in the industry! But there's a lack of real-time input from the yard. You don't know where assets are, who checked in and out, how long it took to process – and you don't have control over the decisions being made."
[07.45] From congestion to safety, the big business impacts of yard blindness.
"To mitigate, operators either slow down, to not make mistakes – so the entire operations slow down – or they rush, and give up on safety and security."
[09.34] Why yard blindness is causing decision latency, and how that impacts throughput and reliability.
"It's all about data confidence. Decision latency is not only an inefficiency, but your service quality also goes down. Everything you offer to your customers, everything in your ecosystem – it's all impacted negatively. There's brand erosion that goes along with it."
"If you have 6,000 containers in the yard, we can capture the entire inventory in less than an hour, with 99% accuracy."
[13.45] Shifting visibility from passive to actionable to drive results, without manual labor.
"When you have reliable data, used in a proactive way, it helps us execute workflows perfectly."
[15.31] How Aviro360 solutions bridge the gap and work alongside existing systems to solve issues with legacy tech and siloes.
"We don't want to be a system of record – we want to be a system of reality."
[18.23] What integration and onboarding looks like with Aviro360.
[20.34] How better visibility and clearer decision-making helps teams move from reactive execution to predictable performance.
[21.47] How Aviro360 helps customers save more than $650,000 per year, per site.
"We've become part of our customers AI transformation story."
[24.26] 'This is real' – Ilhan's final takeaway from today's discussion.
 
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to Aviro360's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Aviro360 and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Ilhan on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Meagan Gauthier of TGW Logistics talks about how 3PLs and consultants are reshaping warehouse automation, and the business potential in transformation.  
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
 
[02.13] An introduction to Meagan and her role at TGW Logistics.
"I have an engineering background, so that allows me to connect the operational KPI's to the financial realities and ROI in a very practical way. I help simplify automation decisions, align stakeholders and help clients feel more confident in investment in automation."
[03.27] An overview of TGW Logistics – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
"We are Team Possible!"
[05.33] The evolution of the warehouse automation industry, the impact of decisions made during the pandemic, and where the industry is now.
"The industry has shifted from an urgency-based automation to a strategy-based automation... We're seeing companies hone in on smart, scalable, flexible integration and total system performance."
[08.18] With a 2025 survey revealing that 63% of respondents say their operations are still fully manual, where TGW see organizations on their automation and integration journeys, and the mindset shift that's starting to move the needle.
[11.20] How leading 3PLs and consultants are reshaping warehouse automation, and the one thing that's top of mind for all of them.
[14.12] The common gaps TGW see between expectations and strategy decks and real-world execution, the key focus areas to drive success, and why culture is critical.
"Feedback is a gift!"
[17.26] How integrators can partner more successfully with consultants, the questions they should be asking, and the mindset they should be embracing to drive success.
"It starts with curiosity and neutral alignment."
[18.50] Who actually influences decisions when multiple stakeholders are involved in transformation projects, from executives and operations to finance and IT, and how teams can navigate that complexity.
"The teams that can translate and speak the language of their stakeholders, those are the teams that win."
[20.42] Meagan's approach to building long-term partnerships, not just transactional sales.
[21.56] TGW's 3D walkthrough that brings typically 2D product demos to life.
[23.18] The potential business impact that can be achieved through successful warehouse automation.
"Warehouse automation, done right, is a competitive advantage not a cost center."
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
 
Head over to TGW Logistics' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TGW and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, or you can connect with Meagan on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more from TGW Logistics, check out 465: Your Fulfillment Transformation Starts Now, with TGW Logistics.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.