The New Warehouse Podcast

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin sits down with Jim Tompkins, Chairman of Tompkins Ventures, to unpack what lies ahead for global supply chains. With decades of experience shaping logistics strategy, Tompkins brings a clear-eyed perspective on what 2025 revealed, and why 2026 will demand even greater adaptability. The conversation explores tariff volatility, political uncertainty, and the strategic shifts leaders must make to stay competitive. From reshoring decisions to procurement’s expanding role, Tompkins explains why resilience is no longer optional. Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

In this solo episode, Kevin Lawton dives deep into the shifting sands of warehouse technology. Looking back at 2025, we explore how AI functioned as an "invisible layer" to optimize efficiency without disrupting the user experience, featuring callouts to ShipHero and Lully. Kevin also reinforces why the fundamentals still matter with clean data and dialed-in processes remaining the prerequisite for any successful automation project.As we turn the page to 2026, the focus shifts to Interactive AI and the massive wave of Vision Technology. From wearable vision tech to computer vision for inventory tracking, Kevin discusses how these accessible solutions are leveling up data capture for warehouses of all sizes.Key Topics Covered:The AI Evolution: Moving from back-end optimization to interactive, LLM-powered WMS interfaces.Vision Tech Dominance: Why 2026 will be the year of computer vision and wearables in the warehouse.Brownfield Innovation: How SMBs are utilizing existing racking and "less disruptive" automation.The Future Worker: Defining the new entry-level roles as material handling becomes increasingly automated.Community & Events: What’s coming to The New Warehouse in 2026, including the Warehouse Innovation event series.Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, where Kevin chats with Maia Benson, Chief Business Officer at FlavorCloud. Together, they discuss how tariffs, volatility, and regulation are reshaping global fulfillment. FlavorCloud is the ‘easy button’ for ensuring orders are fulfilled seamlessly around the globe. They help merchants and 3PLs manage cross-border logistics and compliance, acting as an abstraction layer between checkout and final delivery. In this conversation, Maia explains why 2025 marked a turning point for cross-border compliance, how tariffs disrupted sourcing and margins, and what fulfillment leaders must prepare for in 2026.Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, where Kevin chats with Summitt Hogue, Managing Partner at Growe 3PL Real Estate. Hogue has built his firm around one clear mission: helping mid-market, growth-minded 3PLs make smarter real estate decisions that directly support expansion. In this conversation, he breaks down why traditional brokerage models fail 3PL operators, how today’s market conditions have created rare opportunities, and what leaders should be doing now to position themselves for 2026. Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Alex Ramirez, CEO and co-founder of Cognitops. They discuss why warehouse data decision-making often fails the people who need it most. Ramirez draws from years spent on warehouse floors, not conference rooms, to explain how operators are overwhelmed by dashboards, reports, and status updates that don’t help them act in real time. Cognitops changes that reality. The conversation explores why most warehouses are “data rich and decision poor,” how decades-old WMS thinking still shapes modern systems, and why context and time matter more than static metrics. Ramirez also shares how Cognitops helps operators turn data into decisions that drive flow, improve productivity, and reduce chaos when plans inevitably break down.Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show