The Supply Chainer

Major retail supply chains are facing a growing decision-making challenge. As network redesigns, automation programs, and service transformation initiatives increase in scale and complexity, many organizations are struggling to understand how strategic decisions will affect day-to-day operations before implementation. That is one of the central findings of Kallikor's new Deciding in the Dark report, based on research conducted among 200 senior retail supply chain leaders in t

Operational pressure is mounting as tariff uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capacity constraints reshape how companies approach transportation strategy. What once centered on aggressive rate negotiations has shifted toward building reliable access and resilience in an increasingly unpredictable global environment. For many transportation and logistics leaders, the challenge is no longer simply securing the lowest available rate. The growing frequency of disruptions has

Operational pressure is mounting on planning teams as manual approvals slow response times amid volatile demand and tight margins. High-volume decisions in inventory, supply prioritization, and exception handling increasingly risk lost revenue or excess costs when delayed. Planning teams across manufacturing, retail, and distribution networks face significant challenges with traditional manual processes. Planners are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of daily adjustments requir

The world’s container fleet stands at approximately 33.6 million TEU across more than 6,700 vessels. This capacity supports massive annual trade volumes, yet the real picture for retail and manufacturing supply chain leaders is one of constant anxiety. Asia holds 50-60% of active containers, Europe and North America 15-20% each, with 20-30% always at sea. The fear is real: one major disruption can turn predictable ocean legs into weeks of uncertainty, stockouts, and eroded ma

Everyone seems to be developing a new AI platform that will forever change the world of supply chains. But will it really? Let’s review a few facts about AI and what it means for retail business strategies. Artificial Intelligence is the study of the “general principles of rational agents and components for constructing them” (Russell and Norvig 2016). On the other hand, agents are systems that can take actions based on the inputs they perceive. A rational agent is thus “one

Yard management continues to expose one of the most persistent operational bottlenecks in modern logistics. Despite heavy investments in transportation management systems, warehouse automation, and advanced forecasting tools, many facilities still rely on fragmented visibility and manual processes at the physical point where inbound trailers, outbound loads, dock scheduling, labor, and inventory converge. Execution gaps here quickly cascade into broader network disruptions, a

The past month delivered several high-level appointments in supply chain and logistics, concentrated in retail, healthcare, and specialized services. These moves point to ongoing pressure to tighten global execution, control costs, and improve reliability amid persistent volatility. Target Appoints Jeff England as EVP, Chief Global Supply Chain and Logistics Officer Target named Jeff England EVP, Chief Global Supply Chain and Logistics Officer, effective May 31, 2026. He join

Last week, South Africa launched its first off-grid EV charging corridor between Johannesburg and Durban, a workaround designed to bypass the country’s strained power grid as electric transport adoption accelerates. The project reflects a broader operational reality emerging across logistics networks globally: electrification is moving faster than the infrastructure needed to support it. According to Reuters, "AutoTrader reported a 45% year-on-year increase in EV searches bet

Warehouse operators running multi-shift material handling fleets continue to face execution pressure around power system reliability. High upfront costs, infrastructure compatibility issues, and concerns over long-term support create hesitation even as lithium-ion adoption accelerates in high-throughput operations. Many facilities still operate with legacy charging setups and forklift fleets designed around lead-acid systems. This creates real operational bottlenecks when att

For years, procurement automation largely meant digitizing approvals, centralizing sourcing events, or reducing paperwork inside fragmented enterprise systems. The newest wave of procurement AI is targeting something far more ambitious: replacing operational labor itself. Across procurement software vendors, the language is shifting away from workflow automation and toward autonomous execution. Instead of helping buyers complete tasks faster, vendors increasingly claim their

For years, Israel’s defense industry operated under a relatively simple assumption: if demand existed, production capacity was available, and export licenses were approved, goods could move. That assumption is beginning to break down. The challenge facing Israeli exporters in 2026 is no longer limited to manufacturing or military demand. Increasingly, it is about logistics, routing, compliance, and political risk embedded deep inside the global supply chain itself. Ports, car

The daily reality and dilemmas described in this article were written based on extensive conversations with a Supply Chain Director of a large retail chain operating across Northern Europe. The executive asked to remain anonymous because he spoke without requesting official company approval. As this director shared with us, most of his Mondays begin the same way — reviewing performance reports from 62 distribution centers and warehouses. Some sites perform reasonably well, wh