We’re catching our breath after an incredible Innovation Day last week! Our mission to inspire, educate, and connect professionals driving innovation in supply chain management was a resounding success. An outstanding lineup of speakers from industry leading companies such as ABB, Honeywell, Kenco Group, Blue Yonder, CJ Logistics America, Penske Logistics, SVT Robotics, Softeon, SCT Advisory, Tone Solutions, AutoStore™, Cycle Labs, Kohler Co., Snowflake, Connors Group, and ThruPut Partners focused on key themes like digital transformation, design thinking, artificial intelligence, and change management. Attendees walked away with actionable strategies to enhance their own organizations, from robotics and automation to data analytics and supply chain visibility.

“We’re thrilled about the invaluable insights shared by our speakers and partners at this year’s Innovation Day,” said Jagan Reddy, managing partner at Netlogistik. “This event brought together industry leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies and transformative strategies that will shape the future of supply chain management. The knowledge and connections gained here will undoubtedly empower businesses to drive meaningful change and achieve greater efficiency.”

Among the highlights were stories from the trenches shared by our speakers. Ken Shotts, VP of Logistics and Inventory at ABB, presented Unlocking the Power of Digital Transformation: ABB's Journey to a Future-Ready Supply Chain, providing a deep dive into their transformation journey. Kristi Montgomery, VP Innovation, Research & Development from Kenco Group discussed and led a hands-on Design Thinking Workshop. Sean Moore, CIO of CJ Logistics America, shared insights on The Run, Grow, Transform Mantra: CJ Logistics' Guide to Digital Innovation. Ramu Pannala, VP of Supply Chain Technology from Penske Logistics stressed the importance of efficient transportation in his presentation, Driving Innovation: Automating Yard Management for Operational Excellence, while Jonathon Crafton, Systems Architect from Kohler demonstrated the value of test automation in improving speed and quality in Blue Yonder implementations.

One of the biggest takeaways from the event was a clear focus on four key themes to guide us as we close out the year:

• How to Lead Transformation: Learning to navigate digital transformation and its complexities is key as highlighted by Ken Shotts of ABB.

• Design Thinking: Kristi Montgomery from Kenco Group emphasized the power of design thinking in supply chain automation, encouraging attendees to leverage creativity in solving complex challenges.

• AI Innovations: Exciting advancements are making artificial intelligence widely accessible to supply chain users, offering practical tools to optimize operations.

• Change Management: Successfully managing change, both at a technological and cultural level, is essential to ensure smooth implementation of new systems and strategies.

We left Innovation Day feeling energized by the meaningful exchanges and inspired by the cutting-edge solutions that will shape the future of supply chains. Of course, we couldn't have done it without the incredible support of our sponsors: Honeywell, Blue Yonder, SVT Robotics, Softeon, SCT Advisory, AutoStore™, Cycle Labs, Connors Group, and Brokenatom. Their contributions were key in making the event a success and bringing valuable insights to the table.

We look forward to continuing these conversations at next year’s Innovation Day, set for September 10th at the Gleacher Center at the University of Chicago.