The Future of Supply Chain

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185

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Aug 2026

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The Future of Supply Chain podcast is a show hosted by Richard Howells, Sin To, and Oyku Ilgar. The trio discusses hot topics, best practices, and the latest innovations to deliver a risk-resilient and sustainable supply chain. The show features interviews with experts from the world of supply chain, sustainability, AI and automation, who will address the issues of today and tomorrow. This is an ideal podcast for supply chain, R&D, manufacturing, logistics, and operations executives to learn and share ideas and best practices with their peers.

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August 26, 2026Episode 17817 min

Episode 178: When Robots Become Coworkers with SAP's Lukasz Ostrowski

We explore what happens when robots become coworkers, from embodied AI and humanoid robots in manufacturing and logistics to workforce transformation, robot certifications, and the path toward a more autonomous supply chain. ===== What happens when your next coworker isn't human? In this episode, we sit down with SAP’s Dr. Lukasz Ostrowski to explore how embodied AI is stepping off the screen and onto the shop floor. Get a sneak peek at what the factory of the next decade could look like, and why the journey toward an autonomous supply chain is closer and more nuanced than the headlines suggest. Press play if you’re curious about where robotics is heading next, and what it means for the people, processes, and future of supply chain. ===== Guest 1: Dr. Lukasz Ostrowski, Development Manager & Head of Embodied AI & Robotics, SAP Dr. Lukasz Ostrowski is Development Manager & Head of Embodied AI & Robotics at SAP, focusing on bringing innovation into SAP at scale. With 10+ years of leadership experience, he specializes in disruptive innovation in collaboration with line-of-business and industry leaders. He helps enterprises make robots business-aware—grounding physical execution in SAP business context, governance, and outcomes. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. ===== Show Links: Read: SAP Shares Physical AI Partnerships & New Robotics Pilots Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

August 19, 2026Episode 17732 min

Episode 177: Why Asset Management Matters More Than Ever in 2026 and Beyond with Accenture’s John Holmes and SAP’s Andy Hancock

John Holmes from Accenture and Andy Hancock from SAP joined us to explore why asset management matters more than ever. The conversation covers EAM and APM convergence, lift-and-shift cloud migration risks, and how AI agents, IoT, and digital twins move maintenance from time- and condition-based approaches toward predictive and prescriptive strategies. We also discuss citizen EAM owners, workforce transformation, autonomous asset management, and supply chain resilience Guest 1: John Holmes, NA Intelligent Asset Management Practice Lead Managing Director Guest 2: Andy Hancock, Global Vice President, Global Head of Domain Advisory Asset Management and Field Service, SAP As a seasoned global executive who has held numerous leadership roles during his 19-year tenure at SAP, he has brought quantifiable results to leading global brands through innovation advocacy. Having worked in more than 40 countries and experienced a vast array of cultures, he understands the importance of challenging the status quo to drive business outcomes and create a competitive diUerentiator in turbulent global markets. Host: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. ===== Show Links: Accenture: ⁠https://www.accenture.com⁠ Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Transcript Episode Description Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

August 12, 202625 min

Episode 176: The New Era of Field Service and Asset Management with SAP's Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones from SAP discusses the new era of field service and asset management, covering AI agents, autonomous operations, and how integrated asset management drives supply chain resilience. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== Ryan Jones, Product Marketing Manager at SAP, joins us to explore the evolving landscape of field service and asset management. We talked about the risks of operational fragmentation, the ripple effects of asset downtime, and how AI agents transform maintenance from a cost center into a revenue driver. Ryan also shares success stories and discusses SAP's new unified offering, and outlines the journey toward autonomousoperations. ===== Guest 1: Ryan Jones, Product Marketing Manager, Asset Management & Field Service, SAP Ryan Jones has spent the last 10 years at SAP working across enterprise asset management, field service, and ERP. He has held roles in solution advisory, solution management, and product marketing, helping customers connect business processes with practical technology adoption. Before SAP, Ryan was an operations manager and SAP ERP user, giving him a grounded perspective on what it takes to make enterprise systems and AI work in real operations. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape. ===== Show Links: SAP Field Service and Asset Management: The Next Evolution of SAP FieldService Management. LINK Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

August 5, 2026Episode 17527 min

Episode 175: How COOs Should Rethink Cybersecurity for Resilient Supply Chains

We explore how COOs can rethink supply chain security, from physical risks and open source vulnerabilities to AI threats, data sovereignty, and building a cyber-resilient culture across the business network. Download the ⁠ episode transcript ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== We sit down with a cybersecurity expert to unpack the full scope of supply chain security, from physical risks like truck hijacking and component integrity to emerging digital threats like AI-driven attacks on open source software. We discuss why COOs must evaluate supplier capabilities, embrace data sovereignty, secure AI projects, and foster ecosystem collaboration to build truly resilient supply chains. ===== Guest 1: Jay Thoden van Velzen, Technical Advisor in SAP’s Office of the Chief Security Officer Jay Thoden van Velzen is Technical Advisor in SAP’s Office of the Chief Security Officer, where he covers and supports security process-, product-, and partner management, putting him in the middle of navigating rising security threats, an increasing compliance burden and rapid technology changes, to secure SAP’s cloud platform expansion, Business AI and the Autonomous Enterprise. He previously led SAP’s cloud infrastructure security operations during the Next Generation Cloud Transformation Program running 2020-2022, establishing key cloud security programs that SAP still relies and builds on today. His relationship to Supply Chain Management remains strong, having functioned earlier as its main Security Expert 2015-2019. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape. ===== Show Links: Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

July 29, 2026Episode 17424 min

Episode 174: Logistics 2026: What Supply Chains Must Prepare for Now with PwC

PwC’s Christian Sachse joins us to talk all things logistics. Discover recent trends such as automation, AI, nearshoring, and sustainability. Download the episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== In this episode, Christian Sachse of PwC Germany shares what supply chain leaders must prepare for in logistics, from automation and AI to sustainability, nearshoring, labor shifts, and resilience. He explains how planning, visibility, and control towers support better execution. ===== Guest 1: Christian Sachse, Director, PwC Christian Sachse is a Director at PwC Germany, where he leads the transportation practice within PwC's global Center of Excellence for Logistics Transformation. With a career spanning over a decade in SAP logistics consulting — progressing from ABAP developer to senior leadership roles at firms including IBM, Deloitte, and PwC — he brings deep expertise in SAP Transportation Management and end-to-end supply chain optimization to global organizations across automotive, manufacturing, retail, chemicals, and beyond. In today's discussion, he shares his perspective on the future of supply chain technology and innovation. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape. ===== Show Links: PwC Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ , Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

July 27, 2026Episode 634 min

DE Episode 06: Datensouveränität im Cloud-Zeitalter: Wie hybride Systemlandschaften Produktentwicklung, Produktion und Vertrieb verbinden

In dieser Folge sprechen Sin To und Annette Garcia Lorenzo mit Johann Stadler von Hilti und Andreas Madlencnik von SAP über Datensouveränität, hybride Cloud-Landschaften, globale Skalierbarkeit und KI im Supply-Chain-Kontext. Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== Wie gelingen Datensouveränität, hybride Cloud-Architekturen und globale Skalierbarkeit in der Supply Chain? Sin To und Annette Garcia Lorenzo sprechen mit Johann Stadler (Hilti) und Andreas Madlencnik (SAP) über Private Cloud, Public Cloud, PLM, ERP, Manufacturing Execution und KI, für alle, die Industrie, Daten und End-to-End-Prozesse strategisch weiterdenken. ===== Guest 1: Johann Stadler, Head of Large Projects & Manufacturing IT, Hilti Group Johann Stadler is an experienced leader in Business & IT with a strong background in managing multiple departments across Europe, Asia and America. He plays an active role in shaping Hilti's corporate strategy, oversees the tactical dimension, realization, and operations in Large Projects and Manufacturing IT. He has a proven track record in delivering IT solutions and processes essential for leveraging Hilti's corporate strategy. Guest 2: Andreas Madlencnik, Business Development Manager PLM | Middle Eastern Europe | Supply Chain Management Host 1: Sin To Sin To brings over 15 years of experience in the digital media and technology industry – primarily in marketing, business development, thought leadership, and editorial. At SAP, they ensure that SAP's supply chain solutions are properly visible with a focus on future trends and sustainable innovations as part of the Thought Leadership & Awareness Supply Chain Team. Host 2: Annette Garcia-Lorenzo Annette García Lorenzo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working at SAP since 2001, with over 8 years of experience in the Product Lifecycle Management and Manufacturing space. As Adoption Lead for PLM and SAP IPD, she helps SAP customer and partners make the most of our solutions, while channelling their feedback back to SAP product management. She is an active speaker, blogger, and podcaster on the topics of PLM and Manufacturing. ===== Show Links: SAP Digital Supply Chain: ⁠www.sap.com/scm⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Johann Stadler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannstadler/ Andreas Madlencnik LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-madlencnik/ Annette Garcia-Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-garcia-lorenzo/ Sin To: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sin-to-5334208 SAP Digital Supply Chain : LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/sapdsc/ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes! ===== Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro Warum Geschwindigkeit, Qualität und Kostenoptimierung entscheidend werden 00:01:00 Thema der Folge: Datensouveränität im Cloud-Zeitalter 00:02:00 Was ist eine hybride Systemlandschaft? 00:04:00 Vorteile hybrider ERP-Landschaften für Konzernbereiche 00:06:00G eopolitik, Supply Chain und regionale Anforderungen 00:09:00S trategische Vorteile von Public- und Private-Cloud-Kombinationen 00:11:00 Herausforderungen: Integration, Materialstammdaten und SAP BTP 00:13:00 CAD-zentrisches PLM vs. ERP-nahes PLM 00:16:00 Engineering- und Supply-Chain-Perspektiven zusammenbringen 00:19:00 MES als Software-as-a-Service 00:22:00 KI im PLM- und Supply-Chain-Kontext 00:25:00 Context Awareness, Halluzinationen und vernetzte Daten 00:28:00 Blick in die Zukunft der Supply Chain 00:32:00 Fast Five 00:33:36 Outro

July 22, 2026Episode 17330 min

Episode 173: Orchestrating the next generation supply chain with KPMG

This week, KPMG’s Hernan De la Torre and Stefan Seitz join us to discuss neural supply chain orchestration, agentic AI, clean core governance, and why ERP remains essential for faster, smarter, more resilient supply chains. Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== In this episode, we speak with KPMG’s Hernan De la Torre and Stefan Seitz about the shift from experimental GenAI to industrial embedded AI. We talk about orchestration, agent-based decision-making, clean core governance, human-in-the-loop control, and how AI is reshaping supply chain roles, execution, and resilience. Sounds interesting? Come join us! ===== Guest 1: Hernan De la Torre, Principal, KPMG in the US Hernan De la Torre is a Principal in Advisory at KPMG, leading SAP-enabled supply chain transformation across consumer, retail, and manufacturing sectors. With more than two decades of experience, he focuses on designing business-led operating models powered by SAP and advanced AI capabilities. He is an architect and recognized voice on Neural Supply Chain Orchestration (NSCO), a framework that embeds AI-driven decision intelligence directly into SAP workflows to strengthen supply chain execution, global operations, and trade responsiveness. Hernan partners with executive leaders to translate enterprise strategy into scalable execution, helping organizations navigate tariffs, geopolitical shifts, and cross-border complexity while driving measurable performance across finance and supply chain ecosystems. Guest 2: Stefan Seitz, Director, KPMG in Germany Stefan Seitz is leading KPMG’s global SCM reference model in the SAP space and is at forefront of various digital supply chain transformations in automotive and industrial manufacturing. As an industrial engineer by trade he maintains a strong business focus in applying the newest technology trends. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape. ===== Show Links: KPMG Publication : AI Is Moving Supply Chains from Reactive Execution to Autonomous Orchestration The IDC recognition: KPMG recognized as a ‘Leader’ in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Supply Chain SAP Ecosystem Services 2025–2026 Vendor Assessment Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Hernan De la Torre: LinkedIn Stefan Seitz: LinkedIn Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ , Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

July 15, 2026Episode 17222 min

Episode 172: Architecting the Future of Logistics: Accenture’s Michel Roger on AI, Autonomy, and Workforce

Michel Roger of Accenture joins us to discuss how AI, autonomy, robotics, and data governance are reshaping logistics, workforce skills, and supply chain leadership. Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== This week, we, together with Michel Roger of Accenture explore the future of logistics, from agentic AI and physical robotics to connected workforce models and real-time digital twins. Come join us to learn how companies can scale AI beyond pilots, reshape warehouse operations, strengthen multi-tier visibility, and prepare talent for a more autonomous, exception-driven supply chain. ===== Guest: Michel Roger, Global SAP Supply Chain Leader, Accenture Throughout his career, Michel has specialized in designing, implementing and deploying SAP solutions for Supply Chain processes for global clients in North America, Latin America and Europe. He has worked mostly for Consumer Goods and Life Sciences clients. Internally to Accenture, he is responsible for developing Supply Chain & Operations capabilities of 5,000+ people specialized around SAP solutions covering planning, distribution, and manufacturing processes. Host 1: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAP Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape. ===== Show Links: Accenture Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Michel Roger: LinkedIn Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ , Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

July 8, 2026Episode 17138 min

Episode 171: AI in Supply Chain Transformation: Human Decision-Making, Bias, and Trust with Benjamin Bargetzi

What if the key to successful AI in supply chains is not technology, but the human brain? In this episode, Benjamin Bargetzi reveals how AI can sharpen decisions, challenge bias, and help leaders navigate uncertainty. Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== What does it really take for AI to transform supply chains successfully? In this episode with Benjamin Bargetzi, neuroscientist and tech entrepreneur, we explore why the answer may lie less in algorithms and more in the human brain. Benjamin shares how AI can become a sparring partner for better decisions, helping leaders challenge bias, build trust, and navigate uncertainty without losing human judgment. ===== Guest: Benjamin Bargetzi – Neuroscientist, Author & Tech Pioneer, Founder of Project MindGuard, and former Advisor to the Chairman of the World Economic Forum Benjamin Bargetzi is one of Europe's most-demanded pioneers on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the human brain. A Swiss neuroscientist, psychologist, bestseller author, and tech entrepreneur, he has held key roles with Google, Amazon, and the World Economic Forum, and studied the human brain in Oxford, London, Zurich, and Singapore. He is the personal advisor to key political figures around the world, and founder of MindGuard, a tech ecosystem combining neuroscience training methods with machine learning to help Ukrainian citizens, hospitals, and veterans deal with extreme stress, PTSD & trauma. Host: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Sin To Sin To brings over 15 years of experience in the digital media and technology industry – primarily in marketing, business development, thought leadership, and editorial. At SAP, they ensure that SAP's supply chain solutions are properly visible with a focus on future trends and sustainable innovations as part of the Thought Leadership & Awareness Supply Chain Team. ===== Show Links: SAP Digital Supply Chain: www.sap.com/scm Benjamin Bargetzi Homepage: https://benjaminbargetzi.com/ Book: https://benjaminbargetzi.com/de/das-ende-der-leere/ Book: Nie wieder sinnlos: 42 Impulse, die Dein Leben verändern Book: The End of Emptiness: 42 thoughts, that will transform your life Follow Us on Social Media : Benjamin Bargetzi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-b-bargetzi/ Richard Howells : LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/richardjhowells⁠⁠⁠ Sin To: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/sin-to-5334208⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/showcase/sapdsc/⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes! ===== Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:51 Meet Benjamin Bargetzi 00:04:06 Why AI Transformations Fail 00:07:11 AI as Sparring Partner 00:09:13 Three Jobs of ML 00:16:01 Biases Under Uncertainty 00:24:19 Strengthening Decision Muscle 00:28:18 Leading Change That Sticks 00:32:02 Turn Complaints Into Innovation 00:35:20 Dopamine and Meaningful Work 00:36:41 The future of Supply Chain 00:37:54 Outro

July 1, 2026Episode 17024 min

Episode 170: Unpacking the Power Triangle: Cloud, Data, and AI in Supply Chain Transformation with CIONET’s Tamara Tomasevic

In this episode with Tamara Tomasevic, Head of Program Development at CIONET Germany, we discuss how cloud, data, and AI are driving digital transformation in supply chains. Tamara shares insights on fostering enterprise intelligence, encouraging cross-functional teamwork, and scaling AI through mindset and skill development. The episode explores leadership strategies and the future of supply chain connectivity and sovereignty. Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== In this episode Richard and Sin talk with Tamara Tomasevic, Head of Program Development at CIONET Germany, about what really drives digital transformation. From digital sovereignty and exit strategies to re‑architecting processes around enterprise intelligence, Tamara cuts through the hype and gets real about what works. Learn why data quality makes or breaks AI, why mindset matters more than budget, and how leaders can scale AI with confidence in an increasingly complex supply chain world. ===== Guest: Tamara Tomasevic, Head of Program Development at CIONET Tamara is Head of Program Development at CIONET Germany, connecting CIOs, CDOs, and CTOs across the country. She is passionate about building strong communities in the digital era. Previously, she helped establish the Bavarian State’s AI Network and, as a communication scientist, believes communication is at the heart of digital disruption. Host: Richard Howells ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability. Host 2: Sin To Sin To brings over 15 years of experience in the digital media and technology industry – primarily in marketing, business development, thought leadership, and editorial. At SAP, they ensure that SAP's supply chain solutions are properly visible with a focus on future trends and sustainable innovations as part of the Thought Leadership & Awareness Supply Chain Team. ===== Show Links: SAP Digital Supply Chain: www.sap.com/scm CIONET Germany: https://www.cionet.com/cionet-germany Follow Us on Social Media : Tamara Tomasevic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-tomasevic-community/ Richard Howells : LinkedIn: ⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/richardjhowells⁠⁠ Sin To: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/sin-to-5334208⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : LinkedIn: ⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/showcase/sapdsc/⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes! ===== Chapters: 00:00:00 Sovereignty And Resilience 00:00:31 Welcome And Power Triangle 00:01:07 Meet Tamara And CIONET 00:01:59 Digital Leaders Hot Topics 00:05:10 Cloud Strategy In Supply Chain 00:08:03 Data Quality And Ownership 00:09:52 Turning Data Into Assets 00:11:20 AI Misconceptions And Use Cases 00:14:21 Scaling AI Beyond Pilots 00:16:21 Why Networks Matter 00:18:42 People Skills And Culture Shift 00:20:46 90 Day Action Plan 00:22:00 Future Outlook And Wrap Up