The Future of Supply Chain

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194

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Oct 2026

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About the show

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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October 28, 2026Episode 18734 min

Episode 187: Across Logistics: The Future of Supply Chain Visibility, AI, and Business Networks

This week, we are joined by Hapag-Lloyd's Karsten Schmidt and SAP's Danilo Angelinetta and Doug DeLuca to explore the future of supply chain visibility —covering IoT-powered containers, AI-driven decisions, and business network collaboration. ===== Covered topics: • Visibility has evolved from operational add-on to board-level strategic priority • Hapag-Lloyd's IoT-equipped containers enable real-time, granular shipment tracking • Why data quality is the foundation of AI-driven logistics decisions • Real-world use cases: FOB origin tracking, warehouse geofencing & supply chain velocity • How SAP Business Network turns carrier visibility into actionable business outcomes • AI accelerates disruption response—from detection and impact assessment to orchestration ===== Guest 1: Karsten Schmidt, Director Smart Containers, Strategy Office Hapag-Lloyd Karsten drives the commercialization of IoT-enabled container visibility solutions, helping customers gain actionable insights and enhance the performance of their supply chains. Guest 2: Danilo Angelinetta, Network Strategy Director EMEA, SAP Danilo is responsible for SAP Business Network adoption and growth, expert in Procurement and Logistics and working with the Executives from Customers and Trading Partners to optimize their strategy for the usage of SAP Business Network. Guest 3: Doug DeLuca, SAP Business Network for Logistics Marketing Manager, SAP Doug leads marketing for SAP’s logistics collaboration and visibility solutions, including SAP Business Network Freight Collaboration and SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace, working closely with customers and partners to improve efficiency and resilience across global supply chains. Host 1: Richard Howells, SAP ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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: HLAG feature story: https://news.sap.com/germany/2026/07/container-tracking-wie-echtzeit-iot-daten-die-supply-chain-optimieren/ Al Dahra on sap.com LAPP on sap.com Supply Chain Management: SAP Supply Chain Management: www.sap.com/scm 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!

October 21, 2026Episode 18624 min

Episode186 : How Conversational and Agentic AI are reshaping supply chain with Lukas Huber, Deloitte

What if your supply chain system didn't just answer questions but took action? In this episode, Lukas Huber from Deloitte explains the real difference between conversational and agentic AI, shares concrete use cases from shortage mitigation to transport disruption, and makes the case for governance by design. ===== What happens when supply chain systems stop waiting to be asked — and start taking action on their own? In this episode we sit down with Lukas Huber, a Conversational and Agentic AI expert at Deloitte, to unpack what these technologies actually mean for supply chain professionals beyond the hype. Lukas explains the difference between conversational AI, which understands intent and communicates insights, and agentic AI, which executes goal-driven, multi-step workflows; through examples from damage reporting to detecting shortages, evaluating alternatives, and drafting supplier emails, he shows how AI can support planners and operations teams. He also highlights the operational and financial risks of errors or hallucinations, making the case for governance by design from day one. Looking ahead, Lukas envisions a more intelligent, adaptive, and human-centered supply chain in which AI automates processes but also transforms how decisions are made. What You Will Learn: • What conversational AI means in an enterprise context and why it's broader than most people think • What are the key difference between a conversational assistant and an agentic AI system • What are concrete supply chain use cases: S&OP, shortage mitigation, transport disruption management, shop floor operations • When voice beats chat and when it doesn't • What are the three types of governance controls every organization deploying agentic AI needs • Why "governance by design" is the difference between a promising demo and a scalable enterprise solution • How Deloitte approaches end-to-end AI transformation in supply chain ===== Guest 1: Luka Huber, AI & Data Consultant, Deloitte Lukas Huber is an AI & Data Consultant at Deloitte, focusing on AI transformation, intelligent automation and the adoption of AI in complex business environments. Beyond his consulting work, he is actively engaged in international AI and leadership communities, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community and Young AI Leaders under ITU’s AI for Good initiative. He is also a member of the German Data Science Society and the German Forum for Ethical Machine Decision-Making, contributing to initiatives around AI literacy, responsible AI and the practical adoption of emerging technologies. 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: 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 AI for Good: https://aiforgood.itu.int/ Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Lukas Huber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huberluk/ Richard Howells : LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/richardjhowells⁠ Sin To: LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/sin-to-5334208⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

October 14, 2026Episode 18523 min

Episode 185: A Conversation with Kearney: Why is the Supply Chain Moving to the Center of Companies' Strategy?

Kearney's Suketu Gandhi joins us to discuss why the supply chain is now central to corporate strategy—from COO growth optimism and resilience as a competitive weapon to AI industrialization and sustainability's renaissance. ===== In this episode, we, together with Suketu Gandhi, unpack the Kearney COO Agenda report. Listen in to hear why 70% of COOs expect double-digit growth, how resilience has become an offensive competitive weapon, and why only 10% of companies close the execution gap. Or to examine with us AI's shift from pilots to industrialization, its net-positive effect on supply chain jobs, and how sustainability has moved beyond compliance into a genuine competitive advantage—quietly thriving without the marketing hype. ===== Guest 1: Suketu Gandhi, Global Co-Lead and Chair, Operations and Performance, Partner, Kearney Based in Chicago, Suketu is a recognized industry leader on a wide range of operations topics, with an emphasis on end-to-end supply chains. “I’m strongly focused on the redesign of supply chains for four critical purposes: growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability,” he comments. “The key to maximizing their effectiveness lies in the combination of human intelligence, AI, and automation, underpinned by a deep understanding of how global operations work.” Across three firms, he has built and run innovation centers, bringing emerging tech to supply chains from design through manufacturing. A Global Leader in Consulting honoree for Excellence in Innovation, Suketu is the founder of the Kearney Supply Chain Institute and has published more than 100 articles on supply chain and AI in outlets such as HBR, MIT Sloan Management Review , and The Wall Street Journal . He is also the co-author of Strong Supply Chains Through Resilient Operations and is currently working on an HBR Press book titled Intelligent Speed at Scale . Host 1: Richard Howells, SAP ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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: Kearney: https://www.kearney.com Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Suketu Gandhi: LinkedIn Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please rate us and subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes!

October 7, 2026Episode 18426 min

Episode 184: Beyond the Silos: Why Transportation Planning Is Becoming the Nerve Center of the Modern Supply Chain with CloudPaths and LeverX

Transportation is no longer just a last-mile function. This week we, together with Tushar Bhalla from CloudPaths, and Dmitry Antanovich from LeverX explore how it's becoming the nerve center of modern supply chains. ===== Transportation planning has evolved from a tactical, last-mile activity into the strategic nerve center of the supply chain. In this episode, Tushar Bhalla from CloudPaths and Dmitry Antanovich from LeverX joined us to discuss how organizations can break down planning silos, connect planning with execution, and use solutions such as SAP IBP and SAP TM to gain real-time visibility. They also share practical advice for leaders beginning their integration journey. ===== Guest 1: Dmitry Antanovich, Solutions Director, SAP Supply Chain Management , LeverX Technology and business leader with a strong focus on growth, strategy, and execution in SAP-driven transformation initiatives. As a Solutions Director, I lead solution strategy and customer engagement across complex SAP programs, helping organizations translate business priorities into clear technology roadmaps. I work closely with executive stakeholders, SAP teams, and partners to guide modernization efforts, moving from legacy landscapes to scalable, cloud-enabled architectures built on SAP S/4HANA and SAP BTP. Guest 2: Tushar Bhalla, CloudPaths Tushar has been guiding customers through their implementation challenges in Digital Supply Chain Strategy, Planning & Transformations for the last 15 years with expertise in SAP IBP, SAP APO, SAP Ariba and more. Led and delivered projects from planning to stabilization across multiple geographies and industries with more than 25 recognized brands in the Consumer Products, Food, Automotive, Semiconductor, Hi-Tech, Oil & Gas, Chemical sectors. Tushar previously held roles with Accenture, Intrigo Systems and HPE. 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: LeverX: https://leverx.com/ CloudPaths : https://cloudpaths.com 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 rate us and subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes!

September 30, 2026Episode 18321 min

Episode 183: The Autonomous Supply Chain with NTT Data’s Brooks Noonan

Can your supply chain make decisions faster than your competitors? We sit down with Brooks Noonan of NTT DATA to explore the shift from digital visibility to true autonomous execution—and what it actually takes to get there. ===== What if your supply chain could resolve disruptions before your customers ever noticed? We sit down with Brooks Noonan of NTT DATA to unpack what it really means to go autonomous. We dig into which decisions AI can handle right now, why demand sensing is no longer a nice-to-have but the cost of admission, how real-time data minimizes the bullwhip effect—and why measuring ROI means looking at the balance sheet, not soft metrics. Join us as we discuss the fututre os supply chain! ===== Guest 1: Brooks Noonan, Vice President, NTT DATA Business Solutions Brooks Noonan is an executive leader and corporate board member specializing in enterprise modernization and SAP business transformation. Currently serving as Vice President at NTT DATA Business Solutions and as a Board Member for Ben Tire Distributors, he excels at bridging technology strategy with execution to drive sustainable business growth. 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: NTT DATA Business Solutions: https://nttdata-solutions.com/us/ Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Brooks Noonan: LinkedIn Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Oyku Ilgar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please rate us and subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes!

September 23, 2026Episode 18236 min

Episode 182: From Theory to Practice: Implementing Carbon Accounting in Supply Chains with Amy Brachio

In this episode Amy Brachio explains why product-level carbon accounting is reshaping how supply chains buy, invest and compete. And why two factories with identical operations can legally report completely different carbon figures. ===== In this episode, we talk with Amy Brachio, CEO of Carbon Measures and former EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability. She explains why product-level carbon accounting is fast becoming a core business and procurement issue, from the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to green steel standards and why two factories with identical operations can legally report completely different carbon figures. ===== Guest 1: Amy Brachio, CEO of Carbon Measures Amy Brachio is the CEO of Carbon Measures, a global coalition of businesses committed to reducing carbon emissions by aligning market incentives with the actions needed to drive impact at scale. Amy joined Carbon Measures in September 2025, continuing her leadership at the intersection of climate action, business resilience, and the need for accurate, verifiable data to underpin sound decision-making. Prior to joining Carbon Measures, Amy spent nearly three decades at Ernst & Young (EY), most recently as Partner and Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, where she drove EY's offerings to help global clients achieve their sustainability goals, led the firm's 40% carbon emission reduction by 2025, and established EY as the global leader in sustainability services. 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: 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 Carbon Measures: Carbon Measures Website Technical Expert Panel on Carbon Accounting: Technical Expert Panel on Carbon Accounting Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Amy Brachio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybrachio/ Richard Howells : LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardjhowells Sin To: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sin-to-5334208 SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

September 16, 2026Episode 18121 min

Episode 181: The Role of AI Across SAP Business Network with SAP's Atena Reyhani

This week, SAP's Atena Reyhani joins us to explore how agentic AI and SAP Business Network are enabling autonomous supply chains–from cross-enterprise orchestration to data-driven decisions. ===== Atena Reyhani, Head of Product Management for SAP Business Network Core, joins us to unpack how agentic AI is transforming supply chains. We explore real-world use cases like order prioritization, the role of cross-enterprise data in AI decision-making, guardrails for responsible AI adoption, and why the future belongs to autonomous supply chains. ===== Guest 1: Atena Reyhani, Head of Product Management for SAP Business Network Core, SAP In this role, Atena leads the AI strategy for the Network and helps to shape the path forward for our customers in becoming increasingly autonomous enterprises. The world’s largest platform for business-to-business commerce and collaboration, SAP Business Network facilitates over $7.7 trillion in commerce through more than 910 million transactions annually, as of the 12 months ending Q2 2026. Prior to assuming the role in August 2025, Reyhani served as Chief Product Officer for ContractPodAi, spearheading the development of innovative enterprise and legal solutions – notably including Leah, a leading agentic AI solution for the enterprise legal sector. Renowned for her ability to turn bold ideas into transformative realities, Reyhani leads cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional AI solutions that redefine how enterprise work gets accomplished. Previously, Atena held leadership roles in product management, driving innovation in SaaS products for higher education at Pepperdine University and in the gaming and lottery industries at Diamond Game Enterprises. 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: SAP Business Network: https://www.sap.com/businessnetwork Atena Reyhani at SAP Connect in Las Vegas Session link Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Atena Reyhani: LinkedIn Richard Howells : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SAP Digital Supply Chain : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

September 9, 2026Episode 18024 min

Episode 180: Sustainability as a Built-In KPI: Scope 3, Traceability, and Green Ledger with KPMG's Dominik Ladich

Together with Dominik Ladich from KPMG discuss how organizations can embed sustainability into core ERP and supply chain processes, covering the Green Ledger, Scope 3 emissions, and how AI enables unprecedented transparency across global supply chains. ===== Dominik Ladich, Director in Advisory at KPMG Austria, joins us to explore how sustainability is moving from standalone reporting projects to embedded KPIs within core ERP and supply chain processes. The conversation covers the drivers behind sustainability initiatives, from CSRD compliance to value creation; how SAP's Green Ledger extends financial accounting into environmental accountability; the data challenges of operationalizing ESG across procurement, manufacturing, and logistics; and how primary data exchange with suppliers can transform Scope 3 emissions management. ===== Guest 1: Dominik Ladich, Director, Advisory, KPMG Austria Dominik Ladich is a Director in Sustainable IT, helping organizations navigate sustainable SAP technology transformations that drive business value. His expertise lies at the intersection of technology and sustainability, with a focus on automating and implementing regulatory and sustainability requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), EU Taxonomy, and decarbonization initiatives. He also supports the development and implementation of strategic use cases, including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Digital Product Passports, and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Through these initiatives, Dominik helps organizations increase transparency and resilience across global supply chains while embedding sustainability as a driver of long-term value creation. With extensive experience in designing integrated business and reporting processes and modern IT architectures, Dominik also serves as Head of Sustainability Solutions for global KPMG and SAP initiatives. In this role, he drives the integration of sustainability into core business processes and helps organizations translate ESG objectives into measurable outcomes and sustainable business value. 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: KNAPP AG Advancing ESG compliance and value with SAP technology Advance your sustainability agenda with KPMG and SAP SAP Green Ledger: What Is SAP Green Ledger? 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!

September 2, 2026Episode 17930 min

Episode 179: From Technology Adoption to Value Realization with Exed Consulting’s Renan Guedes

We explore why the real value of supply chain transformation begins after go-live — from measuring outcomes monthly and fixing broken processes to building the digital and data foundations that make AI deliver. ===== Why do so many supply chain transformations stall after go-live? In this episode, we sit down with Renan Guedes, CEO and Founding Partner of Exed Consulting, to unpack why technology adoption rarely equals value realization. Renan shares why the go-live is just the beginning of the relationship, how to measure business outcomes — from inventory levels and forecast accuracy to freight costs and OTIF — every month after launch, and why candid root-cause analysis beats chasing all-green dashboards. Press play to hear how to turn a go-live into lasting value. ===== Guest 1: Renan Guedes, CEO & Founding Partner, Exed Consulting Renan Guedes is the CEO and Founding Partner of Exed Consulting, a global consulting firm with 500+ professionals and offices in São Paulo, Lisbon, Miami, Buenos Aires, and Santiago. He has spent his career at the intersection of technology and supply chain, leading ERP and SCM transformations for enterprises rethinking planning and logistics in an era of AI and constant disruption. He holds a PhD and MSc in Business Administration focused on digital transformation, has authored books and academic research in the field. Renan is part of Harvard Business School's OPM program, leads Exed AppHaus São Paulo as an open innovation hub in Latam, and is a YPO member, angel investor, and startup mentor. He writes on digital transformation and leadership for Exame. 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: Exed Consulting: www.exedconsulting.com Supply chain article links From disruption to performance: how supply chains are being tested and transformed in real time — https://exedconsulting.com/supply-chain-disruptions-strait-of-hormuz-ai-planning/ IA no SAP IBP: intelligent supply chain planning — https://exedconsulting.com/insight/ia-no-sap-ibp-planejamento-inteligente-supply-chain/ Supply Chain Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social Media : Renan Guedes: LinkedIn | Renan Guedes | Exame 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 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!