Now more so than ever, transportation leaders have a seat at the decision-making table. The last few years of global instability and shifting consumer behavior have encouraged shippers of all sizes to rethink how their supply chain fits into their growth strategy and contributes to sustainability goals.
These trends, alongside ongoing advances in autonomous vehicles and warehouse automation, were abuzz at industry events this quarter in Florida and California.
Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) in Orlando, Florida
In February, the Transfix team was thrilled to connect with partners and friends at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Supply Chain Conference. Charles Chambers, Director of North American Logistics with Floor & Decor – one of our early enterprise customers – shared the stage with our VP, Customer Success, Jennifer Mosso. Mosso and Chambers shared a story of their partnership as a case study for how true sustainability – financial, environmental, and operational – is about getting the right strategy and alignment in place.
When it comes to sustainably sourced energy, word on the street is that a lot of retailers are investing in alternative fuel sources, as opposed to electric vehicles, which lack the sustainable sourcing companies and consumers are seeking.
Transfix Hits the Golden State Conference Circuit
Also this quarter, Transfix sales executives Frank Herrera and Rob LaFollette attended Food Shippers of America in Palm Springs – a year after LaFollette was named one of FSA’s 2022 Food Chain Pros to Know.
Transfix’s Rob LaFollette and Frank Herrera playing golf in Palm Springs
In the space of a year, the opportunities and challenges facing food shippers have shifted.
“In a talk with Bob Costello, Chief Economist & Senior Vice President of American Trucking Association, he suggested that while timing is tricky, the truckload recession may end and turn around faster than the macro-cycle,” Herrera shared. “Meanwhile, consumer spending is still high with plenty of cash on hand and restaurant sales outpacing grocery sales year over year. It will be interesting to monitor how things unfold in the next 6 months.”
One theme persisted at FSA: data is king. While everyone’s business is different, gaining visibility of your business’ anatomy and gaps and partnering with the latest technology will keep you ahead of the next black swan event.
If you were among the industry leaders at JOC’s TMP23 conference in Long Beach, California, you might’ve seen Herrera representing Transfix. We’ll also see folks in April at NRF Supply Chain 360. As quickly as automation floods this industry, relationships matter more than ever, because logistics complications will always require trust and human creativity. To that end, swing by the Transfix booth at NRF to say hello, learn about our solutions, and grab some memorable swag.
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