Why has three decades of supply chain visibility investment failed to produce meaningful results for the industry?
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Dr. Glenn Richey, Harbert Eminent Scholar at Auburn University, and Matt Brolsma of SPS Commerce, about why visibility tools keep falling short and what actually moves the needle.
Glenn brings ten years of supply chain experience across procurement, manufacturing, and logistics at Scott Paper Company and S.P. Richards, paired with his research at Auburn's Center for Supply Chain Innovation, while Matt works directly with enterprise retailers and distributors at SPS Commerce to translate supplier collaboration challenges into actionable strategy.
The conversation covers why AI can amplify the consequences of bad data, how one retailer recovered $38 million through stronger supplier compliance, and what questions leaders should ask before investing in another visibility platform. Glenn and Matt also explore the link between trusted relationships and trusted data, and why vendor guides deserve more attention.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(06:44) Distinguishing visibility, transparency, and traceability
(12:30) Why 30 years of visibility tools fell short
(18:22) What happens when teams lose trust in the system?
(22:57) Does AI solve or magnify the visibility problem?
(25:40) When AI recommendations go wrong at the port
(30:30) Why visibility tools still leave planners chasing answers
(35:45) Building stronger trading partner relationships
(37:49) Why structured compliance programs outperform
(42:41) How one retailer recovered $38 million
(47:20) What should leaders ask before buying more tech?
Additional Links & Resources:
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/visibility-illusion-why-seeing-problem-never-same-solving-1649
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