eCom Logistics Podcast

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**eCom Logistics Podcast**

Get the inside perspective on how successful supply chain technology companies and e-commerce fulfillment providers win in today’s competitive landscape. eCom Logistics Podcast gives you insights from the top leaders and experts to get you the answers to your most pressing supply chain issues.

Latest Episodes:

Why Yard Management Is the Last Broken Node in Supply Chain Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Why yard management is still one of the most manual parts of the supply chain
How to identify if your yard is the hidden bottleneck in operations
What causes congestion, idle time, and poor trailer visibility
How gate delays impact warehouse throughput and carrier performance
What “Smart Yard 3.0” means (and how it differs from traditional YMS)
How AI improves gate check-in, asset visibility, and workflow orchestration
The stages of AI maturity in yard operations—from visibility to autonomous decisioning
Where security, fraud detection, and damage tracking fit into yard technology
What operators should prioritize first when modernizing the yard

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 – Why the yard is still the last broken node in supply chain
01:39 – Why yard operations stayed manual while WMS and TMS evolved
05:00 – Signs your yard is under-managed (congestion, delays, visibility gaps)
06:44 – Smart Yard 3.0: from tracking systems to real-time orchestration
10:11 – AI maturity in yard operations (visibility → automation → optimization)
17:00 – How yard performance impacts the entire supply chain network
20:06 – Security, fraud detection, and damage tracking in the yard
23:19 – What AI-native logistics platforms look like next

QUOTES

[00:00:29] "The yard often remains the manual reactive, hard to see in real time type of solution." - Ninaad
[00:01:39] “The yard is one of three of the major nodes in the supply chain, about 50 billion in goods flow every single day. It is stunning to realize that it is the most un modernized node in the entire supply chain." - Darin Brannan
[00:04:53] "It was an afterthought. Now it's a constraint." - Darin Brannan
[00:08:07] "And a AI and agentic done right, is a game changer for the art." - Darin Brannan
[00:17:39] "Yards don't fall into isolation. It has the ability to have second-order effects across the network." - Harshida

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The yard is no longer a passive space—it’s a control point for the entire network
Most yard systems digitize workflows but don’t improve decision-making
Real transformation comes from redesigning workflows, not just automating them
Small inefficiencies in the yard create large downstream operational impact
AI shifts the yard from a tracking system to a movement orchestration platform

ABOUT THE GUEST

Darin Brannan, CEO, Terminal Industries

Darin Brannan is a founder-operator and CEO with 25+ years of experience scaling SaaS and infrastructure platforms. At Terminal Industries, he leads the development of an AI-native Yard Operating System that uses computer vision and agentic AI to automate and optimize yard operations across enterprise supply chains.

Learn more:

https://terminal-industries.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinbrannan/

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If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

From AI Pilot to Production: PepsiCo Lab’s Innovation Playbook Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

How digital twins reduce CapEx before construction begins
How to move AI from pilot to enterprise-wide deployment
How to cut corporate red tape for rapid pilot execution
How to design KPIs for objective pilot success measurement
Why 50% pilot failure is a healthy innovation benchmark
How to productize AI use cases for warehouse scale
How to avoid “pilot purgatory” in logistics transformation

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00–02:00 | AI Fatigue & The Shift to Production
02:00–05:00 | Scaling Digital Twin Across 100+ Buildings
05:00–07:30 | CapEx Reduction & Engineering Simulation ROI
07:30–10:00 | Run-State Optimization & 20% Throughput Gains
10:00–14:00 | The PepsiCo Labs Pilot Framework
14:00–18:00 | Designing a Culture That Celebrates Failure
18:00–23:00 | Quantifying Innovation & Moving to Production

TOP QUOTES

[00:06:00] “Here you can simulate and debug everything before you've invested your first CapEx dollar.” - Anna Farberov
[00:08:00] “So I think we were able to demonstrate 20% throughput increase in a pick rate.” - Anna Farberov
[00:12:00] “By design, we want 50% of our pilots to fail.” - Anna Farberov
[00:18:00] “Move to production. Don’t just test.” - Anna Farberov

ABOUT THE GUEST

Anna Farberov is GM of PepsiCo Labs, where she leads PepsiCo’s global engagement with technology companies—from breakthrough startups to the world’s largest enterprises. In this role, she partners with senior executives and innovators to identify, test, and scale technologies that are transforming how PepsiCo operates across data, AI, manufacturing, supply chain, agriculture, and commercial functions. Her work powers growth, efficiency, and resilience across one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies.

Beyond PepsiCo, Anna is recognized for building innovation models that bridge corporations, technology providers, and investors—accelerating adoption of cutting-edge solutions at scale. She has worked across industries to help leaders translate complexity into clarity, align technology with strategy, and move with speed and impact in times of disruption.

A frequent speaker at global conferences, Anna shares insights on how leaders can harness innovation ecosystems, build future-ready organizations, and lead with clarity and purpose in an era of rapid technological change.

LINKS MENTIONED

Pepsico Labs: https://www.labs.pepsico.com/

Anna Farberov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-farberov/

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If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

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Meeting the AI-Empowered Consumer: Logistics Strategy in a Comparison-Driven Economy Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Why retail is now a demand chain, not a supply chain
How AMRs deliver 6–12 month ROI in high-variability e-commerce
Why robotics-as-a-service changes peak capacity planning
The real bottleneck in AI adoption: structured WMS data
Why dashboards are dying and exception-based orchestration is rising
How consolidation will reshape 3PL economics
Why operational excellence remains the ultimate differentiator

HIGHLIGHTS

00:01–00:12 | Consumer expectations and the “fast + free + cheap” reality
00:12–00:15 | AMRs, ASRS, RaaS, and 6–12 month automation ROI
00:15–00:16 | Buy vs build: what’s commodity vs “secret sauce”
00:16–00:19 | Agentic AI in warehouse ops: labor planning + execution
00:19–00:22 | AI proof, case studies, and demand planning as the next frontier
00:22–00:24 | Dashboards vs operators: turning analytics into actions
00:24–00:28 | Operator advice: efficiency, mechanization, and competition shifts
00:29–00:31 | Manifest trends: retail channels evolving + tech-driven 3PL future

QUOTES

[00:04:10] “One of the biggest changes is you used to have a choice. You could either have it fast, you could have it free, or you could have it cheap. The consumer today wants all three.” – Jeff Wolpov

[00:05:10] “We as logistics supply chain companies need to lean in and figure out how to do more with less. Today it's a necessity.” – Jeff Wolpov

[00:07:30] “You need automation... We need to be faster and more flexible. Peaks have gotten much higher.” – Jeff Wolpov

[00:16:00] "The hard part isn't building AI or using AI. It's what do you do with the results?" - Gary Allen

[00:16:50] “Operators shouldn't hunt dashboards, they should get alerts, exception-based triggers. AI takes analytics to the next level.” – Gary Allen

[00:23:00] "Reporting is the death of analytics." - Gary Allen

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Jeff Wolpov

Jeff Wolpov is Senior Vice President of E-commerce and Ryder Last Mile at Ryder System, Inc., where he leads the vision and strategy for omnichannel fulfillment and big & bulky home delivery.

Previously, he served as CEO of Whiplash (formerly Port Logistics Group), achieving nearly 30% year-over-year revenue growth before its acquisition by Ryder in 2022. Earlier in his career, Jeff founded Distribution Solutions, scaling it from a startup into a $50 million regional logistics firm that became the foundation of Whiplash’s national network.

He holds a degree from the University of Michigan.

Gary Allen

Gary Allen is Vice President of Supply Chain Excellence at Ryder, overseeing Solution Design, Continuous Improvement, Data Analytics, and Automation across the supply chain organization.

With more than 32 years of experience, he previously led EY’s logistics consulting practice and held leadership roles at DHL and FedEx in product innovation, solution design, sustainability, and operations.

Gary helped launch and co-author the “Annual Third Party Logistics Study” with Dr. John Langley of Penn State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Materials and Logistics Management from Michigan State University.

LINKS MENTIONED

Ryder report: https://www.ryder.com/en-us/insights/white-papers/e-comm/2025-ryder-e-commerce-consumer-study

Ryder website: https://www.ryder.com/en-us

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If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

Laura Ritchey, CEO of GEODIS in Americas, on Building Agile 3PL Operations That Scale Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Why balancing cost, speed, and quality is now table stakes in logistics strategy
How to design a flexible 3PL platform without hardcoding yourself into rigidity
The operational difference between supporting enterprise brands vs. high-growth brands
Why scenario planning still matters in an era of tariffs, snowstorms, and volatility
How to avoid over-engineering automation that limits long-term flexibility
What defines a true strategic partnership beyond SLAs and QBRs
Why solving problems together—not alone—is the real measure of partnership maturity

TIMESTAMPED SEGMENTS

00:00 – 01:00 | Balancing Cost, Speed & Quality Post-Pandemic
01:00 – 02:30 | Becoming the Customer: Operational Audits & CX Insight
02:30 – 04:00 | Agility, Uncertainty & Platform-First Thinking
04:00 – 05:30 | Defining High-Growth vs. Enterprise Brands
05:30 – 07:00 | Capability-Based Support Models vs. Split Teams
07:00 – 09:00 | What Real Strategic Partnerships Actually Look Like

TOP QUOTES

[00:01:00] “We know the cost of customer acquisition has increased exponentially. So the customer you have is the customer that you wanna keep.” - Laura Ritchey
[00:03:00] “I think obviously the overused word of agility these days… how quickly can you divert to warehouses that aren't closed or to transportation options that are still running?” - Laura Ritchey
[00:05:00] “We were doing 10,000 orders a day. All of a sudden we have to do 100,000, and that's really different.” - Laura Ritchey
[00:08:15] “Are we solving them together, or are we solving them alone?” - Laura Ritchey
[00:18:00] “The team is looking to us to be the calm in the storm.” - Laura Ritchey

ABOUT THE GUEST

Laura Ritchey is President & CEO of the Americas region at GEODIS and a member of the Group’s Executive Board. She leads nearly 20,000 teammates across eight countries, overseeing contract logistics, freight forwarding, and transportation operations throughout North and South America. With more than 30 years of experience—including 15 years in supply chain leadership across retail and third-party logistics—Laura previously served as CEO of Radial, Inc., driving growth through operational excellence. Her background spans finance, sourcing, distribution, and strategic transformation. She holds a J.D., MBA, and bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

LINKS MENTIONED

Laura's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-ritchey-55836a8/

GEODIS website: https://geodis.com/

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

What Supply Chain Leaders Are Re-Thinking Ahead of Manifest 2026 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Why decision quality matters more than perfect systems in today’s supply chains
How leaders are shifting from growth-at-all-costs to margin-first thinking
What’s actually breaking inside warehouses amid labor churn and volatility
Where AI is helping operators—and where hype still outpaces reality
Why explainability, KPIs, and guardrails matter for AI adoption in operations
How leadership expectations are changing across supply chain organizations
What conversations operators are prioritizing heading into Manifest 2026

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00–02:35 | Why 2025 forced hard reflection across supply chain
03:17–04:30 | Decisions feel heavier, mistakes cost more
05:23–06:49 | The shift from growth to margin as a first principle
07:05–07:43 | Why warehouse systems lag brand expectations
08:08–08:58 | Recalibration after stacked volatility
09:48–11:20 | Why peak season planning never really ends
12:32–13:45 | Labor, churn, and execution pressure inside warehouses
14:35–16:51 | AI as decision enablement—not the strategy itself
18:14–21:43 | From AI fear to outcome-driven adoption
22:23–25:44 | What leadership looks like in volatile environments
26:47–28:16 | What leaders are watching heading into Manifest 2026

QUOTES

[00:03:17] “Decisions feel heavier. Mistakes are more expensive.” – Tanzil Uddin
[00:05:45] “There’s a shift away from growth at all costs, really a repositioning of margin as a first principle.” – Kinta Gates
[00:12:32] “The complexity with labor, training of the labor, churn of the labor, weather events, and the geopolitical state really impacts warehouse services.” – Linda Ewing
[00:22:23] “Leadership looks like getting in the weeds. We don’t have the luxury of just delegating.” – Kinta Gates

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Tanzil Uddin
SVP of Content & Partnerships at Manifest, where he works closely with supply chain leaders to shape programming around real operator priorities, partnerships, and emerging challenges across logistics and technology.

Kinta Gates
VP of Supply Chain & Operations at Glossier, overseeing end-to-end product operations. Kinta brings a people-first, margin-aware approach to scaling fulfillment, manufacturing, and supply chain execution.

Linda Ewing
SVP Strategy & Operations at ID Logistics with deep experience across manufacturing, supply chain, and warehouse services. Linda focuses on execution reality inside 3PL environments, labor challenges, and responsible technology adoption.

LINKS MENTIONED

Manifest 2026 Agenda: https://manife.st/agenda/

💡 Planning to attend Manifest 2026? Use this exclusive link for $200 off the current registration price: https://partner.manife.st/partner/ecomlogistics

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If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

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Connected Commerce: How OnX Is Redefining Fulfillment in the Age of AI Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

What You’ll Learn
- Why legacy commerce APIs and EDI no longer suffice in today’s fragmented commerce landscape
- How AI and emerging protocols like MCP are accelerating the need for real-time fulfillment integration
- The structure, tools, and resources defined by OnX for seamless order management across ecosystems
- The nonprofit "business league" legal framework that keeps OnX vendor-agnostic and collaborative
- The challenges commerce platforms face with OMS integrations and how OnX aims to reduce friction
- The shift from platform-centric to protocol-centric commerce enabled by open standards
- How industry players—brands, 3PLs, ERP, WMS, and commerce platforms—are rallying behind OnX
Hihghlights

- 00:00 — Welcome, introduction to Kelly Goetsch and the focus: “Connected Commerce”
- 02:00 — The fragmentation problem: marketplaces, social commerce, AI, and legacy EDI
- 04:00 — The rise of MCP and Agentic Commerce Protocol as enablers for a new standard
- 06:00 — Building a “big tent” network: OMS, 3PLs, WMSs, ERPs connectivity challenges
- 10:00 — Commerce platform vs fulfillment backend: the tech and mindset divide
- 14:00 — What is OnX? Tools, resources, member base, and the standard’s scope
- 18:00 — How MCP makes OnX possible, collapsing layers between selling and fulfillment
- 22:00 — OnX’s “business league” structure explained
- 24:00 — Platform, payment, and AI player involvement and adoption challenges
- 28:00 — How to participate: advisory boards, GitHub access, and community involvement
- 30:00 — The future of connected commerce and invitation to join OnX
Quotes
[00:02:00]: "If the last decade was about composable commerce, the next one is about connected commerce." - Ninaad
[00:04:00]: "AI is the reason for both of these. We’re really, really collapsing down." - Kelly Goetsch
[00:10:00]: "About 70% of enterprise brands still run point-to-point integration, and that has its own set of challenges." - Ninaad
[00:22:00]: "The benefit of that is: we, as a community, get together and evolve and change as technology changes. And that’s great." - Kelly Goetsch
About the Guest
Kelly Goetsch is a technologist and strategist shaping the future of digital commerce and order fulfillment. Known for his leadership in the MACH Alliance and now Pipe17, Kelly has been a central voice in evolving commerce technology standards. He currently chairs the Commerce Operations Foundation, driving the development and adoption of the OnX standard for connected commerce.
Links Mentioned
- Commerce Operations Foundation website: commerceopsfoundation.org
- Commerce Operations Foundation GitHub: github.com/commerceopsfoundation
- Kelly Goetsch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kgoetsch
- MACH Alliance: machalliance.org
------------------------------------------

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https://partner.manife.st/partner/ecomlogistics

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How to Turn Fulfillment into a Growth Engine: Patrick Allard’s Playbook Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

What You’ll Learn:

The enduring priorities in fulfillment despite two decades of industry change: focus on the end-consumer experience and aligned people/process
The definition and strategic value of connected commerce as a frictionless end-to-end ecosystem across sales channels and fulfillment
Why tech integration across OMS, WMS, TMS and digital marketplaces remains the biggest hurdle to unified fulfillment
How Essendant repositions fulfillment from cost center to growth enabler, leveraging digital teams and marketplace expertise
When to accelerate 3PL expansion versus stabilize and optimize existing operations, anchored on clear value and identity assessment
The realities and opportunities around Seller Fulfilled Prime, including network scale, inventory optimization, and performance requirements
Key operational metrics beyond OTIF, including inventory health and profitability by channel, critical in managing complexity
Peak season outlook: early marketplace promotions, supply chain stability, and the goal to flatten the demand curve for better operational control

Highlights

00:00 – Guest Introduction & Industry Background
01:00 – Consistencies & Changes Over Two Decades in Fulfillment
03:00 – Defining Connected Commerce & Its Strategic Objectives
05:00 – Common Fulfillment-Tech Challenges & Silo Breakdown
07:00 – Unlocking Fulfillment as a Revenue Lever, Not Just Cost Center
10:00 – When to Accelerate vs. Stabilize 3PL Operations
14:00 – Procurement & Evaluation Dynamics in Mid-Market Deals
17:00 – Seller Fulfilled Prime: Market Demand & Execution Challenges
22:00 – Focused Operational Metrics to Drive Business Outcomes
28:00 – Peak Season Predictions & Advice
30:30 – Closing Thoughts & Contact Info

Quotes:

[00:02:00]: “The things that remain consistent would certainly be focusing on the end consumer... building the right team around us to align with that strategy and then making sure that we had the right processes.” - Patrick Allard
[00:04:00]: “Connected commerce to us is really about creating that frictionless end-to-end ecosystem... from product discovery through the purchase cycle, all the way through fulfillment, delivery, final mile returns.” - Patrick Allard
[00:10:00]: “How do we know when to pour gas on the fire and really go for expansion, and when is it time to maybe take a step back, pause, and get the house in order?” - Dan
[00:19:00]: “There's still quite a bit of pain for the larger brand retailers that might have a really good dominant market and brand recognition, but where they want the prime badge, but having that inventory all locked up in Amazon...puts them in a financial challenge.”- Patrick Allard
[00:23:00]: “There’s a million things you can track and it is data overload... but the key is focusing on promise metrics, inventory health, and profitability by channel.”- Patrick Allard

About the Guest:

Patrick Allard is President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, driving the transformation of a traditional B2B distributor into a connected commerce powerhouse. With over 20 years in e-commerce and logistics, Patrick has held leadership roles at Newgistics, Pitney Bowes, and Radial. His expertise spans M&A integrations, fulfillment scalability, multi-channel retail logistics, and leveraging fulfillment as a revenue growth lever rather than simply a cost center.
Links Mentioned:

Essendant Fulfillment Services: https://www.essendant.com/
Patrick Allard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-allard-04657111/

------------------------------------------

Heading to Manifest 2026? Get $200 off the current registration price:

https://partner.manife.st/partner/ecomlogistics

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

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After De Minimis: Krish Iyer’s Strategy for Peak-Season Cross-Border Costs Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

What You’ll Learn

How recent de minimis and tariff changes impact international customer behavior and brand pricing strategy
The evolving complexity of cross-border returns and strategic decisions on return policies
Carrier rate shifts: oversized fees, peak surcharges, dimensional weight changes, and their real cost impact
Why accurate rates and delivery promise engines remain table stakes — and why most still fall short
The role of AI in improving warehouse operations, HS code auto-classification, and carrier selection
Insights on agentic AI’s potential to revolutionize e-commerce shopping and logistics decision-making
How bundled logistics connects carriers, warehouses, and tech providers to streamline cross-border trade

Highlights

[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:00] Advice navigating current cross-border chaos and customs tightening
[00:04:00] Impact of tariff/de minimis changes on international shopper behavior
[00:06:00] Preparing for peak season: item selection, returns policy, and brand impact
[00:09:00] Strategies around secondary market liquidation vs. returns complexities
[00:11:00] Carrier pricing updates, surcharges, and dimensional weight changes for peak season
[00:14:00] AI’s growing role in warehouse efficiency and logistics decision-making
[00:18:00] Advances in HS code auto-classification powered by AI
[00:20:00] Agentic AI and its future impact on shopper intent and carrier selection
[00:23:00] Importance of relationships and bundled logistics connecting tech, carriers, warehouses
[00:25:00] Reducing returns through better product info, website UX, and AI applications
[00:27:00] The painful reality of rates & delivery promise engines still lagging in 2025
[00:29:00] Key 2025 e-commerce outlook takeaway focused on returns management timing
[00:30:00] Closing, social links, and final thoughts

Quotes

[00:03:45]: “The retailers who are taking it seriously and really are trying to make that good faith effort are the ones that are gonna succeed. They’re trying to adapt to new normals, new narratives, and trying to get a hold of it first rather than just throwing up their hands.” - Krish Iyer
[00:07:30]: “What are my return costs? What are my processing costs? How badly do I need that item back in my inventory for resale? And what’s gonna be my brand experience if I have a ‘keep it’ philosophy?” - Krish Iyer
[00:27:30]: “If you ship more than a hundred units a day, you should have the technology capable of actually making a commitment as to when the shipping is going to happen. That should be absolute table stakes for anyone that does meaningful volume.” - Ninaad
[00:19:15]: “If you give more data and granularity around what you’re shopping for—the intent, what it’s being used for—you can get some pretty good answers from agentic AI.” - Krish Iyer

About the Guest

Krish Iyer is the VP of Global Partnerships at EasyShip, where he supports brands scaling cross-border e-commerce logistics. With a career spanning FedEx, Pitney Bowes, and ShipEngine, Krish brings a comprehensive industry perspective on strategy, carrier integration, and international fulfillment. Known for blending deep operational insight with a human-centered approach to logistics, he’s also a repeat guest on this show.

Links Mentioned

- Krish Iyer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/

- EasyShip website: https://www.easyship.com/

- Previous episode with Krish Iyer: https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/

------------------------------------------

Heading to Manifest 2026? Get $200 off the current registration price:

https://partner.manife.st/partner/ecomlogistics

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

How ThredUp Processes 100,000 Items a Day with AI and Automation Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

What You’ll Learn

Why sustainability wasn’t the initial growth lever and how ThredUp found product-market fit by prioritizing value and convenience.
The pivotal shift from a peer-to-peer marketplace to an asset-backed resale model through bag-drop logistics.
How ThredUp scaled partially automated distribution centers to process over 100,000 unique items daily.
The key metrics that balance throughput, speed, and quality in large-scale resale operations.
How generative AI and visual search transformed discovery, personalization, and customer confidence.
The cultural practices — hackathons, AI bootcamps, and atomic building blocks — that sustain innovation and rapid adoption internally.
How Resale-as-a-Service enables major brands like Madewell to run white-labeled resale programs powered by ThredUp’s technology and operations.

Highlights

00:00 – Introduction: Dan’s 15-year journey at ThredUp
02:00 – Why sustainability alone didn’t drive growth
04:00 – The bag-drop pivot: asset-backed vs. P2P resale
07:30 – Marketplace dynamics: limited buyer-seller overlap
09:00 – Jobs-to-be-done thinking & unlearning old models
12:00 – Scaling ops: from scrappy warehouses to the world’s largest clothing carousel
17:00 – Throughput vs. quality: metrics that matter
21:00 – AI-powered search & discovery: cottagecore to mermaidcore
26:30 – Internal AI adoption: hackathons & “atomic building blocks”
33:30 – Building a culture of innovation and infinite learning
36:30 – Resale-as-a-Service for brands like Madewell
39:30 – Future of shopping: agentic AI and frictionless commerce
42:00 – Shoptalk Fall preview + closing thoughts

Quotes

[00:02:30]: “Even if someone cares about the planet... we did not find product-market fit. We had to work a lot early on to better understand the needs of both buyers and sellers.” - Dan DeMeyere
[00:12:15]: “It was a little bit like jumping out of an airplane and just having trust in ourselves that we're gonna build or find a parachute before we hit the ground.” - Dan DeMeyere
[00:20:30]: “Trust is so important, especially in the used space. We have to become clever in helping customers feel confident with the potential fit and flattery of every item.” - Dan DeMeyere
[00:39:30]: “If your core experience can be improved through AI, why do you need to put ‘AI’ on the website? It’s about the value you bring, the job they’re hiring you for.” - Dan DeMeyere

About the Guest

Dan DeMeyere is the Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp, a leading online resale platform pioneering sustainable fashion through technology and operational innovation. With 15 years at ThredUp starting from its inception, Dan has overseen the company’s evolution from a peer-to-peer marketplace into a high-velocity, AI-enabled resale giant processing over 100,000 items daily. He is passionate about customer-centric product development and leveraging AI to transform retail experiences at scale.

Links Mentioned

- ThredUp: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/

- Dan DeMeyere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/

👉 Don’t forget to join us at Shoptalk Fall, October 16–18 in Chicago!
🎟️ Grab your tickets here: https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets

Featured Sessions at Shoptalk Fall:

Harshida Acharya, Partner & CSO at Fulfillment IQ – Scenario Planning in a Volatile World
Ninaad Acharya, Co-Founder & CEO at Fulfillment IQ – Supply Chain Agility in the Age of Disruption
Dan DeMeyere, Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp – Retail Intelligence: What AI Can – and Can’t – Do Today
James Reinhar, Founder & CEO at ThredUp – Leading Through Culture Shifts

Check the full agenda here.

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

Rethinking Supply Chain & Ops at Scale: Lessons from Erin Chamberlin, Topgolf COO Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

What You’ll Learn

How to reverse-engineer the customer journey to simplify complex operational challenges
Why grounding teams in customer empathy unlocks better delivery across multi-site venues
Cross-functional collaboration’s role in innovating under tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions
Balancing brand standards with local authenticity in high-scale venue operations
Embedding real-time two-way feedback channels with frontline teams for continuous improvement
Cultivating inclusive teams through targeted skill-building and representation to drive diverse leadership
Lessons from hospitality and gaming industries on agility amid market volatility and post-COVID shifts

Highlights

00:00 – Intro and Erin Chamberlin’s operational background at Topgolf and Caesars
01:22 – Erin’s career path: transitioning from consulting to casino and hospitality ops
04:50 – The “work backwards from the customer” framework for experience design
08:40 – Cross-functional innovation example: rethinking Topgolf’s donut hole injectors under tariff risk
12:00 – Scaling consistency across 97 venues through systemized audits and local empowerment
15:30 – Culture of innovation fueled by frontline feedback and open idea channels among Playmakers
20:15 – Managing growing complexity, market volatility, and agility post-COVID
24:50 – Building inclusive, diverse teams with skills development and mentorship programs
29:40 – Erin’s personal “lean-in circle” and the importance of peer support in career growth
32:00 – Upcoming innovations and expansions at Topgolf: new venues and new game experiences
33:20 – Closing and how to follow Erin on LinkedIn

Quotes

[00:04:54]: “You have all of these lenses and perspectives you've gathered throughout your career, and you try to simplify all of these complex challenges by working backwards from the customer.” - Harshida Acharya

[00:07:42]: “What the tech team needs to deliver, what the supply chain team needs to make sure that we have staffed and inventory—we peel that back at each step until you get to the most simple form of what you need to accomplish.” - Erin Chamberlin

[00:26:41]: “It's really about providing skills for folks... Getting them to feel comfortable about reading a P&L, getting them comfortable presenting to large groups... We put in place concrete things that folks could do to level up their skill sets—to make them feel more confident.” - Erin Chamberlin

[00:30:48]: “It's meant to be, ‘Let's support each other. Don’t think that you’re alone in this.’ There are lots of us who are not sure if we belong here and if there’s a path for us to grow.” - Harshida Acharya

About the Guest

Erin Chamberlin is the Chief Operating Officer at Topgolf, leading operations across over 90 venues globally. With deep expertise from leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment, Erin combines analytics, hospitality, and customer experience to deliver scalable, consistent, and playful experiences. She is passionate about building inclusive teams and fostering culture-led innovation in complex, rapidly growing organizations.

Follow Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/

Topgolf venues: https://topgolf.com/

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