Supply Chain Now – Asia at a Crossroads: Reinvention, Risk & Supply Chain Growth

Date: March 23, 2026
Guests: Dr. Raymond Krishnan (President, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society) & Brett Marshall (Editor-In-Chief, Logisim Magazine)
Host: Scott Luton

Episode Overview

This episode explores the rapidly evolving Asian and Southeast Asian supply chain landscape, focusing on the forces driving regional reinvention, risk management, and supply chain growth. Host Scott Luton is joined by two influential industry leaders, Dr. Raymond Krishnan and Brett Marshall, who share their firsthand insights on digital transformation, the skills gap, regional trade shifts, emerging technologies (including AI), and collaborative events shaping the sector.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Warm-up & Industry Analogies

• Dr. Krishnan’s Motorbike Adventure:
  • Annual habit of pushing boundaries to learn and adapt—used the analogy of riding the dangerous Sarchu Pass (“One of the ten most dangerous roads in the world” – 04:17) to illustrate the need for continuous learning in the dynamic supply chain space.
  • Quote: "Things are always changing. So you want to keep abreast of things." (05:17)
• Brett Marshall on Sports:
  • Sports passion as a metaphor for competitive spirit and resilience; Australian involvement in the NBA as a case study for global talent mobility. (06:35)

2. Asia & Southeast Asia: Optimism and Caution

• Post-COVID Recognition:
  • The pandemic has elevated the profile of supply chains, bringing more development and opportunity—tempered by ongoing geopolitical conflicts and disruptions.
  • Raymond: "I'm more optimistic and more cautious as well...there are more opportunities being created." (08:33)
  • Brett: "We just cannot take for granted that every disruption...is the last disruption. Jake Barr has a great saying about being the new never normal." (10:36)
• Risk Management:
  • Enhanced risk awareness in the pharma sector and broader supply chain, including the rise of “never normal” global volatility.

3. Beyond the Headlines: Realities on the Ground

• Discernment in Decision-Making:
  • Dangers of headline-chasing and hype cycles, especially regarding AI; importance of filtering noise and staying focused on fundamentals like relationships and reliability.
  • Raymond: "Don't get distracted and also stick to the fundamentals...you're only as good as your last shipment." (13:45)
• Regional Complexity:
  • ASEAN acts as a policy maker but execution remains highly country-specific; infrastructure and regulatory disparities are major hurdles to true regional integration.
  • Brett: "Asia is seen as a region, but it doesn’t necessarily behave as a region...There’s still a lot of work for the region to do." (16:04)

4. Rebalancing vs. Reinvention

• Raymond:
  • The supply chain industry is embracing reinvention, not just post-pandemic recalibration—AI and robotics are accelerating new models and market redirection.
  • Quote: "Let's reinvent what we do, move ahead faster with reshoring, near-shoring...and just get on with it." (18:30)
• Brett:
  • Manufacturing is both rebalancing (China-plus strategies) and reinventing (moving towards higher-value goods, e.g., pharma biologics). (20:02)

5. Southeast Asia’s Biggest Shifts

• Rising Domestic Growth:
  • Not just “China-plus one” sourcing; countries like Indonesia and the Philippines are experiencing significant internal demand increases.
  • Raymond: "Domestic growth is happening, people's lives are getting better, the demand for products is happening." (21:49)
• Self-Sufficiency After the Pandemic:
  • Pandemic exposed vulnerabilities, prompting governments and organizations to invest in infrastructure and reduce reliance on external regions.
  • Brett: "...We cannot afford to rely on other regions anymore. We need to...develop our capabilities internally." (23:53)

6. AI in Supply Chain: Favorite Use Cases

• AI-Driven Sourcing Bots:
  • Raymond: Described solutions that automate procurement, negotiate bids, and autonomously award contracts, offering significant speed and accuracy benefits.
  • Quote: "If I had a use for it, I'd adopt it myself...for a guy who's been in the industry for 35 years, seeing what AI can do...is brilliant." (28:25)
• Freight Management & Emissions Reporting:
  • Brett: Highlighted bots designed to process vast invoice datasets, improve accuracy, drive ESG compliance (Scope 3 emissions), and yield spend savings.
  • Quote: "It's a really nice solution. It can give tangible outcomes...4, 5, 6% in transport spend through the capabilities." (31:50)

7. The Human Factor & Skills Gap

• Mindset Over Knowledge:
  • Raymond: Main barrier is not a lack of access but an unwillingness to learn—embracing continual development is critical.
  • Quote: "The biggest skills gap to me is that unwillingness to learn and develop." (35:07)
• Changing Entry Paths & Core Human Skills:
  • Brett: Entry-level operational exposure is waning; industry involvement in education is growing. Emphasized teaching humility and empathy to future leaders.
  • Quote: "The ability to manage people and to be humble and to show empathy...these are skills that we really need." (37:45)

8. Singapore, Malaysia & Regional Innovation

• Orchestration over Volume:
  • Singapore’s strategy: relocate transactional logistics to Malaysia’s Special Economic Zone, focus domestically on high-value functions like control towers, advanced manufacturing, and data orchestration.
  • Raymond: "You don't compete on volume, you dominate on orchestration...the profit will belong to those who own that data, direct and control the supply chain." (42:17, 00:00)
• Port & Airport Modernization:
  • Massive investments in Changi Airport and the maritime port; regional port competition (with Malaysia, Indonesia) is fueling collective innovation.
  • Brett: "Singapore has positioned itself very nicely to be a hub for different industries...using their geographical location effectively." (45:00)

9. Reverse Logistics Innovation

• APAC Reverse Logistics Innovation Alliance (ALIA):
  • Society-led effort to shine a light on reverse logistics, leveraging AI for returns, condition grading, optimal dispositioning (repair, recycle, resell).
  • Raymond: "Reverse logistics is notoriously dark...E-commerce has made that even worse." (47:32)
• Regulatory, Operational, and ESG Focus:
  • Brett: Pharma has high return rates; innovation here can significantly reduce waste and improve compliance. (49:18)

10. Events, Community, and the Power of People

• LOGISYM APAC 2026:
  • Major event (May 12-14), featuring tracks on planning, procurement, cold chain, 3PL, digitization, risk management, ESG, and e-commerce.
  • Social engagement emphasized, notably with a lively gala dinner: "We finished up at 2am, another year we had a conga line...the audience makes so much noise that they just drown out the entertainers." – Raymond (52:51)
• People as Ultimate Optimism:
  • Raymond: "The people in the industry...they want to do better, they want to learn more, they want to cooperate...they just get stuff done." (54:32)
  • Brett: "Resilience has always been a part of supply chain practitioners’ DNA...now we're given the opportunity to demonstrate how effectively we can manage situations." (55:18)

Notable Quotes

• "You don't compete on volume, you dominate on orchestration...the profit will belong to those who own that data, direct and control the supply chain."
  • Raymond Krishnan (00:00, 42:17)
• "Every disruption that we encounter is [not] the last disruption...being the new never normal."
  • Brett Marshall (10:36)
• "Asia is seen as a region, but it doesn’t necessarily behave as a region...there’s still a lot of work for the region to do."
  • Brett Marshall (16:04)
• "The biggest skills gap to me is that unwillingness to learn and develop."
  • Raymond Krishnan (35:07)
• "Reverse logistics is notoriously dark...E-commerce has made that even worse."
  • Raymond Krishnan (47:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Personal Analogies, Getting Out of Comfort Zones (04:11–06:35)
• Asia’s Optimism & Risk Management Culture (08:33–11:38)
• Getting Past Headlines / Regional Reality (12:34–17:06)
• Rebalancing vs. Reinvention (18:10–21:11)
• Shift in SE Asia, Domestic Demand & Regionalization (21:41–25:46)
• AI Use Cases (26:53–32:20)
• Human Skills, Skills Gap (33:37–39:02)
• Singapore & Malaysia: Control Towers and Orchestration (40:22–46:12)
• Reverse Logistics Innovation Alliance (47:23–49:56)
• LOGISYM APAC 2026 Event & Industry Community (50:22–53:23)
• People & Practical Optimism (54:32–56:22)

How to Connect & Further Resources

• Connect with Brett & Raymond: Both recommend LinkedIn for professional connections.
• Explore Logisim and upcoming programming/events: logisim.org
• Learn more about the APAC Reverse Logistics Innovation Alliance: Details on Logisim’s website.

Final Words & Call to Action

Scott Luton encourages all listeners to embrace change, focus on deeds not words, and become active participants in industry transformation:
"Do good. Give forward. Be the change that's needed." (58:44)

This episode offers a dynamic, optimistic, and pragmatic look at supply chain transformation across Asia and beyond—grounded in real experience, honest reflection, and a strong push for continued learning and community-building.