Podcast Summary: Supply Chain Now

Episode: Revolutionizing Retail Supply Chain Operations with AI and Automation
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Scott Luton (B)

Overview

This episode centers on how AI and automation are revolutionizing retail supply chain operations. Industry leaders Angie Jula (A), Director of Product Management, and Matt Brosma (C), Senior Product Marketing Manager, both from SPS Commerce, share practical insights and real-world examples of how retailers are leveraging emerging technologies to forecast demand, delight customers, enable suppliers, and reduce manual work. The discussion tackles adoption challenges, the fundamental role of data, evolving team roles, and the tangible business impact of modern supply chain tech.

1. Introductions and Personal Warm-Up (02:06-06:54)

• Scott introduces guests: Angie (collegiate golfer, entrepreneurial background) and Matt (former DJ turned supply chain pro).
• Both share their professional journeys and roles at SPS Commerce.
• SPS Commerce is described as a supply chain technology company focused on data and operational process optimization between suppliers and retailers.
  • Angie: “We essentially power relationships and transforming and exchanging data between suppliers and retailers and helping them improve their supply chain performance.” (06:32)

2. Demystifying AI and Automation in Retail Supply Chains (07:21-14:18)

Key Level-Setting Points

1. AI Adoption, Impact & Data Issues (07:50)

• Matt shares that “78% of organizations globally are starting to step into or adopting AI. In retail, it’s around 83%.” (07:50)
• However, “95% of organizations aren't getting value, an impact out of AI… a lot of these projects aren't leaving the lab.” (08:18)
• Angie stresses the need for foundational, clean, organized data and strong supplier relationships to realize AI’s potential (09:15).

2. Organizational Process & Manual Work (10:46)

• Challenges include tracking, storing, and accessing data in organizations—a key barrier to effective automation.
• Angie suggests analyzing current manual processes to prioritize automation for maximum team efficiency (11:22).

3. Navigating Constant Uncertainty (12:23)

• Volatility from tariffs, economic shifts, omnichannel gaps, and the rise of retail media networks adds risk.
• “Retailers have a lot of change that’s in front of them… They need to get prepared… AI gives them the capability… to pivot more quickly.” – Angie (13:29)

Memorable quote:

“We’ve got dozens and dozens of flavors of uncertainty out in this crazy market.” – Scott (14:18)

3. Why Manual Supplier Management Persists (15:04-18:19)

• Many retailers stick to spreadsheets out of comfort—even when automation could free teams for more valuable work.
• Angie uses the iPhone analogy: “...Suppliers know how to manage those [processes] in spreadsheets. They love their spreadsheets. They don’t want to change. While it’s exciting to automate… there’s workforce anxiety” (15:04).
• Automation enables faster contract evaluation, pricing, and relationship-building without eliminating jobs.
• Matt elaborates: “Ask any merchant where they want to spend their time… they want to spend time with the supplier, have more collaborative relationships, but instead they’re firefighting... This is the culmination of all that manual effort…” (17:02)
• Change management and data silos are persistent adoption barriers.

4. The Modern Approach: How AI & Automation Create Value (18:50-22:58)

• Retailers are adopting AI tools for contract management, dynamic pricing, demand planning, and supplier collaboration.
• Angie: “AI… allows team, if they embrace it… to work smarter and focus on the more important things.” (18:50)
• Matt cites Amazon’s results: “Delivery time and cost reduction [of] 25% based on… AI and robotics.” (19:48)
• Computer-automated ordering and performance-based supplier data sharing are gaining traction.
• Trend: “93% of supply chain leaders have experienced supplier disruptions recently… Disruptions are just to be expected.” – Matt (21:28)
• Key retailer priorities: agility, resilience, exception management, predictive and proactive action.

Memorable quote:

“The art of the possible is ever-evolving.” – Scott (24:04)

5. Automation, Fill Rates, and Performance Metrics (24:14-27:44)

• Robotics and AI, particularly in grocery, are improving order accuracy and on-time, in-full (OTIF) metrics.
• “You need data to actually assess performance… That requires [data] to be accurate from an enterprise perspective down to a supplier level.” – Matt (25:23)
• Angie highlights the trending use of AI-enabled scorecards for suppliers: “Without data, it’s just an opinion.” (26:43)
• AI helps evaluate supplier performance, mitigate risk, and spot new sourcing opportunities.

Notable moment:

“Suppliers are craving that objective feedback so they can get better and protect and grow their business.” – Scott (27:44)

6. Dashboards & Breaking Down Silos (28:11-30:34)

• Cross-functional dashboards unite supply chain, merchandising, finance, and operations teams on a “single pane of glass.”
• Matt: “Everyone has a dashboard… The biggest thing is whose data is right?” (28:11)
• Data enables integrated conversations and decisions; teams begin to see the impact of their KPIs on each other and the whole business.

7. SPS Commerce’s Role in Retail Automation (31:38-33:39)

• SPS Commerce’s end-to-end support: enabling data collection, facilitating supplier communications, configuring workflows, and driving exception-based management.
• Matt: “We sit between organizations… communication is critical… Do you know why [the retailer] is rolling out this requirement? It’s to help you sell your products more efficiently.” (32:47)
• Building value alignment and clear communication channels is key for success.

8. From Reactive to Proactive Supplier Management (34:25-37:39)

• SPS Commerce helps organizations close the adoption gap—ensuring that tech investment translates to real operational change, not just pilots.
• Key tools include exception management, collaborative sales data, forecasting, and pricing optimization.
• Angie: “Our solution allows [supplier-retailer pairs] to be more proactive collaboratively.” (35:49)
• Proactive collaboration reduces firefighting and unlocks new opportunities for revenue and innovation.

9. Transforming Daily Team Work & Productivity (37:39-39:36)

• Automation eliminates “mundane manual tasks”.
• Angie: “Teams are transforming… working smarter, not harder.” (38:21)
• Matt: “Incorporating the supplier into the equation… empowering your suppliers with what’s selling so they can bring recommendations.” (39:17)

10. Executive Insights & Strategic Decision Making (40:18-42:50)

• C-suite adoption of AI is growing, becoming a strategic imperative for customer experience and competitive advantage.
• Matt: “It’s important… to foster that data-driven culture… to figure out how do we get that enterprise-wide view.” (41:46)
• Leadership matters: Harvard Business Review found that successful AI outcomes tie directly to executive-led, purpose-driven initiatives.

11. Tangible Impact & Competitive Advantage (45:17-50:45)

• Angie lists specific measurable improvements:
  • 15% reduction in logistics costs
  • 35% reduction in inventory levels
  • 65% improvement in service efficiencies
  • 50% forecasting improvement
  • 13–14% drop in manual planning time
• “But you can't just deploy an AI solution and cross your fingers… you really have to have adoption and make sure the data is… structured, consistent, clean, and organized.” – Angie (45:23)
• Matt: Improving even a few basis points in fill rate delivers outsized sales impact.
• Competitive edge comes through demand planning, forecasting, and end-to-end visibility, resulting in improved customer loyalty and speed-to-market.

Notable quote:

“First to market products capture 47% more long-term revenue than products launched six months late.” – Matt (49:41)

12. Practical Advice: Where to Begin (51:33-55:03)

Matt’s Recommendations

• Focus on relationships internally and externally (with suppliers).
• Audit the current state of data—where it is, how it’s accessed, and who has control.
• Don’t just “hand out an AI chatbot”—begin with specific, rigorously defined use cases.

Angie’s Advice

• Identify where manual processes persist alongside automation.
• Quantify time/cost saved by automating the most painful manual processes for tangible ROI.
• Communicate the benefits to teams to win buy-in and reduce workforce anxiety.

13. Key Takeaways (55:35-56:13)

• Matt: “AI isn’t the magic—your data is.” (55:44)
• Angie: “AI is not a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a strategic imperative to get that competitive advantage.” (56:05)
• Scott adds: “Every day that companies don’t take action, they’re losing some degree of their competitive advantage.” (56:13)

14. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Without data, it’s just an opinion.” – Angie (26:43)
• “The art of the possible is just ever evolving.” – Scott (24:04)
• “Ask any merchant where do they want to spend their time? …with my supplier, have more collaborative relationships, but instead they’re firefighting.” – Matt (17:02)
• “AI is not a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a strategic imperative…” – Angie (56:05)
• “AI isn't the magic—your data is.” – Matt (55:44)

15. Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:06 – Introductions and guest backgrounds
• 07:21 – Setting the stage for AI and automation in retail
• 15:04 – Why retailers still manage suppliers manually
• 18:50 – The value of AI/automation in supplier management
• 24:14 – Automation and performance metrics
• 28:11 – Breaking down silos with dashboards
• 31:38 – SPS Commerce’s automation role
• 34:25 – Moving from reactive to proactive
• 37:39 – Impact of automation on daily work
• 40:18 – Executive-level strategic decision making
• 45:17 – Business impact and competitive advantage
• 51:33 – Practical advice for starting automation
• 55:35 – One key takeaway
• 56:13 – Final thoughts and getting in touch

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, actionable look at the realities of AI and automation in retail supply chain management. The candid insights and examples from Angie and Matt make this a valuable listen—and an even more valuable resource for supply chain leaders ready to move from manual firefighting to data-driven, automated success.

To connect:

• Find Matt and Angie on LinkedIn.
• Learn more at SPS Commerce, or listen to future episodes of Supply Chain Now.

Host Scott’s final challenge:
“Take something you heard here today… and put it into practice. It’s all about deeds, not words. That’s how we’ll continue transforming the global business world.” (56:53)