Unboxing Logistics

SHOW NOTES In this episode of Unboxing Logistics , Lori Boyer of EasyPost interviews Glenn Gooding, president of iDrive Logistics, about navigating the complexities of peak season. Glenn shares his 39 years of experience in the small parcel supply chain, providing practical tips for planning, communication, and technology. From demand forecasting to managing unexpected challenges, Glenn emphasizes...

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics , host Lori Boyer speaks with Ford Deihl, a product manager at DHL eCommerce, about the booming world of international shipping and the massive opportunities it offers for small and mid-sized businesses. Ford shares insights into the international market, how businesses can expand globally, and the strategies that can make international shipping easier than ex...

Delve into the critical role of parcel data in optimizing shipping operations, especially as businesses gear up for peak season. Megan Rudolph, senior director of parcel operations at Saddle Creek Logistics, shares her expertise on how to collect, analyze, and leverage parcel data to enhance customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and ensure carrier accountability.  The essentials of parcel data...

First-mile consolidation is a great way for growing SMBs to simplify their shipping logistics. Tyler Abderholden, vice president of Sendle’s global network, explains what first-mile consolidation is and why it’s beneficial. How does first-mile consolidation work? Generally, a multi-carrier shipping strategy involves coordinating multiple pickups at different times of the day. First-mile consolidat...

Returns have come a long way since the early days of ecommerce, but they still have a long way to go. Eric Wimer, co-founder and CEO at Sway, envisions a future where returns are easy, fast, and cost-effective for both businesses and consumers. In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, he and Lori discuss what it will take to make that vision a reality. A short history of returns When ecommerce was j...

In this EasyPost Insider episode, John Wharff introduces us to EasyPost Enterprise and explains how it helps businesses solve their most pressing shipping challenges. What is EasyPost Enterprise? John explains that EasyPost Enterprise is “software that is geared towards … really high performance, high complexity [shippers]. It opens the door to things like routing logic, business rules, [and] cust...

In this special episode for EasyPost customers, Olivia Qin and Brittany Williams introduce the new and improved claims process for EasyPost Shipping Insurance.  What sets EasyPost Shipping Insurance apart? For customers not currently using EasyPost’s insurance, Brittany and Olivia share some key features that set the offering apart from other insurance services on the market. Olivia says, “Wh...

Finding, hiring, and training warehouse workers has become more difficult through the years—and it won’t get any easier. At the same time, manual processes aren’t scalable or sustainable. The solution? Invest in technology that helps employees do their jobs more efficiently. Jeremy Bodenhamer, founder and CEO of ShipHawk, explains why this gives businesses an edge. Why flexibility is essential Jer...

What is ESG, how is it different from sustainability, and when should your company start an ESG program? Alanna Fishman, managing director at FTI Consulting, joins us on this episode of Unboxing Logistics to share why ESG is critical to a business’s long-term success.  ESG vs. sustainability Alanna explains, “ESG literally stands for environmental, social, governance.” ESG programs focus on m...

Every company approaches automation differently. Some fill their distribution centers with high-tech goods-to-person systems, autonomous vehicles, and robots that imitate human abilities, while others don’t even use simple barcode scanners.  If you haven’t dabbled much with automation yet, no worries; you can improve your processes gradually to create a delivery experience that outshines the...

Although generative AI first became popular several years ago, it’s still making waves as new tools are released and existing ones are improved. And people still have questions: what can AI be used for? How will it help my business? And what are the risks?  Ibrahim Ashqar, CEO and co-founder of Lumi AI, joins Lori on this episode of Unboxing Logistics to answer these questions and more, expla...

March is Women’s History Month—a time to focus on the accomplishments and contributions of women who have helped shape the world. In honor of the occasion, we’ve decided to highlight some modern-day women who have used their knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to influence the world of logistics.  This special episode features our women guests from seasons one and two of Unboxing Log...

Last-mile delivery is one of the most important parts of the logistics process, playing a huge role in the customer experience. But it’s also one of the hardest things to get right—and carriers aren’t the only ones responsible.  In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Nicholas Daniel-Richards, CEO at Packiyo, lays out some last-mile challenges and explains how warehouse optimization streamline...

As businesses expand into new sales channels, order management gets complicated—and time-consuming. Gemma Shaw, head of partnerships at Order Desk, explains what order management systems do and shares tips for using yours effectively. Benefits of an order management system (OMS) What are order management systems, and how do they benefit businesses? Gemma explains, “An OMS enables businesses to cen...

Implementing a new ERP is a massive endeavor, and your business has a lot to consider. Which internal stakeholders should be part of the implementation project team? How will you get everyone else on board with the change? In this episode, Nancy Seaboldt, ERP practice lead for Summit Advisory Team, shares advice for making the ERP implementation process smooth and effective. The purpose of an ERP...

As vice president of sales and solutions at Nimble, a fully autonomous 3PL, Jonathan Briggs knows just how powerful warehouse robotics can be. In this episode, he and Lori discuss the history of robotics in logistics, what companies are doing today, and how things will evolve in years to come. What are robots capable of? Jonathan explains that in the past five years, the development of sophisticat...

When businesses first start out, developing their product is usually a reactive process—and it’s hard to tell which new features make a difference. Ching Pei, VP of product at EasyPost, explains what product managers do to make the development process more proactive and effective. The role of product teams Product teams are involved with every part of the business: customer success, sales, marketi...

Peter Klevecz, regional and global customer manager at DHL Express, has witnessed the carrier’s sustainability innovations throughout the years (including purchasing 800 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel). Now, he joins Lori on this episode of Unboxing Logistics to discuss the what, why, and how of sustainable shipping. What is a carbon footprint? Lori and Peter kick off the conversation...

The logistics industry has come a long way in 40 years—and the future holds many exciting opportunities. John Campo, vice president of government and carrier relations for EasyPost, shares some key insights into the evolution of logistics. 2024 trends: carrier diversification and post-Covid market changes John and Lori kick off the episode with a discussion about the shipping market, where John po...

No initiative is an island—and that includes sustainability. By implementing efficiency-boosting changes like automation, your business will also limit its carbon footprint. Kim Baudry, market development director at Dematic, explains how automation helps people, profits, and the planet. Sustainability, labor, and automation Because labor is a resource, sustainability includes making people’s jobs...

In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, James Sutton announces a new EasyPost solution: EasyPost Analytics. As head of the EasyPost Analytics engineering team, James has seen firsthand how crucial it is for shippers to have full visibility into their supply chain. He shares what EasyPost Analytics can do, who it’s for, and how it sheds light on complex logistics operations. Why use analytics softwa...

In 2022 alone, porch pirates made off with 19.5 billion dollars worth of goods. As package thieves adopt new tactics, it’s up to merchants, carriers, and consumers to stay one step ahead of them. Jessica Lowrance, vice president of federal affairs at UPS, shares some of the most effective ways to fight back against porch piracy. Porch piracy—our new reality For Jessica, it’s clear that porch pirac...

Chris Caplice has deep knowledge of supply chain management: he’s the executive director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, chief scientist for DAT Freight and Analytics, and a Silver Family Research Fellow. To kick off the second season of Unboxing Logistics, Chris uses his wealth of experience to predict what 2024 has in store for the supply chain industry. An evolving relations...

Whether you’re a small, medium-sized, or enterprise business, your customers probably expect an  omnichannel shopping experience. Kylie Schafer, practice lead at Summit Advisory Team, talks with Lori about the benefits of omnichannel commerce and gives some advice for getting started. Omnichannel in a nutshell Kylie explains that omnichannel is all about “cross pollination” between sales chan...

According to Gartner, women make up just 39% of the logistics industry. At the executive level, that number drops to 21%. In this episode, Lori talks with Anna Podolskaya, product manager at EasyPost, about the value women bring to logistics and technology roles, how they can advance their careers, and why diversity matters. Challenges Anna has faced in the logistics industry In the beginning of A...