The Zion Experience

When people hear "AI in automation," a chatbot is sometimes the first image that comes to mind, but that’s not where this conversation starts. Our Strategic Account Executive, Joe Gobis, joins our latest TZE episode with Jim Shaw to break down what AI looks like in physical automation right now: where it's already creating value, which operations benefit most, and the misconceptions customers brin...

"You're going to want to design for peak." It's not advice we usually give, except in specific sortation cases. Our Director of Solutions and Engineering, Christian Seymour, joins the latest TZE episode with host Jordan Frank to explain why. He also walks through different sortation categories, such as conveyor, robotic, and unit sortation, explaining when each makes sense and the considerations t...

“Selective” is how Jim Shaw describes the first half of 2026. In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw and Amelia Zweizig take a midyear look at the industry, including how companies are evaluating automation, where investment remains active, and what they are watching through the remainder of 2026.

Designing a medical device distribution center requires a different mindset than designing other warehouse operations. In our latest TZE episode, Drew Eubank and Jim Shaw shares lessons from his experience as an operator, discussing how this mindset influences technology decisions, facility design, and day-to-day execution. We also explore how distribution technology and software has evolved, the...

The challenge with improving warehouse performance is that it's influenced by more than just automation. Labor availability, order profiles, inventory levels, and many other variables can all affect the outcome. In our latest TZE episode, Sriram Sridhar from Addverb sat down with Jim Shaw and Drew Eubank to discuss digital twin technology and how organizations are using it to better understand exi...

One of the biggest challenges in retail fulfillment is that peak demand may last only a few weeks or months, while the decisions made to support it can affect an operation for years. In this episode of The Zion Experience, Jordan Frank shares his perspective on how teams think through facility design, labor flexibility, software strategy, and automation investments when volume can fluctuate signif...

Healthcare and medical device distribution centers often operate under a very different set of constraints than traditional retail or e-commerce environments. In this episode of The Zion Experience, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank discuss how many medical device operations may not experience the same seasonal demand spikes seen elsewhere. However, strict SLA requirements and order cutoff times can still...

For the first time, we brought The Zion Experience to Modex for a live recording. After a few days on the show floor, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank sat down to talk through what stood out, what’s getting a lot of attention, and where the real value of the show comes from. One thing that stands out every year is how quickly a single question can turn into a much bigger conversation.

Every few years, most distribution centers hit a moment where they have to step back and ask: “Does our network still make sense?” Whether it’s growth, acquisitions, shifting demand, sourcing changes… it all adds up, revealing that what worked 3–5 years ago may not work today. In our latest TZE episode, @Jim Shaw and @Jordan Frank sit down with @Steve Spratt to talk about how companies should appr...

More often than not, problems during a WMS rollout start earlier, when teams move too quickly through planning, requirements, and testing. In our latest Zion Experience episode, Jim Shaw and Drew Eubank talk through what it takes to prepare for a WMS project before vendor selection and implementation begin. In this conversation, they cover: ➡️ Why understanding your “why” is the first step ➡️ Why...

“Data never lies… but it also never tells the whole story.” That line from Drew in our latest Zion Experience episode is the reason Operations Advisory exists. In this episode, Jen Thomas sits down with Jim Shaw and Drew Eubank to break down how advisory really works. They talk through defining the right problem, walking the distribution center floor, identifying quick wins, and building a roadmap...

Automation is a capital investment. Maintenance determines whether that investment delivers long-term value. In our latest Zion Experience episode, we talk with Lee Hobbs about what it actually takes to sustain automated distribution centers over time. In this conversation, we cover: ➡️ Why preventive and proactive maintenance protects your original capital investment ➡️ How small issues turn into...

2026 Distribution Center Automation: What's Evolving and What's Trending In our latest Zion Experience episode, Jim Shaw, Jordan Frank, and Drew Eubank talk through what shifted in 2025 and what they’re watching heading into 2026. Spoiler Alert! 1. Systems are getting more advanced while also becoming easier to use, thanks to better interfaces and a stronger focus on the operator experience. 2. At...

Explore with us how DC automation is transforming healthcare operations at St. Vincent De Paul and helping save lives through smarter, more efficient processes. The Medication Access Program (MAP) at St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy relies on donated medication to serve patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it. But donations were arriving faster than they could be inspected, sorted...

Most decisions look good over 12 months. Very few still look good over 7 to 10 years. In our Year in Review podcast, @Jim Shaw, @Jordan Frank, @Drew Eubank, and @Chuck Frank discuss a simple but challenging question: What does it actually mean to be the choice for customers, partners, and team members over the long term? The discussion touches on: ➡️Investing in people so they want to stay and gro...

In our latest TZE episode, our Solutions team, Tori Bennett and Christian Seymour, joined Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank to discuss designing across various industries. Healthcare isn't retail. Aerospace isn't e-commerce. Each operates under its own set of pressures from compliance to throughput, and that’s where design discipline makes all the difference. Tori and Christian share how they adapt engine...

In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw sat down with Victoria Carlton, founder of Carlton Creative Co, for a conversation about what it really means to lead with care. Victoria brings a fresh perspective on building teams that don't just execute, but thrive. She explains why the best leaders prioritize clarity over control, how small communication shifts (such as audio messages) can strengthen remote...

In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw sits down with Jake Sullivan, one of Zion’s own, to talk about leadership on the warehouse floor. Uptime is everything, and real leaders fix machines and build trust. Jake shares how his journey from the Navy to facility maintenance shaped his approach to leading service teams: ✅ Train relentlessly ✅ Take ownership ✅ Treat maintenance as a service

In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw sits down with David Quintilo, Founder of Leverage Supply Chain Group, for a conversation about what it really takes to lead in supply chain. With 36 years of experience shaping logistics for some of the world's largest brands, David brings a hard-won perspective on building trust across massive networks, fostering innovation in an industry built on predictabili...

In our latest TZE episode, we sat down with learning and development expert @Dr. Katherine McRae about a truth many leaders struggle with: you can't control your way to success. The best leaders don't just manage tasks. They connect people to the bigger picture, ask the "why" questions in one-on-ones, and trust their teams enough to let go of control. Clarity beats control every time.

Jim Shaw and Aron Kolosik tackle the question nobody's asking: After the 60-hour weeks and constant notifications, how do you actually shut off? Aron shares how he protects creative capacity and why your brain needs rest just like any other muscle. His approach: - Block family time like business meetings - Delay weekend emails to Monday morning - Take every vacation (your creativity depends on it)...

In our new Leadership Series on the TZE Podcast, @Jim Shaw and @Jordan Frank kick us off by sharing a truth every supply chain leader faces: sometimes there's no clear right answer, but you still have to move forward. The ability to gather input, make the call, own the outcome, and keep moving sets great leaders apart from good leaders. Because while you're debating the perfect solution, competito...

In our latest TZE episode, our summer interns get real about tackling AI projects they've never seen before and discovering why curiosity beats expertise. Key takeaway: "I didn't know what I was doing and I really had to think outside the box, do a lot of research, figure stuff out on my own, ask questions." Sometimes the best solutions come from those brave enough to admit what they don't know.

Twenty years ago, 3PL success meant having space. Today? It's about making informed technology choices in a sea of options. In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw sits down with Chuck Frank to discuss how 3PLs have evolved and what it takes to future-proof operations in today's market. They discuss everything from changing customer expectations to the paralysis of too many automation choices. Chuck s...

You can have the best plan, the right data, and cutting-edge technology, and still struggle if the people side isn’t dialed in. In the latest episode of The Zion Experience, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank sit down with Lee Kirk of NXTPoint Logistics to explore what really makes automation stick in a 3PL environment. They discuss how to set the stage for success before systems go live, how to involve cu...