417: Fulfill Your Potential, with Blue Yonder

Ann Marie Jonkman of Blue Yonder talks about using tech to solve labor challenges; empowering teams & organizations to fulfill potential; & future supply chains. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.42] An introduction to Blue Yonder, what they do, and how they help their customers. “We’re your technology partner… if you want new innovation, advice on reducing your labor cost, reducing your tech stack debt… we have the chops and vision to execute with you.” [09.19] The ideal client for Blue Yonder. “Our clients are looking for innovation and differentiation; in this volatile market, they’re looking to reduce costs… and they’re looking for a partner.” [13.02] The current landscape of supply chain, and the biggest challenges faced by Blue Yonder customers. “2024 has been a slow recovery. When you look at transportation, post-pandemic, there was a lot of excess capacity… Now volume is down, we have a lot of healthy competition, and shippers were smart – they locked in rates… So people are looking to increase utilization with what they have. So labor and cost, as opposed to scale for growth, is driving most of the portfolio.” [15.43] Blue Yonder’s transportation management solution, and how it’s helping customers to overcome challenges, as well as transform their transportation operations. [22.10] The evolution of warehousing, and how Blue Yonder’s range of warehouse management and execution solutions are helping customers to keep up with rapid change, pivot, and set themselves up for the future. “I’ve seen the most change in this space. We see heavy automation, automation cost investment - but we see the labor cost driving automation.” [28.46] Blue Yonder’s Edge technology solutions, how they integrate into customer organizations, and the incredible results they can help customers to achieve. “Robotics has been around for a while, but what we’ve seen in the last 2-3 years is an explosion.” [34.42] How Blue Yonder helps customers with labor management, helping them to find the balance between people and technology, and achieve employee engagement as well as peak operational performance. [40.25] A case study exploring how Blue Yonder provided solutions to allow a key client to better understand and utilize analytics, helping them to make operational changes and achieve a 25-30% reduction in labor cost, worth millions of dollars. [43.50] Why Blue Yonder is committed to helping customers fulfill their potential, and the impact that empowering people and organizations is having on the industry. “We want to be your technology partner, we don’t want to just sell you a product. We look at your utilization, and help you during implementation… we want you to be successful.” [47.32] The supply chains of the future, and the Blue Yonder innovations that are helping to drive the industry forward. “That’s the next vision – it’s not just the products and solutions, it’s connecting them. And it’s not just visibility – it’s decisioning, its orchestration, where we’re all working collaboratively.” RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Blue Yonder’s website now to find out more, and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Blue Yonder and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Ann Marie on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more amazing supply chain content, check out 377: How AI is Improving Supply Chain Sustainability, with Dyci Sfregola and Hope White or Nicole Glenn on the Power of Hope and Transforming the Logistics Industry.