Execution: The First Line Of Defense In Supply Chains

Guest commentary by Richard Stewart (Infios) on the unification of warehousing, transportation and order management into intelligent execution systems.

Oct 09, 2025

A port closure in your supplier’s region delays a critical shipment. Severe weather knocks out a regional distribution hub. Demand for a top-selling product triples overnight after a viral social trend. For many supply chains, these moments are no longer rare events; they are everyday realities that test the limits of execution.

When disruption strikes, the ability to execute becomes the difference between backlogged orders and customer loyalty, between soaring costs and sustained margins. That is why supply chain execution is not the backline; it is the first line of defense.

In this era, speed alone is not enough. Simplicity does not suffice. Businesses need systems that don’t just process, but predict, adapt, and orchestrate.

Using Robots to Load/Unload Trucks

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted how “new advances in robotics are [enabling the automation of truck loading and unloading]. Improved sensors and algorithms, advancements in AI and faster image-processing technology are making these robots proficient players in tasks that are like a game of 3-D Tetris.” This survey sought to understand industry readiness, key challenges, and opportunities associated with using robots to load or unload trucks.

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