This week in supply chain and logistics news began with the Trump administration imposing a 50% tariff on all U.S. imports of copper. Additionally, Trump ordered a Section 301 investigation into Brazil, which allows the U.S. to take action against countries that violate trade agreements. Infios and S&S Activewear were awarded the “Top Supply Chain Project Winner” for their collaboration on warehouse automation and robotics. Lastly, Mark Morgan, an executive at Kinaxis, discussed Supply Orchestration to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.

Here are the biggest stories of the week:

U.S. Places a 50% Tariff on Copper Imports 

The U.S. will impose a 50% tariff on copper imports starting August 1, 2025, following a national security assessment. President Donald Trump announced the decision, which follows a Section 232 investigation into copper imports. This investigation assessed domestic demand, production, and the impact of imports on national security. The new tariffs are expected to increase costs for imported metals, contributing to cost-push inflation. Major copper exporters to the U.S. include Chile and Canada, which together supplied over $10 billion worth of copper in 2024. This move mirrors previous tariffs on steel imports under similar investigations.

Trump Orders Section 301 Investigation on Brazil 

President Donald Trump announced a Section 301 investigation into Brazil due to its digital trade policies, which allegedly restrict U.S.-based social media platforms. He also declared a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports starting August 1, 2025. This move is part of a broader strategy involving reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, including Japan and South Korea. Brazil, previously facing a 10% baseline tariff, will now see increased tariffs, especially on steel imports. Additionally, Trump threatened a 10% tariff on countries aligned with BRICS. A Section 301 investigation is a tool used by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address unfair trade practices by foreign countries. Authorized under the Trade Act of 1974, it allows the U.S. to take action, including imposing tariffs, against countries that violate trade agreements or engage in unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory practices that burden U.S. commerce. 

Honda Launches Quadricycle-based Urban Cargo Delivery Business 

Honda has launched a new business unit called **Fastport**, which aims to revolutionize last-mile delivery in urban areas using electric quadricycles. These modular vehicles, designed for bike lanes, will be produced in Ohio and feature swappable batteries, proximity sensors, and other safety features. Fastport’s “fleet-as-a-service” model includes not just the vehicles but also the entire support ecosystem, including maintenance and software. Honda is targeting parcel and food delivery markets in North America and Europe, with plans to collaborate with major logistics companies for pilot programs. This initiative is part of Honda’s broader strategy to reduce emissions and traffic congestion in cities.

Infios and S&S Activewear Named a 2025 “Top Supply Chain Project Winner”

S&S Activewear has revolutionized its supply chain by implementing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and modernizing 200,000 square feet of warehouse space. This transformation has drastically reduced employee training time from 90 days to just 20 minutes and increased productivity fivefold, achieving 200 picks per hour without additional headcount. The innovative approach has also led to a 75% drop in employee turnover and a 275% increase in accuracy. These advancements earned S&S Activewear the 2025 “Top Supply Chain Projects” Award from Supply and Demand Chain Executive, showcasing their commitment to empowering employees and scaling operations through cutting-edge automation.

Tariffs Are the New Normal: Boardrooms are Finally Demanding a Pivot to Real-Time Supply Chain Orchestration

In today’s volatile environment, where disruptions like tariffs, labor strikes, and geopolitical instability are common, I recognize the critical need for real-time supply chain orchestration. By leveraging AI-powered orchestration platforms, I can make faster, more informed decisions by simulating scenarios and evaluating trade-offs in real time. This shift from reactive to proactive management helps me protect margins and maintain agility. I understand that resilience is now a boardroom imperative, and I am investing in AI to turn disruptions into competitive advantages.

Song of the week:

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Revolutionizing Supply Chains: S&S Activewear’s Award-Winning Fulfillment Strategy

In today’s fast-paced world, where same-day delivery and labor shortages are common challenges, speed, accuracy, and resilience are essential for supply chain success. S&S Activewear recognized the need to evolve its distribution network to stay ahead of the competition. By implementing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and modernizing 200,000 square feet of warehouse space, they didn’t just automate—they redefined their entire fulfillment strategy. Onboarding new employees went from a 90-day – 6 6-month process down to a week. With the implementation of the AMRs, employees no longer have to learn how to drive a forklift, which greatly reduces training time. Employees used to spend almost 50% of their time driving and traveling to pick up items, which is now the robot’s job. Overnight, the robots are reorganizing the products by size and color, which improves efficiency and reduces mistakes.

Award-Winning Innovation

S&S Activewear’s bold approach has earned them the 2025 “Top Supply Chain Projects” Award from Supply and Demand Chain Executive. Submitted by their technology partner Infios, this award highlights how S&S is setting new standards in modern distribution center operations.

Cutting-Edge Automation

The project involved deploying a state-of-the-art AMR solution from Geekplus, powered by Infios, across four major U.S. distribution centers, with a fifth on the way. This transformation turned 200,000 square feet of a 700,000 square foot facility into a high-performance, automated fulfillment environment featuring:

• 350 AMRs
• 3,000 robotic racks
• 120,000 custom totes
• 24 robotic picking stations
• Dynamic slotting, pick-to-light guidance, and advanced decanting

All these elements are tightly integrated with their ERP system and designed for scalability.

Remarkable Achievements

S&S Activewear’s innovative approach has led to impressive results:

• 5x productivity boost: Increased from 40 to 200 picks per hour without adding headcount.
• 75% drop in employee turnover: Safer, smarter workflows that keep teams engaged.
• 275% increase in accuracy: Minimizing errors and protecting customer satisfaction.
• Training time cut from 90 days to 20 minutes: Onboarding during peak season is no longer a challenge.

Empowering People, Scaling Operations

S&S Activewear proves that warehouse robotics isn’t about replacing people—it’s about empowering them, scaling operations, and preparing for the future. If you’re ready to modernize your fulfillment, Infios can help you implement AMRs and robotics that deliver measurable results.

Watch More About The Project Here: 

Full Press Realease: Infios

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As June comes to a close, the Northeast is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures in some areas exceeding 100 degrees. This week in supply chain and logistics news includes Blue Yonder being selected to support Border States, an electrical distribution company, with their warehouse management needs. DHL Canada Express and Unifor have reached a tentative new labor contract, signaling that the over two-week strike will soon come to an end once the deal is signed.

The Clorox Company announced at a conference this week that it will be updating its 25-year-old ERP system across the United States. FedEx is continuing its Network 2.0 initiative by closing 100 regional locations in the Newark area to consolidate them with its Express locations. Lastly, in 2024, global CO2 emissions from energy reached a record high, and analysts indicate that the world is not on track to meet its renewable energy targets, despite widespread deployment of renewable energy in the last year.

Border States Selects Blue Yonder To Streamline Its Warehouse Operations and Improve Customer Service

From rising material costs to trade tensions, ongoing disruptions and uncertainty continue to create supply chain challenges for the electrical distribution industry. Border States, a leading electrical distributor, has chosen Blue Yonder to power its first regional distribution center, scheduled to open in 2026. Border States will implement Blue Yonder Warehouse Management and Warehouse Labor Management solutions — supported by the Blue Yonder Platform — with assistance from Open Sky Group, a Blue Yonder partner. As one of the largest electrical distributors in the U.S., Border States has experienced significant growth over the years, with more than 130 locations nationwide. To support its expanding network, Border States plans to add several distribution centers equipped with advanced solutions to improve operations, turning to Blue Yonder to enhance warehouse performance and customer service.  

Blue Yonder will support Border States with:

• Optimize end-to-end warehouse processes 
• Manage inventory across their large network 
• Increase productivity and reduce labor costs

DHL Express Canada, UNIFOR Reach Tentative Contract Deal, Union Says 

DHL Express Canada and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, a step toward ending a strike that has lasted more than two weeks. Unifor spokesperson Jenny Yuen said that if the union ratifies the tentative deal, the strike and the company-imposed lockout will end. Unifor represents over 2,100 DHL Express workers in Canada, including couriers, warehouse employees, and truck drivers. Its members have been on strike for a new contract since June 8 after DHL initiated a lockout.

Clorox Plans to Begin Overhauling Its U.S Supply Chain to a New ERP System 

Replacing decades-old technology and significantly boosting productivity, Clorox announced at the Global Consumer Conference that the company will be transitioning to a new ERP system. The cleaning products company expects the new system to provide real-time data visibility, better demand planning, and “fundamentally modernize the backbone of our operations,” EVP and CFO Luc Bellet said. The CEO said this is “not just an ERP upgrade to the next set of software”, but “building a complete data infrastructure across the company.” ERP transitions are complex, so Cloroc has proactively addressed potential problems by adding 1.5 weeks of inventory at retailers. 

FedEx Closes 100 Stations Through Network 2.0 Overhaul 

FedEx has closed 100 stations as of May 31st as part of the carrier’s plan to combine its separate Express and Ground networks. The year-long undertaking coined “Network 2.0” is picking up pace this year. By the end of May, FedEx had converted 290 stations to handle combined volumes. By the end of June, roughly 2.5 million average daily volume will be flowing through the Network 2.0 optimized stations. FedEx’s average daily U.S. volume was 13.8 million in Q4 of fiscal year 2025. FedEx has already fully optimized its Canada operations for Network 2.0 and is now implementing the overhaul in larger U.S. markets. 

Global Energy CO2 Emissions Reached Record Highs Last Year 

During London Climate Week, it was announced that global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector hit a record high for the fourth consecutive year last year, as fossil fuel use continued to rise even as renewable energy reached a record high, according to data presented by the Energy Institute. Last year was the hottest on record, with global temperatures surpassing 1.5 °C (3.47°F) above the pre-industrial era for the first time. The world experienced a 2% annual increase in total energy supply in 2024, with all energy sources—such as oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, and renewables—showing growth, a trend last seen in 2006, the report stated. Among fossil fuels, natural gas saw the largest growth, increasing by 2.5%. Meanwhile, coal grew by 1.2%, remaining the largest source of electricity globally, while oil growth was less than 1%. Wind and solar energy expanded by 16% in 2024, nine times faster than overall energy demand, the report indicated. Currently, the world is not making sufficient progress to meet the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, despite record additions. 

Song of the week:

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Over the past five years, supply chains have faced unprecedented challenges. E-commerce demands, trade pressures, and increasingly complex supplier networks have necessitated executives to raise concerns about their supply chain operations. Recently, tariffs have become a focal point in major headlines, and the looming fear of a trade war persists.

Supply chain planners are now frequently tasked with initiating transformations to address these various pressures. Planners are uniquely positioned with an end-to-end focus, from procurement of materials, through manufacturing and engineering, to the movement, storage, and delivery of finished products or services. Executives are now recognizing Supply Chain Planning as an essential piece of operations for leveraging their companies’ commercial and technical resources.

Supply Chain Planning (SCP) is a critical component of Supply Chain Management (SCM), starting with the accurate forecasting of customer demand. SCP involves meticulously planning the journey of a material or product from its raw material stage to its final consumer. It establishes the foundation for the entire Supply Chain Operation and drives day-to-day decision-making across multiple functions within a company.

Key Trends Accelerating SCP Importance in the Supply Chain and Broader Business Operations:

• Rise in Supply Chain Complexity:
  • As supply chains grow more complex, business leaders are tasked with continually finding new efficiencies while increasing responsiveness. Investing in planning enables companies to quickly identify and address constraints while consistently realigning assets to maximize value.

• Managing Multifunctional Business Processes:
  • Multifunctional business processes can improve both top and bottom-line results. However, these processes often span multiple functions within the organization and can be difficult to oversee. Managing them requires strong technical and interpersonal skills. Planning is one of the few areas that consistently develops skills in both, resulting in planners more often leading critical business processes.

• Consumer Expectations Heightened for Customized Products and Services:
  • Retailers aim to leverage consumer expectations for competitive advantage, often increasing or requesting highly customized SKUs, which place significant pressure on demand fulfillment systems. Traditional supply chain infrastructures, built to serve brick-and-mortar markets, are being strained by e-commerce. By developing strategies for design, supply, production, distribution, and inventory, planning provides a foundation for product innovation and plays a key role in product simplification and SKU rationalization.

Who is responsible for Supply Chain Planning?

In most organizations, supply chain planning is a centralized function carried out by supply chain planners. Supply chain planners are responsible for developing and executing the supply chain strategy, ensuring that the supply chain can meet the business’s demands. Supply chain professionals use various tools, including supply chain modeling, inventory management, and forecasting.

Supply chain planning is moving away from traditional, siloed planning processes and towards a more collaborative approach, which is made possible with solutions hosted in the cloud.

Key Components of Supply Chain Planning:

• Demand Forecasting
  • This process involves ingesting historical data, market trends, and customer insights to predict future demand. By forecasting demand accurately, companies can ensure that they have the right amount of inventory at the right time.
• Supply Chain Management
  • The oversight and control of all the activities required for a company to convert raw materials into finished products that are then sold to end-users. Key responsibilities include supporting continuous improvement, increasing velocity, and always seeking new technologies that could improve processes.
• Risk Management:
  • Identifying potential disruptions, such as natural disasters, supplier disruptions, such as bankruptcies, transportation delays, and developing contingency plans to mitigate their impacts. Some solution offerings can provide “what-if” case scenarios and map out solutions.
• Inventory Management:
  • Aims to strike a balance between supply and demand, ensuring that there is enough inventory to meet customer demand without incurring excessive carrying costs.
• Sales & Operations Planning
  • This is an opportunity to make better decisions that key strategic chain drivers, such as customer demand, production rates, inventory status, and marketing, inform key supply chain drivers. To improve S&OP data quality must be improved, performance metrics must be rigorously defined, and company goals and objectives must be aligned to ensure there are clear roles and expectations.

The ARC Advisory Group will soon begin updating the annual Supply Chain Planning Market Analysis. This analysis is conducted by analyst Gaven Simon. If you’re interested in providing the supply chain team at ARC with a briefing to discuss any developments in your solution or the market as a whole, please reach out. (gsimon@arcweb.com)

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Blue Yonder continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability with its latest acquisition of a UK-based Pledge Earth Technologies (Pledge).

Announced at its ICON 2025 conference in Nashville, Chief Sustainability Officer Saskia Van Gendy joined CEO Angove on stage to share what this means for the organization and its customers. Pledge provides supply teams and logistics providers (LSPs) with accredited emissions measurement and reporting capabilities.

In alignment with its end-to-end supply chain strategy, Blue Yonder will now be able to assist its customers in automating the collection and exchange of shipment data from logistics suppliers, facilitating accredited and traceable emissions calculations across all transportation modes, including air, inland (truck, rail, barge), and sea. Blue Yonder customers can extend their applicable Blue Yonder solutions to include this new capability, which allows them to receive emissions reporting that conforms with the Global Logistics Emission Council (GLEC) framework, developed by the Smart Freight Center (SFC), and aligned with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14083: Greenhouse gases.

The acquisition of Pledge accelerates Blue Yonder’s sustainability roadmap by one year, enhances carbon management capabilities, and benefits customers.

Blue Yonder is confident that supply chain companies play a crucial role in carbon reduction and waste management. Integrating sustainability solutions within supply chain operations can provide major decarbonization results.

60% of global emissions originate from supply chains, and eight key industries account for 50% of these emissions, including food, fashion, construction, and freight. Currently, 80% of Fortune 500 companies are off track to meet net-zero emissions by 2050, and 25% of corporate profits are threatened by climate change risks. According to Bloomberg’s 2025 Climate Economy Outlook, the US spent $955 billion on climate-related impacts in 2024 alone, which is slightly over 3% of the country’s GDP.

There is increased pressure for effective environmental management due to:

• Complexity of emissions data
• Companies lack actionable data.
• Regulatory pressures

Currently, over 100 regulations are influencing how customers manage carbon pollution and waste. The rising costs of climate change, such as carbon pricing, could lead to an additional 50% in EBITDA costs. There is also an increased demand for transparency, societal and regulatory scrutiny of sourcing, and consumer demand, with consumers willing to change brand loyalty to shop sustainably. To address the growing consumer demand for improved environmental management and the constantly evolving regulatory landscape, Blue Yonder offers solutions through its Sustainable Supply Chain Management system.

With the acquisition of Pledge, Blue Yonder’s Sustainable Supply Chain Management now fully integrates Pledge’s capabilities and provides additional tools for its customers.

How Blue Yonder Integrates Sustainability Objectives into Supply Chain Objectives:

• Improved transportation emissions management
• Transportation emissions optimization
• Retail planning emissions measurement
• Manufacturing planning emissions measurement

All emissions calculations are accredited with the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) and ISO 14083 standards. Calculations are automated and facilitate direct reporting from carriers for full visibility of planning emission impacts. Additionally, audit-compliant emissions can be collected from output intermodal freight and transshipment without granular shipment leg information.

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Summer is in full swing, and this was another full week of Supply Chain & Logistics news. Firstly, the US and the UK have signed a partial trade agreement which includes a reduction in tariffs on UK and US exports. DHL Express Canada has been faced with looming union conflicts, causing it to currently halt operations. General Motors announced 3 assembly plants to be located in the United States with a combined $4 billion in investment. PepsiCo reports major savings on fuel costs after onboarding EV semi trucks at its Fresno facility. Lastly, Amazon has launched a fully robotic fulfillment center in Massachusetts. Read more below for the full breakdown!

Here is your news for the week: 

US and UK Sign Parts of Trade Deal

President Donald Trump has signed an order confirming parts of a UK-US tariff deal, which aims to reduce trade barriers between the two countries. The agreement includes a reduction of tariffs on UK cars shipped to the US from 25% to 10%, and a similar system is being considered for steel and aluminum. However, the deal still imposes a 10% levy on most UK goods and does not address the removal of steel import charges. The UK government hopes this deal will protect British businesses from the impact of US tariffs, but there are still concerns about the long-term effects on industries like steel and bioethanol. The deal also includes a tariff-free quota for US ethanol and an increase in the quota for US beef imports, with assurances that food safety standards will be maintained.

DHL Express Canada to Suspend Operations Nationwide 

DHL Express Canada plans to suspend operations nationwide starting June 20 due to stalled contract negotiations and labor disruptions. Ahead of this shutdown, the carrier will cease importing international packages as of June 17. The strike, initiated by Unifor union workers on June 8, follows a lockout by DHL. The union is demanding significant wage increases and better working conditions, while DHL argues that these demands are economically unfeasible. The situation is further complicated by new legislation prohibiting the use of replacement workers during strikes, which takes effect on June 20. This labor unrest is part of a broader trend affecting Canada’s parcel delivery sector, with Canada Post employees also facing contract disputes.

GM is investing $4B in Three Plants to boost Domestic Production 

General Motors (GM) announced a $4 billion investment in its U.S. assembly plants across Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee to boost production of both gas and electric vehicles. This move aims to mitigate the impact of tariffs on imported automobiles and parts and to support American jobs. The investment will increase GM’s capacity to build 2 million vehicles annually in the U.S. by 2027. Key projects include expanding production of popular models, such as the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer, and enhancing facilities for next-generation electric vehicles. GM’s commitment underscores its belief in American innovation and manufacturing expertise.

PepsiCo Expects Nearly $1M in Fuel Savings for its EV Semitrucks

PepsiCo anticipates saving nearly $1 million in fuel costs for charging its fleet of 50 electric semitrucks at its Fresno, California, bottling facility, thanks to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Flex Connect program. This program allows daytime charging and increases the site’s charging capacity from 3 megawatts to 4.5 megawatts, enabling PepsiCo to charge its entire fleet more efficiently. The quick charging turnaround, from zero to 80% in about 40-60 minutes, helps maintain smooth operations. This initiative is part of PepsiCo’s broader sustainability goals, with additional EV fleet sites planned for the future.

Amazon Opens Robotic Fulfillment Center in Massachusetts 

Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center in Charlton, Massachusetts, spans 2.8 million square feet and features hundreds of robots capable of lifting up to 1,500 pounds. This facility supports over 1,000 employees in fulfilling tens of thousands of orders and represents Amazon’s largest investment in Massachusetts, totaling over $300 million. The center is part of Amazon’s strategy to enhance productivity and reduce manual tasks through advanced robotics.

Song of the week:

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The Warehouse Management System market nearly grew by $1 billion in 2024, following a robust four-year climb since the pandemic. With ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, WMS solutions are broadening their capabilities. As online e-commerce giants like Shein, Amazon, and Temu continue to expand, customers will expect lightning-fast delivery and service, necessitating that WMS solutions scale with demand. Growth in this market can be attributed to many factors, and here are the top 5 in no specific order.

1. E-Commerce Expansion and Fulfillment Complexity

• The surge in online shopping has dramatically increased the demand for sophisticated warehouse operations with shorter shipping deadlines. E-commerce giants like Amazon, Alibaba, Temu, and Shein are expanding their global warehouse footprints, driving the adoption of WMS to manage inventory, reduce lead times, and optimize last-mile delivery.

2. Labor Challenges and the Push for Automation

• Labor constraints- exacerbated and revealed by the pandemic- have made automation a necessity. A majority of warehouses report labor shortages, and more than 50% cite this as a significant business challenge that is only worsening.

3. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Real-Time Intelligence

• Modern WMS platforms are increasingly integrating AI agents, voice recognition, and real-time location systems. These technologies enhance decision making, reduce downtime, and improve warehouse intelligence. For example, Manhattan Associates’ WMS now includes “Action Assist,” an AI-powered chat interface that helps floor workers access SOPs and diagnostics instantly.

4. Cloud-Based and SaaS Deployments

• Cloud-native WMS solutions are gaining traction due to their scalability, lower upfront costs, and faster implementation. Cloud native solutions can deliver customers updates virtually and on demand when they wish to implement them. SaaS-based WMS is especially appealing to mid-tier and 3PL providers looking for flexibility and cost efficiency.

5. Customization and Low-Code Platforms

• Vendors like Datex are enabling deep customization through low-code platforms like Datex Studio. This allows customers to tailor WMS solutions to specific workflows, integrate APIs, and even build adjacent applications like port and vessel management tools.

To conclude, the warehouse management sector is undergoing rapid and transformative changes driven by e-commerce growth, labor challenges, advancements in AI and robotics, cloud-based solutions, and customizable low-code platforms. As these technologies evolve, warehouse operators must leverage these innovations to stay competitive, boost efficiency, and meet rising customer expectations. The future of warehouse management is poised for significant advancements, promising greater intelligence, scalability, and adaptability.

Interested in the latest global market data on the Warehouse Management System market? Gaven Simon, Supply Chain analyst, has just completed the 2025 Market Analysis on WMS, and it is available for purchase. If you are interested in learning more about the report or other research produced by ARC Advisory Group, please reach out to CHanf@ARCweb.com. 

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This week’s news in supply chain and logistics features several significant developments. A federal trade court has unanimously voted to block all tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. This ruling nullifies Trump’s executive orders that established duties on imports from countries such as Canada, Mexico, and China. In other news, ARC analysts Jim Frazer and Gaven Simon recently attended Momentum 2025 in sunny Las Vegas, where they shared their insights and takeaways from the event. Additionally, South Africa has proposed a trade deal with the United States to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the next 10 years, to secure 75 to 100 million cubic feet of LNG annually. Lastly, Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, has opened a new Mopar parts distribution center in East Fishkill, New York. This facility covers over 500,000 square feet and stocks more than 46,000 unique parts.

Here’s the top supply chain stories for the week:

The U.S. Court of International Trade Strikes Down Trump’s Global Tariffs

A federal court has ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority by imposing tariffs on dozens of countries, citing broad claims of national emergencies. The U.S. Court of International Trade’s unanimous decision strikes down Trump’s tariffs, which were a key part of his economic agenda. Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield, along with 11 other state attorneys general, challenged the tariffs, arguing that the Constitution does not grant the president unchecked authority to disrupt the economy. The ruling means that the government may have to refund duties already collected, and the Justice Department has filed an appeal, potentially leading to further legal battles. The ruling nullified Trump’s executive orders imposing duties on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese products, as well as paused “reciprocal” tariffs on 60 trading partners. 

Manhattan Associates Momentum 2025: New Horizons

Last week, I attended the Manhattan Associates Flagship US Conference, Momentum 2025. Manhattan Associates shared several announcements, including the appointment of their new president and CEO, Eric Clark. His keynote address highlighted the company’s recent accomplishments, such as the introduction of a new inventory planning solution, substantial investments in research and development, and advancements in artificial intelligence. Manhattan Associates emphasized the advantages of unifying supply chains, highlighting the benefits of cooperation, transparency, and agility. Warehouse management systems are evolving rapidly, with Manhattan releasing new features every quarter. As automation within warehouses increases, software will need to adapt to the anticipated surge in new warehouse construction projected for 2027. Momentum 2025 successfully highlighted an extensive range of innovative advancements occurring within the supply chain and AI sectors.

Guest Commentary: Do More with Less: Think Bigger and Bolder about Automation

Supply chain leaders must now think bigger and bolder about automation to drive business value, resilience, and competitive differentiation. Intelligent automation, powered by AI and machine learning, can transform manual processes and siloed operations, enabling companies to reallocate their workforce to higher-value activities, quickly analyze large data sets, reduce bias in planning decisions, and boost productivity. The author highlights a case study of a large consumer goods manufacturer that leverages AI and automation across its supply chain to automate demand sensing, minimize manual forecasting adjustments, optimize transportation routes, and enhance decision-making. To ensure successful adoption, supply chain leaders must prioritize transparency, usability, and performance tracking, fostering trust in AI and advanced automation technologies.

South Africa proposes buying US LNG as it seeks trade deal 

South Africa has proposed a trade deal with the United States to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) over 10 years, aiming to secure 75-100 million cubic feet of LNG annually. This deal, discussed during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House, includes duty-free quotas for South African-made vehicles, auto parts, steel, and aluminum. The proposal seeks to enhance cooperation in gas production technologies and address South Africa’s energy needs as it pivots from coal to natural gas. The trade package could unlock $900 million to $1.2 billion in annual trade, totaling up to $12 billion over the decade.

Stellantis Opens Automated Parts Distribution Center in New York 

Stellantis has opened a new Mopar parts distribution center in East Fishkill, New York, which spans over 500,000 square feet and stocks more than 46,000 unique parts. This $64 million facility can fulfill over 2 million shipments annually and is the first in the U.S. to use AutoStore technology, automating parts storage and retrieval with 40 robots. This innovation enhances order completion speed, accuracy, and dependability while minimizing the warehouse footprint. The center consolidates operations from former Mopar parts centers in Tappan, New York, and Boston, employing around 100 workers to boost Stellantis’ supply chain efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Song of the week:

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A federal court has ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority by imposing tariffs on dozens of countries, citing broad claims of national emergencies. The U.S. Court of International Trade’s unanimous decision strikes down Trump’s tariffs, which were a key part of his economic agenda. Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield, along with 11 other state attorneys general, challenged the tariffs, arguing that the Constitution does not grant the president unchecked authority to disrupt the economy. The ruling means that the government may have to refund duties already collected, and the Justice Department has filed an appeal, potentially leading to further legal battles.

Trump justified the tariffs based on national emergencies related to fentanyl trafficking and trade deficits, imposing retaliatory tariffs on countries that responded in kind. However, the court found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 does not authorize the president to impose unbounded tariffs. The ruling nullified Trump’s executive orders imposing duties on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese products, as well as paused “reciprocal” tariffs on 60 trading partners. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate argued that barring Trump from collecting the tariffs would disrupt ongoing foreign trade negotiations.

The court’s decision is the latest legal setback for Trump, who has faced challenges to other key policy initiatives. The ruling covers cases brought by small businesses and Democrat-led states, reinforcing calls for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over trade deals. While Trump could attempt to impose similar tariffs under other laws, legal experts are skeptical about the feasibility of replicating such sweeping measures. The ruling does not affect other tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to levy duties on national security grounds.

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Last week, I attended the Manhattan Associates Flagship US Conference, Momentum 2025. The event, held in sunny Las Vegas, was well attended and featured numerous speakers with innovative ideas. Manhattan Associates shared several announcements, including the appointment of their new president and CEO, Eric Clark. His keynote address highlighted the company’s recent accomplishments, such as the introduction of a new inventory planning solution, substantial investments in research and development, and advancements in artificial intelligence.

During the two-day event, I participated in various sessions covering a range of topics, including Warehouse Management Systems, Labor Management, Agentic AI, and Warehouse Automation. This article outlines my key takeaways from the sessions attended and provides an overall summary of Momentum 2025.

1^st Keynote:

Eric Clark, the new president and CEO of Manhattan, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation, community, and people. He highlighted Manhattan’s unified cloud-native platform, which allows for faster innovation and better customer solutions. Recent achievements include a new inventory planning solution launched in October and significant investments in R&D. The company has also focused on AI integration, with AI agents now available on their platform. Clark discussed the benefits of unification, such as reduced project timelines and improved operational efficiency. “Supply chain unification” was an undertone for many of the sessions during the entire event. He also mentioned the importance of employee engagement and unified distribution planning to enhance productivity and labor balance.

Clark highlighted the depth of talent and tenure within Manhattan, with many employees having over 25 years of experience. He described Manhattan’s platform as cloud-native, API-microservices built on a unified platform, which allows for faster innovation. Clark also discussed the significant forces driving disruption in the industry, including economic nationalism, changes in global trade, and rapid cycles of technological innovation. He explained how Manhattan is committed to providing technology and solutions to help organizations thrive in chaos.

Brian Kinsella, senior vice president, presented updates on supply chain execution unification, highlighting progress and innovation across Manhattan Active Applications. He emphasized the benefits of unification, such as dynamic trailer door assignment and shipment planning optimization. Kinsella shared examples of how unification helps customers respond to real-time changes and improve agility. He also discussed updates in yard management, including a new visual tool for a bird’s eye view of the yard and drag-and-drop functionality for task execution. The presentation underscored Manhattan’s commitment to helping associates do their best and maximize the effectiveness of distribution operations.

The keynote was concise and communicated great confidence despite the current economic uncertainty due to US politics. Chaos is now just a part of the plan, and Manhattan Associates has the tools for its customers to remain steadfast.

The Future of Manhattan Associates Warehouse Management Systems

Warehouse management systems are a core offering of the Manhattan Associates Product Suite. Launched in 2020, it has experienced a hyper-growth trajectory. Currently, Manhattan has 433 live sites and releases quarterly updates every 90 days. The team aims to release 40-45 new features every quarter with a sharp focus on innovation, efficiency, and productivity improvement. Some of the key features released last year include trailer weight balancing, a planning workspace for shipment orchestration, and generative AI for action assistance. Unification was an underlying theme of the entire conference, with benefits such as optimized operations, improved visibility, and enhanced collaboration. The unification of transportation management and warehouse management systems has enhanced appointment scheduling and transportation planning. Their WMS solution now has an “Action Assist” feature, which allows users to ask questions through a chat box. Users can upload their own documents, including standard operating procedures, FAQs, and system diagnostics. Allowing their AI Agent to sit on top and become an expert on all of the materials uploaded and practices learned. This feature allows for associates on the warehouse floor to access information with speed, reducing downtimes in cases of emergency. As updates roll out every quarter, it is fair to assume there will be continuous developments in AI with a focus on reducing travel on the floor and processing time.

Navigating the Future of Warehouse Robotics

Rueben Scriven from Interact Analysis presented his research on warehouse automation, beginning with the impacts of COVID-19 on the warehouse space. Before 2020, warehouse construction was seeing a 50 percent year-over-year growth rate. Post pandemic, the rates declined to 20-21 percent, and in 2022, when the interest rates increased and e-commerce volumes decreased, warehouse construction saw a significant drop. From June 2024, construction rates have increased, but with current economic uncertainty, automation and warehouse construction investments have been hindered. Forecasts show a growth trend with a decline in 2025 and a slow uptick to stronger growth in 2027.

The global market for humanoid robots is estimated to be at $2 trillion, with three scenarios for penetration: optimistic, baseline, and pessimistic. There are a few key areas of barriers to adoption, including regulatory standards, lack of comprehensive insurance, and return on investment. Reubens’ research estimates that by 2032, the baseline scenario anticipates humanoid robots shipped annually, with more than 80 percent deployed in China due to less stringent regulations and national robotic policies.

Warehouse automation software consists of four layers:

Automation in warehouses will demand changes in how Warehouse Execution Solutions are constructed and will drive demand for additional WES and WMS products.

Agentic AI Supply Chain

To set the stage, Jeff Beadle, senior director at Manhattan Associates, discussed the evolution of automation evolving into Agentic AI within the context of supply chain management. How did we get from traditional automation to AI automation, and now AI Agents work together in an Agentic AI environment? Not to be a marketing fire hose for AI, but Agentic AI could be a paradigm shifter for how supply chains are managed.

In the session, Jeff laid out the trajectory of traditional automation to AI automation, emphasizing the importance of contextual learning and adaptability. Beadle highlighted the role of agents in decision making, stressing their goal-driven, autonomous nature. He provided examples of agentic AI applications in supply chain tasks, such as shipping label agents and invoice management. Beadle noticed that 50 percent of companies have already deployed agents, and agentic AI is expected to handle variability and disruptions more effectively, enhancing supply chain efficiency. Agentic AI is not just one smart agent, it’s a coordinated network of such intelligent, goal-driven agents that creates a self-managing, self-adapting automation system. Traditional automation differs from AI automation because of the latter’s ability to learn and adapt.

Jeff also spoke about emergent behaviors, which could arise in an AI Agent in isolation, but with Agentic AI, the system adapts over time, learning from outcomes and shifting strategy across agents.

Is this AI Déjà vu? What is different this time?

• Intelligence and the ability to make decisions.
• How agents reason, control, trust, and govern.
• Ensuring agents are transparent, dependable, aligned, and safe.
• Integration and interoperability.

What is Next?

In the early days of generative AI, challenges included instability and the lack of reference ability. Since then, Large Language Models have helped develop frameworks, systems, and orchestration to support agentic AI. Technology leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon must work together in advancing agentic AI. A multi-agent architecture demands comprehensive efforts and investments in improving intelligence and decision-making. Agentic AI will enhance existing systems and processes, enabling faster and more reliable operations. Agentic AI can also help manage the promised chaos that recent years have brought to supply chains and the global economy.

Final Takeaways

Since 2020, disruptions in global supply chain operations have become consistent. Solutions driven by generative AI are increasingly in demand from clients, and AI agents are emerging as the next frontier of development in this field. Manhattan Associates emphasized the advantages of unifying supply chains, highlighting the benefits of cooperation, transparency, and agility. Warehouse management systems are evolving rapidly, with Manhattan releasing new features every quarter. As automation within warehouses increases, software will need to adapt to the anticipated surge in new warehouse construction projected for 2027. Momentum 2025 successfully highlighted an extensive range of innovative advancements occurring within the supply chain and AI sectors.

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