loader from loading.io

Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain with Briana Birkholz

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

Release Date: 04/25/2025

The People-First Approach to Funding the Future of Logistics with Michael Sachaj show art The People-First Approach to Funding the Future of Logistics with Michael Sachaj

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the people-first approach to the future of logistics. Michael is a Partner at Hyde Park Angels (HPA), a leading early-stage investor based in Chicago. About Michael Sachaj is a Partner at HPA and manages and supports HPA’s investment opportunities through their lifecycle. Michael has led investment in a number of HPA’s top performing investments including ShipBob, FourKites, Paccurate, and Digit. Prior to joining HPA in 2013, Michael attended Northwestern University and worked at strategy consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton supporting various government clients in the...

info_outline
Tech-Driven Drayage: A PortPro Perspective with Corey Abbott show art Tech-Driven Drayage: A PortPro Perspective with Corey Abbott

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss tech-driven drayage: a PortPro perspective. Corey is the Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, an innovative technology company that keeps the drayage industry moving efficiently with its operating platform built for drayage trucking companies, brokerages, and those that do both. About Corey Abbott , Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, focusing on developing comprehensive products designed to enhance the customer experience, guided by their needs and feedback. Corey spent over a decade at STG Logistics, the...

info_outline
Carrier Sales Teams Are Being Run the Wrong Way with Brent Evens show art Carrier Sales Teams Are Being Run the Wrong Way with Brent Evens

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss how carrier sales teams are being run the wrong way. Brent is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a carrier sales platform purpose-built for freight brokerages. About Brent Evens is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a freight tech startup helping brokers streamline carrier sales and build stronger, more efficient networks. He brings a diverse background in logistics, SaaS, and product strategy—including time at Delta Air Lines, where he worked on digital product initiatives that improved customer experience and operational performance. Before launching NextBoard, Brent also held...

info_outline
Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain with Briana Birkholz show art Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain with Briana Birkholz

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss blind spots & bottlenecks: unmasking the hidden enemies of supply chain. Briana is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce, the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners. About Briana Birkholz is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce. With a passion for overcoming supply chain and logistics challenges, Briana is committed to addressing the distinct needs of customers through comprehensive,...

info_outline
The Strategic COO: Navigating Disruption and Driving Change with Suketu Gandhi show art The Strategic COO: Navigating Disruption and Driving Change with Suketu Gandhi

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the strategic COO: navigating disruption and driving change. Suketu is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. About Suketu Ghandi is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. Based in Chicago, his expertise covers a wide range of operations topics, with an emphasis on end-to-end supply chains and their redesign for four critical purposes, growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability. Noting that the key to maximizing their...

info_outline
Unpacking Cargo Theft: Trends and Solutions with Danielle Spinelli show art Unpacking Cargo Theft: Trends and Solutions with Danielle Spinelli

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss unpacking cargo theft: trends and solutions. Danielle serves as Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal, the leading solution for carrier identity, onboarding, and monitoring in transportation. About Danielle Spinelli is an Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal. With a decade of experience in the logistics and transportation industry, Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in carrier sales and vetting. Having worked as a Carrier Sales Broker for 8 years, Danielle honed a deep understanding of the supply chain and transportation landscape, building...

info_outline
REPOST: Booking More Loads Using AI with Anthony Sutardja show art REPOST: Booking More Loads Using AI with Anthony Sutardja

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss booking more loads using AI. Anthony is the CEO and co-founder of , the leading truckload capacity management platform for freight brokers. About Anthony Sutardja As CEO & co-founder of Parade,  leads product vision and strategy to enable logistics service providers to work smarter and faster with modern tools. His background in artificial intelligence, big data processing, and freight brokerage enables companies partnering with Parade to accelerate digital transformation by innovating with the status quo. Prior to , Anthony worked on a small team at Uber...

info_outline
Beyond The Rails and Roads: The State of Intermodal with Anne Reinke show art Beyond The Rails and Roads: The State of Intermodal with Anne Reinke

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss beyond the rails and roads: the state of intermodal. Anne is the President & CEO at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. About Anne Reinke became the Intermodal Association of North America’s third President & CEO in December of 2024.  Immediately preceding her appointment at IANA, Anne was President & CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association for four years. Anne has a long career in transportation policy,...

info_outline
Stop Selling, Start Influencing: Tom Augenthaler's Logistics Marketing Gameplan show art Stop Selling, Start Influencing: Tom Augenthaler's Logistics Marketing Gameplan

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss stop selling, start influencing: Tom Augenthaler's logistics marketing gameplan. Tom helps companies tell stories that make the customer the hero. Having customers and influencers talk positively about your company is one of the best ways to attract and win new business. About Tom Augenthaler is the Founder and CEO of . On the website, shares his ideas and knowledge of influencer marketing with others looking to learn about this powerful strategy. is a pioneer in the space and has been working with influencers since 2007 while with Hewlett Packard, and as a consultant...

info_outline
REPOST: The Right Tech Stack for Brokers with Dave Romanchuk show art REPOST: The Right Tech Stack for Brokers with Dave Romanchuk

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the right tech stack for brokers. Dave is the Director of Product Management at Revenova, the industry's exclusive provider of CRM-powered transportation management systems (TMS) for freight brokers, 3PL/4PLs, carriers and shippers. About Dave Romanchuk is the Director of Product Management at Revenova. Since joining the TMS provider in 2017, Dave has helped the company grow from fewer than 10 employees to more than 60. With Dave's vision and leadership, Revenova TMS has built out multiple modules for freight brokers and carriers, most recently the completely renovated Fleet...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Briana Birkholz and Joe Lynch discuss blind spots & bottlenecks: unmasking the hidden enemies of supply chain. Briana is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce, the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners.

About Briana Birkholz

Briana Birkholz is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce. With a passion for overcoming supply chain and logistics challenges, Briana is committed to addressing the distinct needs of customers through comprehensive, full-service solutions. Briana’s extensive experience in driving innovation, strategic development and execution consistently delivers outstanding results for third-party logistics companies.

About SPS Commerce

SPS Commerce is the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners across the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all stakeholders in the retail ecosystem. The company enables data-driven partnerships through innovative cloud-based technology, customer-centric service, and a team of accessible industry experts—allowing clients to focus on their core business. With over 45,000 recurring revenue customers spanning retail, grocery, distribution, supply, manufacturing, and logistics, SPS Commerce powers a vast and growing global retail network.

Key Takeaways: Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain

  • Briana Birkholz and Joe Lynch discuss blind spots & bottlenecks: unmasking the hidden enemies of supply chain. The hidden enemies include the following:
  • Inconsistent Time to Revenue: The Silent Growth Killer - Lengthy onboarding processes erode cash flow and strain customer relationships, highlighting evolving customer expectations. SPS Commerce's "plug-and-play" solutions drastically reduce onboarding time from months to days.
  • The Cost of Chaos: Inconsistent Order Intake - Managing orders through disparate channels (phone, email, portals, PDFs) breeds errors and jeopardizes SLAs due to human error. SPS Commerce standardizes order formats for improved efficiency and control.
  • Decoding Retailer Complexity: Unravel the challenges of adhering to intricate retailer requirements (packing slips, labels, routing guides, ASN timing) and the costly consequences of non-compliance (chargebacks, damaged relationships, lost shelf space). SPS Commerce automates document generation and validation to ensure first-time compliance.
  • SPS Commerce is the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners. SPS Commerce brings the following advantages:
  • Industry Leader in Cloud-Based EDI Solutions: SPS Commerce specializes in cloud-based supply chain management, helping retailers, suppliers, and logistics providers automate and streamline their operations through advanced EDI and data analytics tools.
  • Demonstrated Consistent Growth as a High-Performing Public Company: SPS Commerce has a long and consistent track record of growth, primarily organic, underscoring its position as a strong performer on NASDAQ (ticker: SPSC).
  • Global Presence with Local Support: Headquartered in Minneapolis, SPS has expanded internationally with offices in major cities like Toronto, Melbourne, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong, supporting a worldwide customer base with localized service.
  • Growth via Smart Acquisitions: Strategic buys like Data Masons, InterTrade, and SupplyPike have allowed SPS to broaden its tech stack and deepen its value across the retail supply chain ecosystem.
  • Recognized for Culture and Innovation: Known for its positive workplace environment, SPS was ranked the best large workplace in Minnesota in 2015 and continues to invest in talent and innovation to drive forward-thinking supply chain solutions.

Learn More About Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain

Briana Birkholz | Linkedin

SPS Commerce | Linkedin

SPS Commerce

Woods Distribution Case Study

Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics Case Study

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast