Why Retailers Still Manage Suppliers Manually

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Angie Jula, Director of Product Management, and Matt Brolsma, Sr. Manager of Product Marketing at SPS Commerce, to discuss how AI and automation are transforming retail supply chains. Angie draws on more than a decade in product leadership, while Matt brings cross-functional expertise from both supplier and buyer perspectives. Together, they share how retailers can transform clean, connected data into actionable insights that enhance demand forecasting, supplier collaboration, and pricing strategy, all while reducing manual work that slows down their teams.

From tackling organizational silos with cross-functional dashboards to equipping executives with real-time visibility, Angie and Matt emphasize why AI is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative. They highlight case studies on supplier scorecarding, automation-driven fill rates, and proactive exception management, showing how early adopters are gaining competitive advantages in resilience, agility, and customer loyalty. This discussion is a roadmap for retailers navigating tariffs, disruptions, and the rising expectations of today’s consumers.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:46) Warm-up stories: golf and DJing

(05:36) Professional journeys and SPS Commerce background

(07:31) How AI is reshaping retail supply chains

(09:16) Barriers to AI adoption and implementation gaps

(12:22) Retailer priorities in today’s uncertain market

(14:56) Why many retailers still manage suppliers manually

(18:38) How AI is transforming supplier management

(29:50) Breaking down silos with cross-functional understanding

(31:20) SPS Commerce’s role in enabling retail automation

(33:53) Moving from reactive to proactive supplier management

(37:10) How automation impacts team productivity

(39:59) AI-driven strategic decision making in the C-Suite

(44:48) Performance metrics as a competitive advantage

(51:20) Practical advice for starting the automation journey

(55:16) The billion-dollar question: key takeaways

Additional Links & Resources:

• Connect with Angie Jula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-jula-9aa59258/
• Connect with Matthew Brolsma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbrolsma/ 
• Learn more about SPS Commerce: https://www.spscommerce.com/ 
• Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Joshua Mirnada, Trisha Cordes, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/revolutionizing-retail-supply-chain-operations-ai-automation-1489