Decoder with Nilay Patel

Can software simplify the supply chain? Ryan Petersen thinks so

Sep 20, 2022

Ryan Petersen, Founder and former CEO of Flexport, discusses how software can simplify global supply chains. He highlights the challenges of modernizing freight forwarding and integrating shipping vendor systems. Petersen shares insights on navigating logistical hurdles, particularly at the Port of Long Beach, revealing innovative solutions to improve container management. He also touches on recent leadership transitions at Flexport and the impact of the Biden infrastructure package on growth, emphasizing the need for collaboration in logistics to overcome bottlenecks.

01:04:52

Episode guests

Ryan Petersen

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Ports Need Stability for Productivity

01:30

Outsider Perspectives Drive Innovation

01:32

Measure and Optimize for Efficient Operations

01:30

Engage and Understand: The CEO's Journey

02:04

Intro

5min

Navigating the Logistics Software Landscape

18min

Leadership Transitions and Operational Strategies

11min

Exploring Behavioral Science in Decision-Making

2min

Navigating Supply Chain Challenges at Long Beach Port

13min

Exploring Infrastructure Impact and Empowering Business Growth

3min

Navigating Port Challenges and Labor Dynamics

12min

Closing Reflections and Empowering Employment Initiatives

2min

Ryan Petersen, is the CEO of Flexport, ac ompany that builds software that integrates all the different shipping vendor systems you might run into as you try to get a product from a factory in China to a consumer in Idaho: rail, sea, truck. We’ve talked about the supply chain and inventory management on Decoder with a lot of our guests — the chip shortage seems to affect every company, and sorting out how to get products made and delivered on time is a pretty universal problem. But we haven’t really talked about how products get from one place to another around the world.

So I wanted to talk to Ryan, figure out what Flexport’s role in all this is, what his bigger supply chain solutions would be, and why he’s leaving his job as CEO to be executive chairman and handing the reins to Dave Clark, who used to work at Amazon.

Links:

Dave Clark to Join Flexport As Our New CEO

Flexport Wants to Be Uber of the Oceans

At Google, Eric Schmidt Wrote the Book on Adult Supervision

The real story behind a tech founder’s ‘tweetstorm that saves Christmas’

Ryan's twitter thread

Transcript:

https://www.theverge.com/e/23126062

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Today’s episode was produced by Creighton DeSimone and Jackie McDermott and it was edited by Callie Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Sr Audio Director is Andrew Marino. Our Editorial Director is Brooke Minters. And our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan.

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