Supply Chain Leaders Make the World Go 'Round

When it comes to new products, new innovations and new ways of doing business, the supply chain industry has it covered. But what some may forget is that it's the superb supply chain leaders behind those new products, innovations and ways of doing business that turn ideas into reality.

Take our Top Software & Tech award, for example. Close to 43% of submissions to this year's award pertained to supply chain visibility solutions, followed by WMS/TMS software (23%), warehouse automation (18%), procurement/ERP software (12%) and robotics at just 4% of the submissions. Fifty-five percent of the entries were enhancements to already existing solutions, where 45% came are new-to-market technologies. Further, 58% of submissions came from small businesses, under $50 million, and 42% came from Enterprises, over $50 million.

For our Top Tech Startup award, a majority of this year’s winners (49%) describe themselves as being in the artificial intelligence (AI) category, with AI-powered automation coming in at No. 2 (47% vs. last year’s 46%). And, winners range in revenue from $1 million to $20 million-plus, with startups beginning operation as early as 2007.

This is on the heels of our coveted Women in Supply Chain award, which had 305 winners. And comes ahead of our other coveted award, Rock Stars of the Supply Chain, with nominations closing as of press time.

While these awards are designed to honor and celebrate the greatest of the great -- whether they be startups, solutions or the executives behind both -- they also exhibit the progress the supply chain space makes every year to make the world go 'round.

These leaders embody passion, drive and mentorship. They're championing efforts and initiatives to move product through the cold chain in a safer, more efficient manner. And I'm honored every day to facilitate an avenue for these leaders to be recognized.

CLICK HERE to check out all of Food Logistics' award.

And, we're currently assigning out interviews and contributed content for 2025. Visit our digital media kit to download our editorial calendars (both print and digital). 

Here's to the supply chain leaders that make the world go 'round. Thank you for ensuring safe food, for upholding regulations that protect the safety of our nation's drivers and workers, for instilling quality values in the workplace, for protecting our farms and environment, and for being the example -- and the mentor -- to today's youth.