Unboxing Logistics

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  Meet the Carrier: UniUni’s Flexible, Customizable Solution With Jax Zheng From UniUni - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 91 15.07.2026 29мин

  In our Meet the Carrier series, we sit down with some of the most innovative transportation providers to learn what they’re doing differently. This week, host Lori Boyer talks with Jax Zheng, director of partnerships at UniUni, about the carrier’s mission to “democratize the landscape of last-mile logistics.”What problem does UniUni solve?Jax notes that “traditional carriers … [are] a lot more rigid,” and often struggle to keep up with market developments. UniUni was built to be the opposite: flexible and quick to adapt. According to Jax, they have “really focused on [developing] a tech-enabled solution to the last-mile problem.”For ecommerce businesses shipping lightweight packages (up to 25 pounds), UniUni is a great alternative to traditional carriers.What sets UniUni apart?For Jax, flexibility and customization are at the heart of what UniUni does.Rather than focusing on transactions, the carrier focuses on understanding their clients’ needs and “giving bespoke solutions.”The relationships are important too. As Jax puts it, “At the end of the day … this is a long-term company, it's a long-term goal. We're not here to be two, three years. We want our clients to be with us for their lifetime, as long as their business is running.”Is shipping to Canada worth it?UniUni has recently launched their cross-border service, allowing clients to ship from the U.S. to Canada.While this is an exciting opportunity, some businesses might hesitate when it comes to expanding internationally. Jax acknowledges their concerns, but he also points out that shipping to Canada isn’t as complicated as it seems—and it usually pays off.“Once you find a competent partner in Canada who can deliver and execute, you can grow that line of business, and it'll be a really stable line of business. … Once you get the process and the system down … it just starts running.”LinksConnect with Jax on LinkedInVisit UniUni’s website
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  What It Takes To Scale a 3PL With Krushna Patel From Awesome Solutions - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 90 24.06.2026 35мин

  From dabbling in ecommerce as a teen to running a 3PL today, Krushna Patel, CEO at Awesome Solutions, has spent years building businesses—and he’s learned a lot about what sets the successful ones apart.In this Unboxing Logistics episode, he sits down with Lori Boyer to discuss how he discovered the world of fulfillment, his advice for those hoping to follow the same path, and what a thriving 3PL looks like behind the scenes.The secret to successful entrepreneurshipKrushna’s advice to prospective founders comes in two parts: start small, and think long-term.He explains, “There are ways to do everything at a smaller scale to test it out, get proof of concept. I think people spend too much time trying to get their version one to become the best final product ever. It's not going to be that way.”When making business goals, Krushna recommends looking to the future. “I'm setting a five-year horizon of what I want the company to look like, and then I'll shrink it down into a three-year, into a one-year, and then … monthly.”Why communication is criticalWhen asked what every 3PL should be doing from day one, Krushna answers without hesitation: “I would focus very much on communication.”He goes on to say that with so many 3PLs competing for clients, great communication is a huge differentiator. “The ones that show [they’re] reliable, [they’re] with you when you scale, that makes a huge difference. Because nobody wants to have an issue and then talk to an AI agent.”While Krushna acknowledges that simple requests can be automated with AI, he strongly believes that shippers should always have access to a human to discuss more complex issues.Clients want shipping flexibilityWhen it comes to shipping, Krushna emphasizes that flexibility is a must. 3PLs work with a wide range of clients—and each of them wants specific services. To cater to each shipper’s needs, 3PLs should offer a carrier portfolio with plenty of options.In Krushna’s words, “You want to have your net cast wide enough [to] have those different service levels for each client's requirements.”LinksConnect with Krushna on LinkedInVisit Awesome Solutions’ website
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  Automated Fulfillment: Changing the Ecommerce Game With Kevin Gibbon From Cytronic - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 89 18.06.2026 32мин

  Kevin Gibbon, CEO and co-founder at Cytronic, has built a 3PL that makes DTC ecommerce fulfillment faster, cheaper, and better. The secret? Automation.In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Kevin joins Lori Boyer to share Cytronic’s story and discuss why automation is such a game changer in the warehousing world.Where manual warehouses are losing time (and money)If you’re thinking of upgrading your warehouse (or partnering with a tech-oriented 3PL), Kevin recommends focusing on the two most time-consuming tasks: picking and packing.He explains, “Picking from the bins, getting [items] to a pick cart [and then] to the actual packing station, that takes by far the most time. And then it would be the actual packaging to get it into some sort of assembly line or into different carrier bins. [Automating] those will be your biggest time saver.”What does an automated warehouse look like?When asked about warehouse automation technology, Kevin describes one of the highest-impact robotics systems at Cytronic: the ASRS, or automated storage and retrieval system.With the ASRS, he says, “You could get a SKU every seven seconds. Just unheard of.”Kevin also notes that automation goes beyond robots. It involves every process, even the ones that humans have a hand in.“We speed up everything possible … within the warehouse. And so it's not just robotics, but it's a streamlined process throughout.”Does automated mean human-free?According to Kevin, “There’s no such thing as fully autonomous anything.”While some warehouse processes are totally automatic, others still need human supervision. Thankfully, technology and human workers actually complement each other.For example, Cytronic “still [has] people on the floor. … But our goal is to just make it a lot easier for them. So it's going to be a more lightweight kind of warehousing job [with more] opportunities to grow within the company and run these things.”LinksConnect with Kevin on LinkedInVisit Cytronic’s website
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  Creating an AI Strategy That Works With Dana Moffat From Acumatica - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 88 22.04.2026 32мин

  Supply chain experts agree: businesses shouldn’t just throw AI at every problem that comes their way. But as Dana Moffat, product manager at Acumatica, points out in this week’s Unboxing Logistics episode, you can’t afford to ignore AI either. She explains that the success of AI strategies comes down to how well you identify problems, select technology, define KPIs, and measure results.How to create an AI strategy that worksAccording to Dana, the foundation for a successful AI implementation is understanding what you want to achieve and how you’ll measure the results. She says, “You have to have clear objectives and goals. … You need to know … what you want to accomplish and why.”She shares a few questions to guide you through this initial planning stage: Why do we think AI is the answer to this particular problem or challenge? How will we know that AI has helped us transform or achieve our objectives? How do we measure success or failure? Setting your AI up for successBefore introducing AI tools, it’s important to ensure your operating procedures are clearly defined. That’s because AI learns from patterns. And “if your procedures or workflows [are] constantly changing, or your processes vary by team or customer … it's hard for AI to learn … because you don't have patterns.”In addition to unpredictable processes, Dana shares another common pitfall when implementing an AI solution: inaccurate data.“AI can inherit bias from historical data, and [that] can reinforce bad patterns. … As much as possible, clean up your data before you start leveraging that AI.”Does AI replace human workers?Many people fear that AI will replace human workers, taking jobs and ruining livelihoods. But Lori and Dana have a far more optimistic perspective—they strongly believe that real people are still necessary in the logistics space.In Dana’s words, “There's still a very strong need for domain expertise, especially in shipping and enterprise resource planning. We have domain experts in these different functional areas, and they're very important, so AI cannot replace them.”LinksConnect with Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-moffat-94850a10/ Visit Acumatica’s website: https://www.acumatica.com/
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  Preparing for Freight Volatility With Chris Caplice From MIT and DAT Freight & Analytics - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 87 08.04.2026 33мин

  In this Unboxing Logistics episode, Lori sits down with Chris Caplice, executive director at MIT Center for Transportation Logistics and chief scientist at DAT Freight and Analytics, to discuss the state of freight in 2026. The state of freight shipping in 2026Chris begins by laying out the two big forces shaping the freight market—supply and demand—and noting, “Because supply and demand are constantly shifting in this very volatile market, you're going to see prices going up and prices going down on a regular-ish basis.”He explains that while demand is holding fairly steady, the same can’t be said for supply. “A lot of the regulations that have come recently … [are ] increasing the cost of being a carrier. … It's increasing the barrier of entry, so it's constricting the supply of carriers.”The result? “We are going to see a tightening of the market throughout 2026.”Spot vs. contract pricingAccording to Chris, one of the biggest mistakes shippers make is using contract rates for every lane. Simply put, “It just doesn't make sense for certain lanes that are sporadic, low volume, things like that.”He warns that often, financial leaders prefer the perceived security of contracts, but contracting for everything actually “creates more problems than it fixes.”Fortunately, there’s a simple rule of thumb to know whether you’re balancing spot and contract pricing correctly. Chris says, “Thirty percent of your lanes will [probably] handle [about] 80% of your volume. But … 70% [of your lanes] will handle [about] 20%. So those ones, you don't want to put contract rates on.”In other words, “The vast majority of your volume will go under contract. The vast majority of your lanes will probably be spot.”Balancing cost and reliability in a tight marketChris acknowledges that saving money is a huge consideration when it comes to shipping. But he cautions logistics leaders to consider other factors, such as carrier availability and reliability. “There's so much excess capacity out there. It's tighter now. So little things can have big ripple effects. So I think the big concern now is not saving every dime. It's more about, okay, will my carriers be there when the market gets tighter, or if my demand shifts, or if the fuel price increases?”LinksConnect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-caplice-1839/ Visit the DAT Freight and Analytics website: https://www.dat.com/ Visit the MIT Center for Transportation Logistics website: https://ctl.mit.edu/
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  Unboxing the Trends: USPS Fuel Surcharges, FedEx 2-Hour Delivery, and the Rise of Amazon Shipping With Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer From EasyPost - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 86 01.04.2026 15мин

  Carrier changes are picking up speed—and starting to impact both costs and service expectations across the industry. In this episode, Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer from EasyPost break down recent updates from USPS, FedEx, and Amazon. Their conversation focuses on rising surcharges, faster delivery options, and the growing role of Amazon Shipping. USPS introduces fuel surchargesUSPS is introducing its first-ever fuel surcharge, signaling a shift in how the carrier handles cost volatility. Lori explains that while the change is framed as temporary, it reflects broader pressure across the industry as fuel prices and geopolitical factors continue to fluctuate. She says, “I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more surcharges. … We're at the point where [carriers are] really struggling with costs. So we are seeing more of those costs being carried over to shippers in general.”FedEx offers two-hour deliveryFedEx’s new same-day service with two-hour delivery windows shows how major carriers are pushing toward faster fulfillment. These options are exciting, but they’re also expensive, and Lori reassures smaller businesses that they don’t necessarily need to offer customers same-day services. While buyers care a lot about reliability, she notes, they’re “not necessarily pushing speed as much as we sometimes think.”Amazon Shipping gains ground as a carrierAmazon is continuing to invest heavily in its logistics network, including a $4 billion push to expand rural delivery and reach more underserved areas. At the same time, Amazon Shipping is gaining traction as a carrier option within multi-carrier strategies. Lori explains that many businesses are testing it and seeing strong results, adding that “the data shows that Amazon Shipping is becoming a really big player in the carrier industry.” With tools like Luma AI that compare carrier performance across cost, speed, and reliability, more shippers are shifting volume based on what actually performs best.LinksConnect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ranagan-mba-2717bb125/ Visit EasyPost’s website: https://www.easypost.com/
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  EasyPost Insider: Luma AI Advisor, the Shipping LLM You Can Rely on With Tyler Diestel From EasyPost - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 85 25.03.2026 17мин

  In this episode, Tyler Diestel, senior product manager at EasyPost, joins Lori to discuss EasyPost’s latest shipping AI tool: Luma AI Advisor. Tyler explains what Luma AI Advisor is, how it works, and the impact it can make for SMB and enterprise shippers alike.What is Luma AI Advisor?Luma AI Advisor is an LLM, or large language model. Like tools such as ChatGPT or Claude, Luma AI can process natural-language questions and generate human-like responses. But unlike generic chatbots, Luma AI was built for one purpose: to streamline parcel shipping.Tyler says, “We have this amazing product suite called Luma AI. It … gives our shippers insights into a treasure trove of data. The problem is that a lot of times we provide too much data, and it overwhelms our shippers. … So with Luma AI Advisor, instead of having to sift through the various dashboards, [users] can just chat with this nice little chatbot to find their answers directly.” He also explains why it’s much more effective than ChatGPT or Claude: “Those are answering high-level questions. This LLM has all your shipping data, so it knows exactly what you have done and what you can do to reach your goals.”What data is Luma AI Advisor trained on?According to Tyler, Luma AI is trained on data from two sources: your own shipping operations and EasyPost’s billions of historic shipments. This makes it incredibly accurate when it comes to finding cost- and time-saving opportunities.“This LLM is trained on your data, but it also takes advantage of our AI models that produce our time-in-transit predictions. … By using our AI-generated predictions, you are leveraging the billions of shipments that we've seen.”What can Luma AI Advisor help with?Tyler shares a few examples of questions that Luma AI can answer:How much do I actually save by adding Amazon to my carrier mix?What carrier has the highest on-time percentage?What carrier do I spend the most on?He’s also excited for future updates, which will allow Luma to help with even more shipping tasks, such as explaining how to enable a new carrier or recommending the best carrier for shipping HAZMAT.LinksConnect with Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdiestel/ Learn more about Luma AI: https://www.easypost.com/products/luma-ai/
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  The Middle East Shipping Crisis With Sal Mercogliano From What’s Going On With Shipping? - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 84 11.03.2026 33мин

  Just a few weeks ago, the tense situation in the Middle East reached a boiling point when the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Now, as the effects of the conflict ripple across the world, everyone has the same question: How will this affect global trade?Sal Mercogliano, maritime shipping expert and host of the YouTube channel What’s Going On With Shipping?, joins Lori to help answer that question. Sal shares a nuanced analysis of how the crisis has already affected shipping and what will happen going forward. How has the conflict in the Middle East affected shipping?To understand why the war in Iran will have such a major impact on shipping, you first need to understand choke points. Sal describes them as “narrow little areas where [ocean] traffic funnels together.” And one of the biggest choke points in the world is the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Indian Ocean. Sal explains, “Since the United States and Israel struck Iran … shipping has stopped going through.” And unfortunately, “There's no shortcut here. There's no … ‘Let's go around the Persian Gulf.’ You can't. You've got to go through the strait.”This bottleneck will result in higher costs to businesses and consumers across the world.What will happen if the conflict continues?While much of our oil comes from the Middle East, there are other sources. According to Sal, we’ll probably begin relying more heavily on places like the United States, Nigeria, and Venezuela for oil.But that solution comes with its own challenges.Sal explains, “You have to take natural gas and liquefy it, which means you put it into a ship by cooling it. … There's only a finite number of those ships. You have to go further distances, and there's a set amount you can ship because there's finite [resources] available.”What will happen when the conflict ends?Even when the conflict ends, Sal expects that shipping will be disrupted. He compares it to driving down the highway: “All of a sudden, traffic comes to a stop for some reason … because there was an accident there an hour ago and it just hasn't cleared up yet. For almost every day of an incident, it takes three to four to clear it out.”While we’re waiting for things to stabilize, Sal recommends that businesses stay informed about global events and look for ways to incorporate more flexibility into their shipping operations.LinksConnect with Sal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatore-mercogliano-ph-d-what-s-going-on-with-shipping-95437729/ Check out What’s Going On With Shipping? on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wgowshipping
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  The Parcel Carrier Landscape in 2026 With Nate Skiver From LPF Spend Management - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 83 04.03.2026 38мин

  From surcharge increases to carriers unexpectedly closing their doors, the world of parcel shipping is constantly changing. And according to Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management, that trend will continue through 2026.In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, he shares tips for adapting to disruptions, managing risk, choosing the right carriers, and keeping costs low.The state of parcel shipping in 2026When it comes to carriers, Nate says, “There are more options [than ever], which is a good thing, but it introduces complexity.”Fortunately, technology can help simplify things. Nate continues, “There is technology available to manage that complexity, allow[ing] shippers to introduce new carriers, optimize for cost, delivery, reliability, and speed.”Bottom line? “There's never been a better time, I think, for shippers to create value through delivery.”Are alternative carriers worth it?Alternative carriers offer low costs and fast delivery times. But shippers sometimes hesitate to use them, citing concerns with reliability. So, how can you know whether an alternative carrier will fulfill its promises?According to Nate, it all comes down to research and risk management.“There are alternative carriers that will exit the market this year. … So it's a legitimate concern.”He recommends, “Do your due diligence. Learn as much as you can about the company, their customers, all that you can. But don't take on too much risk.”Staying on top of carrier pricing changesWhen carriers increase prices, they don’t broadcast it to the world. For example, Nate shares that two major carriers recently raised surcharges for additional handling and oversized packages—and the increases slipped under many people’s radars.He says, “It gets announced. It's very subtly posted on [their] websites. Often … the sales contacts for those carriers don't proactively come out and tell customers. So you have to go find it.”To make sure pricing changes don’t catch you off guard, Nate recommends either having an in-house employee dedicated to staying on top of the parcel market or partnering with a third-party consultant.LinksConnect with Nate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levelplayingfield/Visit LPF Spend Management’s website: https://www.lpfspendmanagement.com/
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  Lessons From a Warehouse Modernization Project With John Naylor From Trew and Scott Davis From JD Finish Line - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 82 25.02.2026 45мин

  John Naylor from Trew and Scott Davis from JD Finish Line teamed up to transform a distribution center from mostly manual to automated and efficient—while the center was still operational!In a recent session at RILA, they shared the details of the project with Lori Boyer, discussing everything from the initial planning stages to the final results and ROI.If you weren’t able to make it to the session, no worries. We’ve turned the recording into a special episode of Unboxing Logistics. Listen to learn how John and Scott got leadership buy-in, helped employees adopt the new technology, and dealt with unexpected roadblocks.Choosing technology with the future in mindThroughout the session, a common thread was the need for careful planning. When choosing technology, John and Scott considered two things: whether it would be worth the investment, and how it would hold up to future business growth.John says, “It really becomes a fairly simple black-and-white math exercise. It's an ROI. Do we invest the money? What is the payback on that?”He continues, “Are we future proof? Have we painted ourselves into a corner? If our business needs change, or … acquisitions happen, will this be able to accommodate that change?”Planning for the unexpectedAn important part of planning is the assumption that things will go wrong at some point. Scott stresses that budgets need to leave room for these unexpected setbacks: “Contingencies are huge. Do you want to go back in a year and ask for more, or would you rather fight the battle upfront so that you can stay within your budgets?”John chimes in, “Anybody who tells you these projects go flawlessly and on plan is lying to you. … No battle plan survives the first volley.”Taking a people-focused approachAutomation projects often come under fire for eliminating human jobs. But for John and Scott, laying off employees was never the goal.John explains that they forecasted employment needs and made sure not to overhire. The result? “We didn't [need] to lay off people later when [a] job function was eliminated. …So it was a very … people-focused approach.”As Scott puts it, the automation project was all about “[doing] more with the same people, not reduc[ing] the people.”LinksConnect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-davis-03315652/Follow JD Finish Line on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jd-finish-line/Visit Trew’s website: https://www.trewautomation.com/
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  Unboxing the Trends: Designing for Disruption and Proving AI’s ROI With Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer From EasyPost - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 81 19.02.2026 18мин

  In February’s episode of Unboxing Logistics, Tim Ranagan sits down with Lori Boyer to discuss what she’s hearing from industry leaders at events like RILA and Manifest. Their conversation focuses on how ecommerce teams are building with disruption in mind.Disruption is the baseline in 2026This year, supply chain leaders are learning to expect the unexpected.Lori explains that disruption no longer feels temporary. Instead, “It’s the baseline.” So rather than waiting for conditions to stabilize, organizations are designing operations around uncertainty.She points to data from the 2026 Thomson Reuters Global Trade Report showing that supply chain management has become the number one business concern for enterprise organizations, nearly doubling since last year’s report.From AI hype to measurable ROIAI was a hot topic at RILA and Manifest last year, and that pattern continued in 2026. But the tone has shifted; earlier excitement around flashy demos has given way to a more practical mindset.As Lori puts it, “AI is only of interest to people when it can show tangible, real-life returns.”As she spoke with logistics professionals at the events, she noticed that teams that are considering AI solutions are asking tougher questions about cost savings, decision support, and measurable outcomes.Resilience starts with the basicsAnother recurring theme in Lori’s conversations was frustration with overloaded tech stacks—solutions that don’t work together, don’t solve the right problems, and ultimately create “tech stack fatigue.”Her advice is straightforward: “Get your basics down.”She continues, “You have to start with the problem… then find a tool. Don’t get a tool of any sort and just try to fit it into your company.”LinksConnect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ranagan-mba-2717bb125/Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/Visit EasyPost’s website :https://www.easypost.com/
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  EasyPost Insider: Tackling Enterprise-Grade Complexity With AI With Joe Dieter From EasyPost - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 80 12.02.2026 45мин

  In this episode, Joe Dieter joins Lori Boyer to explore the complexities of enterprise-level shipping and show how EasyPost Enterprise can help.What’s an enterprise-level shipper?Joe explains a common misconception: “When people think of enterprise shipping, they assume [it refers to] someone doing lots of volume. … But the reality is, volume is just one component. [What matters more] is enterprise-grade complexity.”Enterprise-grade complexity can look different for every business, but Joe shares some common examples of the challenges EasyPost’s enterprise shippers face:Time to label is too slowAdding new carriers is difficult and time-consumingSupport costs are piling upShipping software can’t keep up with growthVarious systems don’t integrate smoothlyYou’re seeing too many exceptionsHow EasyPost Enterprise helpsEasyPost Enterprise is a “high-performance shipping engine” designed to address the complexities described above.Its features include business rules, low-code functionality, multi-carrier automation, label and forms automation, branded tracking notifications, and insights from the industry’s most reliable shipping AI.But one of the most important benefits is the 24/7 support. Because as Joe puts it, “Support matters when you're an SMB online seller. But if you become an enterprise-grade shipper, support becomes everything.”Luma AI is now available in EasyPost EnterpriseLuma AI is like a shipping professional in your pocket—it provides insights and advice based on EasyPost’s vast store of shipment data and your own shipping history. And now, Luma AI can be accessed through EasyPost Enterprise.Joe shares one example of Luma AI’s precision: “[Luma might] recommend [that] for two-day shipping down to the southwest part of the U.S., you switch from this carrier and service level over to this carrier and service level.”“And Luma AI tells you [that] you will literally save 25% in costs and over 30% time in transit if you make this exact carrier and service level switch.”LinksConnect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-dieter/Learn more about EasyPost Enterprise: https://www.easypost.com/products/enterprise/Visit EasyPost’s website: https://www.easypost.com/
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  Real Relationships, Real Results With Marty Johnson and Fahim Mojawalla From AYM High Consultants - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 79 08.01.2026 35мин

  Numbers are critical in the logistics industry, but focusing too much on deadlines, quotas, and revenue can cause leaders to overlook what really matters: relationships.In this episode, Marty Johnson and Fahim Mojawalla from AYM High Consultants share how they prioritize long-lasting relationships with both clients and team members. Listen to learn why they believe relationships beat transactions—every time.Transactions vs. relationshipsTransactions are a normal (and important) part of business; without them, no company could ever stay afloat. But Fahim warns that having an overly transactional mindset isn’t the best path to growth.He shares a phrase he coined: “Relationships reap real results regardless of recessions.”Marty adds, “Customer is a very transactional word,” explaining that he and Fahim prefer to use the words guest or client. “A guest is someone you welcome into your space. … And a client is someone with whom you have a relationship that you do business [with] over and over again.”Creating a standout customer experienceMarty and Fahim have a simple goal: “We want to go from satisfied guest to loyal advocate.”They point out that shipping is often seen as mundane, especially from a consumer’s point of view. But when a business takes the time to understand its client’s needs, the shipping experience becomes enjoyable and memorable.The result? “They're going to go out and tell all their friends and family, wow, I just had a great time shipping a package. … People are then talking about it and … coming in to experience what you have to offer.”How to hire (and retain) outstanding team membersWhen hiring, personality comes first for Marty and Fahim. As Marty explains, “[We] hire the smile, train the skills. … Personality has to be number one; heart, authenticity, care have to be number one.”Fahim gets even more specific, listing six must-have traits for anyone he hires. “So there are six qualities … being hungry, humble, coachable … intelligence, integrity, and enthusiasm. And if you have all six, everything else can be taught in any industry.”LinksVisit AYM High Consultants’ websiteConnect with Marty on LinkedIn Connect with Fahim on LinkedInTop logistics trade shows of 2026
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  Unboxing the Trends: Season 5 Highlights With Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer From EasyPost 11.12.2025 16мин

  It’s a wrap! As season five of Unboxing Logistics concludes, Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer look back at the issues that mattered most to ecommerce and operations teams this year. They revisit the standout conversations on peak season, AI, cross-border shipping, and rising costs before sharing what listeners can expect in season six.Season five’s big ideasMuch of season five centered on two ideas that kept surfacing across conversations: cost awareness and the human element. Lori noted that several experts described teams “not always sure and [not having] visibility into where they might be losing their money.” At the same time, even the most technical discussions pointed back to people and how real teams work, reinforcing that logistics decisions only succeed when the human side stays front and center.A major theme—dealing with uncertaintyAlmost every guest emphasized how much uncertainty logistics teams are managing right now. And while that can be scary, it’s also exciting.Lori describes the moment as “a stage that’s primed for opportunity and creativity,” especially for companies looking to close cost gaps or adopt new technology. What’s coming in season sixBig things are in store for next season! Lori shares that season six will feature a new carrier series designed to help businesses understand “where different carriers might fit well for your particular business model.” Additionally, listeners can expect even more human-centered conversations and timely discussions tied to industry events.LinksConnect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ranagan-mba-2717bb125/ Visit EasyPost’s website: https://www.easypost.com/
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  Tips for Finding the Best Suppliers With Mattia Miglio From Alibaba.com 03.12.2025 36мин

  Have a great idea for a new product? To turn the vision into a reality, you need to partner with reliable suppliers. But finding suppliers you can count on is easier said than done. If sourcing has been giving you grief, this is the Unboxing Logistics episode for you!Mattia Miglio from Alibaba.com joins Lori to share tips for finding suppliers, making sure they’re a good fit for your business, and building partnerships that last.How to find the right suppliersWhen you’re on the hunt for a new partner, Mattia recommends using a platform like Alibaba.com to find vetted suppliers from across the globe. For the most accurate picture of their performance, make sure to read customer reviews and check how long they’ve been active on the platform.Once you’re ready to move forward, Mattia says, “Always ask for samples. … If you are a beauty brand, for example, you can ask for [un]customized samples. Then you can go to customized samples, and then you place the first order with minimal quantities. Then if you're happy, you can scale up.”Why supplier diversification mattersAccording to Mattia, the safest course for a small business is to always have at least three suppliers. If one partner runs into manufacturing or shipping delays, you’ll be able to rely on your others.He also notes, “Logistics costs are a big component. So if you find another supplier [that] can reduce your logistics costs, that will have an impact.” Building long-term partnershipsSourcing is a careful balance; while you want to build trusting, long-term partnerships, you also have to be open to change. “I always recommend [finding] the right partner, not [just] a supplier. … These relationships should go for the long term. But always compare prices. Always have a backup plan.”LinksConnect with Mattia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattiamiglio/ Visit Alibaba.com’s website: https://www.alibaba.com/
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  EasyPost Insider: Automate USPS Claims Filing With Tyler Diestel From EasyPost 12.11.2025 22мин

  Are you taking advantage of the $100 of shipping insurance included for select USPS labels? Most businesses aren’t. They don’t file claims, leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Fortunately, there’s a way to recoup lost funds without the filing hassle. In this EasyPost Insider episode, Tyler Diestel joins Lori to share everything you need to know about EasyPost’s USPS Claims service. What is USPS Claims?Tyler explains, “USPS Claims is an amazing product that makes it easy for shippers to get money back … from [USPS]. Because we have a treasure trove of data, we can tell when a package is lost or damaged. … We're able to file claims … to help our shippers recoup [their money].”Why automate claims filing with EasyPost?Many merchants don’t file insurance claims because they don’t realize that shipping insurance is included in the label price. But for others, it’s simply a matter of time. “They don't have time to figure out which of their shipments are actually eligible. They don't have time to go in and file a claim for each of those shipments. They don't have time to follow up on the progress of those claims.”For these busy logistics teams, USPS Claims is a huge time saver.How the process worksGetting started with USPS Claims is easy—you can enroll in the program right from the EasyPost dashboard. While the process is almost entirely automatic, Tyler does note that if you don’t provide product values at label purchase, you’ll need to add that information after the fact. “As we go through our claims process and identify shipments that can be filed, we will send you an email saying, there are 20 shipments that need additional info … please log into the portal [and] fill it out.”When claims are approved, the funds go back into your EasyPost Wallet for future label purchases. LinksConnect with Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdiestel/ Learn more about USPS Claims by EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/usps-claims 
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  From First to Last Mile: A New One-Stop Shipping Partner With Keith Somers From FAST Group 06.11.2025 28мин

  In August 2025, three innovative carriers announced a merger that will allow them to better serve their customers. ACI Logistix, First Mile, and Sendle are now FAST Group, an integrated logistics ecosystem. What does the merger mean for their customers? In this episode, Lori sits down with Keith Somers, the new CEO of FAST Group, to answer that question and get a behind-the-scenes look at FAST Group’s operations, culture, and values.What is FAST Group?The beauty of FAST Group is that it brings together three companies with different strengths, giving their customers access to more specialized shipping services.Keith explains, “Legacy ACI focused on the enterprise segment. [They] had high-volume sortation systems [and a] really efficient middle and last mile. … First Mile, their segment was SMB clients, so they had a really amazing first-mile pickup infrastructure. … Sendle had … built this amazing consumer experience platform.”Now that the three brands have joined forces, they’re a “one-stop shop for customers and clients of any size … [to] get customized pickup [and] delivery [from] anywhere to anywhere.”A shipping partner that grows with your businessFAST Group’s services are perfect for small businesses, major enterprises, and anything in between. Keith puts it like this: “Clients of any size can enjoy this now. And we [can] grow with a client. They could start in their garage, and maybe they're selling yoga pants and they're going to be the next lululemon. They could stay with us the entire journey.”Behind the scenes of the mergerWith the merger happening so close to peak season, it’s reasonable that shippers using ACI Logistix, First Mile, or Sendle might worry about service disruptions. But Keith shares several strategies FAST Group is implementing to keep things running smoothly.One key to their success? Staying focused.  “Integration can take 18 months or more. So you might think you're done, and you're not. … [You need to] ignore all the shiny objects, because there's a lot of opportunities, and you really stay focused and true to what that core mission is until that box is checked.”Links:Connect with Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-somers-71273b6/Learn more about FAST Group: https://fastgroup.co/
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  The Power of Neurodiversity With Dylan Telford and Jarlath Phelan From Summit Advisory Team 15.10.2025 43мин

  Neurodiverse people have amazing talents that help them shine in logistics roles, but they also face unique challenges that can make it difficult to thrive in the workplace. In this Unboxing Logistics episode, Dylan Telford and Jarlath Phelan from Summit Advisory Team share their personal experiences with neurodivergence. They and Lori discuss what neurodivergent people bring to the table, how they can be themselves, and what coworkers and leaders can do to foster inclusivity.Neurodivergence in the logistics industryLori starts the episode with a surprising statistic. According to a recent study, 58% of people in the logistics and supply chain industry identify as neurodivergent—more than double what you’d see in other industries!Jarlath’s reaction to the stat? “It makes a lot of sense. There's a lot of pattern recognition [in logistics]. There's a lot of creative thinking required …  it makes total sense that that's what neurodivergent people are drawn to.”The importance of being openAccording to Dylan, the best way for neurodivergent people to work well with neurotypical coworkers—and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts—is to communicate openly.He says, “When I got my diagnosis, I learned that the more open I was, the easier it was … to be part of a community of people that's all trying to make work … as easy as it can be for everybody.” For example, after hearing feedback about talking too much, Dylan began asking coworkers to interrupt him if he was getting off track, telling them, “You need to stop me when you have enough [information].”Leadership tips for creating an inclusive workplaceJarlath and Dylan both weigh in on what logistics leaders can do to help neurodivergent employees have great experiences at work. Jarlath’s request is simple: “Just treat me as an individual.” Dylan adds that while leaders should definitely make an effort to be inclusive of neurodivergent individuals, they also need to recognize that inclusive workplaces benefit everyone.“You're not creating quiet places to work in the office for people who are neurodivergent. You're creating quiet places in the office for people who may need time that is quieter … for what they do. And that could be anybody.”LinksConnect with Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-telford-b7404769/ Connect with Jarlath on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarlathphelan/ Visit Summit Advisory Team’s website: https://summitadvisoryteam.com/
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  Time To Rethink Returns? With Tim Robinson From Blue Yonder 01.10.2025 41мин

  Blue Yonder recently released their 2025 Global Consumer Retail Returns Survey, and it’s jam-packed with insights. In this episode of Unboxing Logistics, Lori sits down with Tim Robinson, senior vice president and general manager at Blue Yonder, to talk through the survey’s findings and offer practical suggestions for handling returns effectively.What to do with returned itemsAs Tim points out, most businesses automatically equate returned items with lost profits, assuming they’ll never be able to resell the products that customers send back. But with the right tools and strategies, this doesn’t have to be the reality.Tim explains, “The philosophical shift is [that] you have to consider these items assets. This is real-life inventory, which can be resold for full value on Wednesday.”He continues, “If you use technology to treat returning items in exactly the same way you would a brand new outbound item—i.e. you use technology to know where it is, what it is, when it's coming, to forecast [how] to sell it, to fulfill it, to ship it—then actually, [there’s] a very high likelihood that you'll be able to resell that item … for the vast majority of its [original] sale price.”The downside of “keep-it” returnsOne of the survey’s findings is that 2025 had fewer “keep-it” returns than 2024. Tim shares a possible reason why brands are avoiding this type of return.When a business lets someone keep an item, they’re sending a subtle message that the item is low-value. “It basically means it costs them more money to deal with it than its value. If you are the consumer, how does that make you feel about that item?”Should you tighten your returns policy before peak?With some shoppers taking advantage of generous return policies, many businesses have added stricter rules. Should you do the same? According to Tim, the months leading up to peak season aren’t the time to make changes. Instead, it’s best to focus on creating a great customer experience.“I definitely feel like this is not a time to tighten your policy. … This is not a time to … make it harder for people to shop, because ultimately we all survive and grow and thrive if consumers still feel compelled to shop at this time of year.” LinksConnect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-robinson-ceo/Visit Blue Yonder’s website: https://blueyonder.com/ The Global Consumer Retail Returns Survey: https://blueyonder.com/media/2025/blue-yonder-survey-stricter-returns-policies-deter-global-consumer-spending Survey infographic: https://blueyonder.com/resources/consumer-data-from-blue-yonder-can-help-retailers-optimize-returns
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  The AI Conversation at Parcel Forum With Tom Butt From EasyPost 18.09.2025 31мин

  Last week, Lori Boyer and Tom Butt attended Parcel Forum, where EasyPost was the official AI in logistics sponsor. In addition to presenting on AI tools, Lori and Tom got a chance to talk with shippers about the problems they’re facing—and how artificial intelligence can help. They share their takeaways in this episode of Unboxing Logistics.The AI conversationTom noticed a pattern at Parcel Forum: businesses were curious about adopting AI logistics technology, but they weren’t sure whether to make the leap.He says, “Everyone … was talking and comparing notes and saying, ‘This AI thing, is it a buzzword? How are you guys using it? When is the starting gun going to go off?’”How AI helps with shippingAI is a powerful tool for collecting and analyzing data, but its capabilities go way beyond data analysis. For example, AI tools like Luma by EasyPost can identify weak areas in your shipping operations and suggest improvements.Tom gives an example. “[You can] see if there are … delays within your carrier network. Where are those occurring? Is it pre-transit exceptions, [where] you're printing a label, but it's not scanning into the carrier network?”“AI is going to help you identify where those exceptions are and potentially make some recommendations on how to address those things.”When to get started with AIOne of the biggest mistakes Tom sees shippers make is not getting started with AI now. By waiting for other businesses to lead the way, these hesitant players risk getting left behind. On the other hand, being an early adopter gives you a competitive edge.He says, “I can tell you right now, there's not going to be a starting gun. And those that adopt AI and start to build it into some methodologies, build it into frameworks, are going to have a head start and a leg up.”LinksConnect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombutt/Visit EasyPost’s website: www.easypost.com