What You’ll Learn - Why legacy commerce APIs and EDI no longer suffice in today’s fragmented commerce landscape - How AI and emerging protocols like MCP are accelerating the need for real-time fulfillment integration - The structure, tools, and resources defined by OnX for seamless order management across ecosystems - The nonprofit "business league" legal framework that keeps OnX vendor-agnostic and collaborative - The challenges commerce platforms face with OMS integrations and how OnX aims to reduce friction - The shift from platform-centric to protocol-centric commerce enabled by open standards - How industry players—brands, 3PLs, ERP, WMS, and commerce platforms—are rallying behind OnX Hihghlights- 00:00 — Welcome, introduction to Kelly Goetsch and the focus: “Connected Commerce” - 02:00 — The fragmentation problem: marketplaces, social commerce, AI, and legacy EDI - 04:00 — The rise of MCP and Agentic Commerce Protocol as enablers for a new standard - 06:00 — Building a “big tent” network: OMS, 3PLs, WMSs, ERPs connectivity challenges - 10:00 — Commerce platform vs fulfillment backend: the tech and mindset divide - 14:00 — What is OnX? Tools, resources, member base, and the standard’s scope - 18:00 — How MCP makes OnX possible, collapsing layers between selling and fulfillment - 22:00 — OnX’s “business league” structure explained - 24:00 — Platform, payment, and AI player involvement and adoption challenges - 28:00 — How to participate: advisory boards, GitHub access, and community involvement - 30:00 — The future of connected commerce and invitation to join OnX Quotes [00:02:00]: "If the last decade was about composable commerce, the next one is about connected commerce." - Ninaad  [00:04:00]: "AI is the reason for both of these. We’re really, really collapsing down." - Kelly Goetsch  [00:10:00]: "About 70% of enterprise brands still run point-to-point integration, and that has its own set of challenges." - Ninaad  [00:22:00]: "The benefit of that is: we, as a community, get together and evolve and change as technology changes. And that’s great." - Kelly Goetsch  About the Guest Kelly Goetsch is a technologist and strategist shaping the future of digital commerce and order fulfillment. Known for his leadership in the MACH Alliance and now Pipe17, Kelly has been a central voice in evolving commerce technology standards. He currently chairs the Commerce Operations Foundation, driving the development and adoption of the OnX standard for connected commerce. Links Mentioned - Commerce Operations Foundation website: commerceopsfoundation.org - Commerce Operations Foundation GitHub: github.com/commerceopsfoundation - Kelly Goetsch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kgoetsch - MACH Alliance: <a href="https://machalliance.org/">machalliance.org</a>  
Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 ">YouTube</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What You’ll Learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Why legacy commerce APIs and EDI no longer suffice in today’s fragmented commerce landscape&lt;br /&gt;- How AI and emerging protocols like MCP are accelerating the need for real-time fulfillment integration&lt;br /&gt;- The structure, tools, and resources defined by OnX for seamless order management across ecosystems&lt;br /&gt;- The nonprofit "business league" legal framework that keeps OnX vendor-agnostic and collaborative&lt;br /&gt;- The challenges commerce platforms face with OMS integrations and how OnX aims to reduce friction&lt;br /&gt;- The shift from platform-centric to protocol-centric commerce enabled by open standards&lt;br /&gt;- How industry players—brands, 3PLs, ERP, WMS, and commerce platforms—are rallying behind OnX&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hihghlights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- 00:00 — Welcome, introduction to Kelly Goetsch and the focus: “Connected Commerce”&lt;br /&gt;- 02:00 — The fragmentation problem: marketplaces, social commerce, AI, and legacy EDI&lt;br /&gt;- 04:00 — The rise of MCP and Agentic Commerce Protocol as enablers for a new standard&lt;br /&gt;- 06:00 — Building a “big tent” network: OMS, 3PLs, WMSs, ERPs connectivity challenges&lt;br /&gt;- 10:00 — Commerce platform vs fulfillment backend: the tech and mindset divide&lt;br /&gt;- 14:00 — What is OnX? Tools, resources, member base, and the standard’s scope&lt;br /&gt;- 18:00 — How MCP makes OnX possible, collapsing layers between selling and fulfillment&lt;br /&gt;- 22:00 — OnX’s “business league” structure explained&lt;br /&gt;- 24:00 — Platform, payment, and AI player involvement and adoption challenges&lt;br /&gt;- 28:00 — How to participate: advisory boards, GitHub access, and community involvement&lt;br /&gt;- 30:00 — The future of connected commerce and invitation to join OnX&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quotes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;[00:02:00]: "If the last decade was about composable commerce, the next one is about connected commerce." - Ninaad &lt;br /&gt;[00:04:00]: "AI is the reason for both of these. We’re really, really collapsing down." - Kelly Goetsch &lt;br /&gt;[00:10:00]: "About 70% of enterprise brands still run point-to-point integration, and that has its own set of challenges." - Ninaad &lt;br /&gt;[00:22:00]: "The benefit of that is: we, as a community, get together and evolve and change as technology changes. And that’s great." - Kelly Goetsch &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Guest&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kelly Goetsch is a technologist and strategist shaping the future of digital commerce and order fulfillment. Known for his leadership in the MACH Alliance and now Pipe17, Kelly has been a central voice in evolving commerce technology standards. He currently chairs the Commerce Operations Foundation, driving the development and adoption of the OnX standard for connected commerce.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Links Mentioned&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- Commerce Operations Foundation website: commerceopsfoundation.org&lt;br /&gt;- Commerce Operations Foundation GitHub: github.com/commerceopsfoundation&lt;br /&gt;- Kelly Goetsch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kgoetsch&lt;br /&gt;- MACH Alliance: &lt;a href="https://machalliance.org/"&gt;machalliance.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe and Keep Learning!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 "&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Kelly Goetsch returns to the eCom Logistics to unveil OnX, a groundbreaking fulfillment network standard built on MCP. They discuss the need to break down commerce and logistics silos, the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how OnX is poised to redefine order connectivity across brands, platforms, and 3PLs. 

Connected Commerce: How OnX Is Redefining Fulfillment in the Age of AI

What You’ll Learn:<ul><li>The enduring priorities in fulfillment despite two decades of industry change: focus on the end-consumer experience and aligned people/process</li><li>The definition and strategic value of connected commerce as a frictionless end-to-end ecosystem across sales channels and fulfillment</li><li>Why tech integration across OMS, WMS, TMS and digital marketplaces remains the biggest hurdle to unified fulfillment</li><li>How Essendant repositions fulfillment from cost center to growth enabler, leveraging digital teams and marketplace expertise</li><li>When to accelerate 3PL expansion versus stabilize and optimize existing operations, anchored on clear value and identity assessment</li><li>The realities and opportunities around Seller Fulfilled Prime, including network scale, inventory optimization, and performance requirements</li><li>Key operational metrics beyond OTIF, including inventory health and profitability by channel, critical in managing complexity</li><li>Peak season outlook: early marketplace promotions, supply chain stability, and the goal to flatten the demand curve for better operational control</li></ul>Highlights<ul><li>00:00 – Guest Introduction & Industry Background</li><li>01:00 – Consistencies & Changes Over Two Decades in Fulfillment</li><li>03:00 – Defining Connected Commerce & Its Strategic Objectives </li><li>05:00 – Common Fulfillment-Tech Challenges & Silo Breakdown</li><li>07:00 – Unlocking Fulfillment as a Revenue Lever, Not Just Cost Center </li><li>10:00 – When to Accelerate vs. Stabilize 3PL Operations</li><li>14:00 – Procurement & Evaluation Dynamics in Mid-Market Deals</li><li>17:00 – Seller Fulfilled Prime: Market Demand & Execution Challenges</li><li>22:00 – Focused Operational Metrics to Drive Business Outcomes</li><li>28:00 – Peak Season Predictions & Advice </li><li>30:30 – Closing Thoughts & Contact Info   </li></ul>Quotes:<ul><li>[00:02:00]: “The things that remain consistent would certainly be focusing on the end consumer... building the right team around us to align with that strategy and then making sure that we had the right processes.” - Patrick Allard </li><li>[00:04:00]: “Connected commerce to us is really about creating that frictionless end-to-end ecosystem... from product discovery through the purchase cycle, all the way through fulfillment, delivery, final mile returns.” - Patrick Allard </li><li>[00:10:00]: “How do we know when to pour gas on the fire and really go for expansion, and when is it time to maybe take a step back, pause, and get the house in order?” - Dan </li><li>[00:19:00]: “There's still quite a bit of pain for the larger brand retailers that might have a really good dominant market and brand recognition, but where they want the prime badge, but having that inventory all locked up in Amazon...puts them in a financial challenge.”- Patrick Allard </li><li>[00:23:00]: “There’s a million things you can track and it is data overload... but the key is focusing on promise metrics, inventory health, and profitability by channel.”- Patrick Allard </li></ul>About the Guest:Patrick Allard is President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, driving the transformation of a traditional B2B distributor into a connected commerce powerhouse. With over 20 years in e-commerce and logistics, Patrick has held leadership roles at Newgistics, Pitney Bowes, and Radial. His expertise spans M&A integrations, fulfillment scalability, multi-channel retail logistics, and leveraging fulfillment as a revenue growth lever rather than simply a cost center. Links Mentioned:<ul><li>Essendant Fulfillment Services: https://www.essendant.com/ </li><li>Patrick Allard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-allard-04657111/</li></ul>
Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 ">YouTube</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What You’ll Learn:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The enduring priorities in fulfillment despite two decades of industry change: focus on the end-consumer experience and aligned people/process&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The definition and strategic value of connected commerce as a frictionless end-to-end ecosystem across sales channels and fulfillment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why tech integration across OMS, WMS, TMS and digital marketplaces remains the biggest hurdle to unified fulfillment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How Essendant repositions fulfillment from cost center to growth enabler, leveraging digital teams and marketplace expertise&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When to accelerate 3PL expansion versus stabilize and optimize existing operations, anchored on clear value and identity assessment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The realities and opportunities around Seller Fulfilled Prime, including network scale, inventory optimization, and performance requirements&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Key operational metrics beyond OTIF, including inventory health and profitability by channel, critical in managing complexity&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Peak season outlook: early marketplace promotions, supply chain stability, and the goal to flatten the demand curve for better operational control&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 – Guest Introduction &amp; Industry Background&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;01:00 – Consistencies &amp; Changes Over Two Decades in Fulfillment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;03:00 – Defining Connected Commerce &amp; Its Strategic Objectives &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;05:00 – Common Fulfillment-Tech Challenges &amp; Silo Breakdown&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;07:00 – Unlocking Fulfillment as a Revenue Lever, Not Just Cost Center &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;10:00 – When to Accelerate vs. Stabilize 3PL Operations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;14:00 – Procurement &amp; Evaluation Dynamics in Mid-Market Deals&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;17:00 – Seller Fulfilled Prime: Market Demand &amp; Execution Challenges&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;22:00 – Focused Operational Metrics to Drive Business Outcomes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;28:00 – Peak Season Predictions &amp; Advice &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;30:30 – Closing Thoughts &amp; Contact Info &lt;br /&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quotes:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:02:00]: “The things that remain consistent would certainly be focusing on the end consumer... building the right team around us to align with that strategy and then making sure that we had the right processes.” - Patrick Allard &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:04:00]: “Connected commerce to us is really about creating that frictionless end-to-end ecosystem... from product discovery through the purchase cycle, all the way through fulfillment, delivery, final mile returns.” - Patrick Allard &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:10:00]: “How do we know when to pour gas on the fire and really go for expansion, and when is it time to maybe take a step back, pause, and get the house in order?” - Dan &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:19:00]: “There's still quite a bit of pain for the larger brand retailers that might have a really good dominant market and brand recognition, but where they want the prime badge, but having that inventory all locked up in Amazon...puts them in a financial challenge.”- Patrick Allard &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:23:00]: “There’s a million things you can track and it is data overload... but the key is focusing on promise metrics, inventory health, and profitability by channel.”- Patrick Allard &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Guest:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Patrick Allard is President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, driving the transformation of a traditional B2B distributor into a connected commerce powerhouse. With over 20 years in e-commerce and logistics, Patrick has held leadership roles at Newgistics, Pitney Bowes, and Radial. His expertise spans M&amp;A integrations, fulfillment scalability, multi-channel retail logistics, and leveraging fulfillment as a revenue growth lever rather than simply a cost center.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Links Mentioned:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Essendant Fulfillment Services: https://www.essendant.com/ &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Patrick Allard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-allard-04657111/&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe and Keep Learning!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 "&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Patrick Allard, President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, shares two decades of logistics and e-commerce fulfillment expertise. He breaks down connected commerce as a strategic imperative, discusses the tech and operational challenges in modern fulfillment, and reveals when to scale vs. stabilize 3PL operations amid evolving customer expectations and market dynamics.

How to Turn Fulfillment into a Growth Engine: Patrick Allard’s Playbook

What You’ll Learn<ul><li>How recent de minimis and tariff changes impact international customer behavior and brand pricing strategy</li><li>The evolving complexity of cross-border returns and strategic decisions on return policies</li><li>Carrier rate shifts: oversized fees, peak surcharges, dimensional weight changes, and their real cost impact</li><li>Why accurate rates and delivery promise engines remain table stakes — and why most still fall short</li><li>The role of AI in improving warehouse operations, HS code auto-classification, and carrier selection</li><li>Insights on agentic AI’s potential to revolutionize e-commerce shopping and logistics decision-making</li><li>How bundled logistics connects carriers, warehouses, and tech providers to streamline cross-border trade</li></ul>Highlights<ul><li>[00:00:00] Intro </li><li>[00:02:00] Advice navigating current cross-border chaos and customs tightening</li><li>[00:04:00] Impact of tariff/de minimis changes on international shopper behavior</li><li>[00:06:00] Preparing for peak season: item selection, returns policy, and brand impact</li><li>[00:09:00] Strategies around secondary market liquidation vs. returns complexities</li><li>[00:11:00] Carrier pricing updates, surcharges, and dimensional weight changes for peak season</li><li>[00:14:00] AI’s growing role in warehouse efficiency and logistics decision-making</li><li>[00:18:00] Advances in HS code auto-classification powered by AI</li><li>[00:20:00] Agentic AI and its future impact on shopper intent and carrier selection</li><li>[00:23:00] Importance of relationships and bundled logistics connecting tech, carriers, warehouses</li><li>[00:25:00] Reducing returns through better product info, website UX, and AI applications</li><li>[00:27:00] The painful reality of rates & delivery promise engines still lagging in 2025</li><li>[00:29:00] Key 2025 e-commerce outlook takeaway focused on returns management timing</li><li>[00:30:00] Closing, social links, and final thoughts</li></ul>Quotes<ul><li>[00:03:45]: “The retailers who are taking it seriously and really are trying to make that good faith effort are the ones that are gonna succeed. They’re trying to adapt to new normals, new narratives, and trying to get a hold of it first rather than just throwing up their hands.” - Krish Iyer </li><li>[00:07:30]: “What are my return costs? What are my processing costs? How badly do I need that item back in my inventory for resale? And what’s gonna be my brand experience if I have a ‘keep it’ philosophy?” - Krish Iyer</li><li>[00:27:30]: “If you ship more than a hundred units a day, you should have the technology capable of actually making a commitment as to when the shipping is going to happen. That should be absolute table stakes for anyone that does meaningful volume.” - Ninaad</li><li>[00:19:15]: “If you give more data and granularity around what you’re shopping for—the intent, what it’s being used for—you can get some pretty good answers from agentic AI.” - Krish Iyer</li></ul>About the GuestKrish Iyer is the VP of Global Partnerships at EasyShip, where he supports brands scaling cross-border e-commerce logistics. With a career spanning FedEx, Pitney Bowes, and ShipEngine, Krish brings a comprehensive industry perspective on strategy, carrier integration, and international fulfillment. Known for blending deep operational insight with a human-centered approach to logistics, he’s also a repeat guest on this show.Links Mentioned- Krish Iyer LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/</a>- EasyShip website: <a href="https://www.easyship.com/">https://www.easyship.com/</a>- Previous episode with Krish Iyer: <a href="https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/">https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/</a>
Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 ">YouTube</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What You’ll Learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How recent de minimis and tariff changes impact international customer behavior and brand pricing strategy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The evolving complexity of cross-border returns and strategic decisions on return policies&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Carrier rate shifts: oversized fees, peak surcharges, dimensional weight changes, and their real cost impact&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why accurate rates and delivery promise engines remain table stakes — and why most still fall short&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The role of AI in improving warehouse operations, HS code auto-classification, and carrier selection&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Insights on agentic AI’s potential to revolutionize e-commerce shopping and logistics decision-making&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How bundled logistics connects carriers, warehouses, and tech providers to streamline cross-border trade&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:00:00] Intro &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:02:00] Advice navigating current cross-border chaos and customs tightening&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:04:00] Impact of tariff/de minimis changes on international shopper behavior&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:06:00] Preparing for peak season: item selection, returns policy, and brand impact&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:09:00] Strategies around secondary market liquidation vs. returns complexities&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:11:00] Carrier pricing updates, surcharges, and dimensional weight changes for peak season&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:14:00] AI’s growing role in warehouse efficiency and logistics decision-making&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:18:00] Advances in HS code auto-classification powered by AI&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:20:00] Agentic AI and its future impact on shopper intent and carrier selection&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:23:00] Importance of relationships and bundled logistics connecting tech, carriers, warehouses&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:25:00] Reducing returns through better product info, website UX, and AI applications&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:27:00] The painful reality of rates &amp; delivery promise engines still lagging in 2025&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:29:00] Key 2025 e-commerce outlook takeaway focused on returns management timing&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:30:00] Closing, social links, and final thoughts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quotes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:03:45]: “The retailers who are taking it seriously and really are trying to make that good faith effort are the ones that are gonna succeed. They’re trying to adapt to new normals, new narratives, and trying to get a hold of it first rather than just throwing up their hands.” - Krish Iyer &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:07:30]: “What are my return costs? What are my processing costs? How badly do I need that item back in my inventory for resale? And what’s gonna be my brand experience if I have a ‘keep it’ philosophy?” - Krish Iyer&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:27:30]: “If you ship more than a hundred units a day, you should have the technology capable of actually making a commitment as to when the shipping is going to happen. That should be absolute table stakes for anyone that does meaningful volume.” - Ninaad&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:19:15]: “If you give more data and granularity around what you’re shopping for—the intent, what it’s being used for—you can get some pretty good answers from agentic AI.” - Krish Iyer&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Guest&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Krish Iyer is the VP of Global Partnerships at EasyShip, where he supports brands scaling cross-border e-commerce logistics. With a career spanning FedEx, Pitney Bowes, and ShipEngine, Krish brings a comprehensive industry perspective on strategy, carrier integration, and international fulfillment. Known for blending deep operational insight with a human-centered approach to logistics, he’s also a repeat guest on this show.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Links Mentioned&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Krish Iyer LinkedIn: &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- EasyShip website: &lt;a href="https://www.easyship.com/"&gt;https://www.easyship.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Previous episode with Krish Iyer: &lt;a href="https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/"&gt;https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe and Keep Learning!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 "&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Krish Iyer, VP of Global Partnerships at EasyShip, returns to break down the critical shifts in cross-border e-commerce logistics for 2025. From tariff changes and returns strategy to carrier surcharges and AI-driven warehouse optimization, this episode delivers a clear-eyed view of how brands can navigate today’s international shipping turbulence and prepare for peak season success.

After De Minimis: Krish Iyer’s Strategy for Peak-Season Cross-Border Costs

What You’ll Learn<ul><li>Why sustainability wasn’t the initial growth lever and how ThredUp found product-market fit by prioritizing value and convenience.</li><li>The pivotal shift from a peer-to-peer marketplace to an asset-backed resale model through bag-drop logistics.</li><li>How ThredUp scaled partially automated distribution centers to process over 100,000 unique items daily.</li><li>The key metrics that balance throughput, speed, and quality in large-scale resale operations.</li><li>How generative AI and visual search transformed discovery, personalization, and customer confidence.</li><li>The cultural practices — hackathons, AI bootcamps, and atomic building blocks — that sustain innovation and rapid adoption internally.</li><li>How Resale-as-a-Service enables major brands like Madewell to run white-labeled resale programs powered by ThredUp’s technology and operations.</li></ul>Highlights<ul><li>00:00 – Introduction: Dan’s 15-year journey at ThredUp</li><li>02:00 – Why sustainability alone didn’t drive growth</li><li>04:00 – The bag-drop pivot: asset-backed vs. P2P resale</li><li>07:30 – Marketplace dynamics: limited buyer-seller overlap</li><li>09:00 – Jobs-to-be-done thinking & unlearning old models</li><li>12:00 – Scaling ops: from scrappy warehouses to the world’s largest clothing carousel</li><li>17:00 – Throughput vs. quality: metrics that matter</li><li>21:00 – AI-powered search & discovery: cottagecore to mermaidcore</li><li>26:30 – Internal AI adoption: hackathons & “atomic building blocks”</li><li>33:30 – Building a culture of innovation and infinite learning</li><li>36:30 – Resale-as-a-Service for brands like Madewell</li><li>39:30 – Future of shopping: agentic AI and frictionless commerce</li><li>42:00 – Shoptalk Fall preview + closing thoughts</li></ul>Quotes<ul><li>[00:02:30]: “Even if someone cares about the planet... we did not find product-market fit. We had to work a lot early on to better understand the needs of both buyers and sellers.” - Dan DeMeyere</li><li>[00:12:15]: “It was a little bit like jumping out of an airplane and just having trust in ourselves that we're gonna build or find a parachute before we hit the ground.” - Dan DeMeyere</li><li>[00:20:30]: “Trust is so important, especially in the used space. We have to become clever in helping customers feel confident with the potential fit and flattery of every item.” - Dan DeMeyere</li><li>[00:39:30]: “If your core experience can be improved through AI, why do you need to put ‘AI’ on the website? It’s about the value you bring, the job they’re hiring you for.” - Dan DeMeyere</li></ul>About the GuestDan DeMeyere is the Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp, a leading online resale platform pioneering sustainable fashion through technology and operational innovation. With 15 years at ThredUp starting from its inception, Dan has overseen the company’s evolution from a peer-to-peer marketplace into a high-velocity, AI-enabled resale giant processing over 100,000 items daily. He is passionate about customer-centric product development and leveraging AI to transform retail experiences at scale.Links Mentioned- ThredUp: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/</a>- Dan DeMeyere on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/</a>👉 Don’t forget to join us at Shoptalk Fall, October 16–18 in Chicago! 🎟️ Grab your tickets here: <a href="https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets">https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets</a>Featured Sessions at Shoptalk Fall:<ul><li>Harshida Acharya, Partner & CSO at Fulfillment IQ – Scenario Planning in a Volatile World</li><li>Ninaad Acharya, Co-Founder & CEO at Fulfillment IQ – Supply Chain Agility in the Age of Disruption</li><li>Dan DeMeyere, Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp – Retail Intelligence: What AI Can – and Can’t – Do Today</li><li>James Reinhar, Founder & CEO at ThredUp – Leading Through Culture Shifts</li></ul>Check the full agenda <a href="https://fall.shoptalk.com/agenda">here</a>.
Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 ">YouTube</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What You’ll Learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why sustainability wasn’t the initial growth lever and how ThredUp found product-market fit by prioritizing value and convenience.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The pivotal shift from a peer-to-peer marketplace to an asset-backed resale model through bag-drop logistics.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How ThredUp scaled partially automated distribution centers to process over 100,000 unique items daily.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The key metrics that balance throughput, speed, and quality in large-scale resale operations.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How generative AI and visual search transformed discovery, personalization, and customer confidence.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The cultural practices — hackathons, AI bootcamps, and atomic building blocks — that sustain innovation and rapid adoption internally.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How Resale-as-a-Service enables major brands like Madewell to run white-labeled resale programs powered by ThredUp’s technology and operations.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 – Introduction: Dan’s 15-year journey at ThredUp&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;02:00 – Why sustainability alone didn’t drive growth&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;04:00 – The bag-drop pivot: asset-backed vs. P2P resale&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;07:30 – Marketplace dynamics: limited buyer-seller overlap&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;09:00 – Jobs-to-be-done thinking &amp; unlearning old models&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;12:00 – Scaling ops: from scrappy warehouses to the world’s largest clothing carousel&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;17:00 – Throughput vs. quality: metrics that matter&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;21:00 – AI-powered search &amp; discovery: cottagecore to mermaidcore&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;26:30 – Internal AI adoption: hackathons &amp; “atomic building blocks”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;33:30 – Building a culture of innovation and infinite learning&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;36:30 – Resale-as-a-Service for brands like Madewell&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;39:30 – Future of shopping: agentic AI and frictionless commerce&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;42:00 – Shoptalk Fall preview + closing thoughts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quotes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:02:30]: “Even if someone cares about the planet... we did not find product-market fit. We had to work a lot early on to better understand the needs of both buyers and sellers.” - Dan DeMeyere&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:12:15]: “It was a little bit like jumping out of an airplane and just having trust in ourselves that we're gonna build or find a parachute before we hit the ground.” - Dan DeMeyere&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:20:30]: “Trust is so important, especially in the used space. We have to become clever in helping customers feel confident with the potential fit and flattery of every item.” - Dan DeMeyere&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;[00:39:30]: “If your core experience can be improved through AI, why do you need to put ‘AI’ on the website? It’s about the value you bring, the job they’re hiring you for.” - Dan DeMeyere&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Guest&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dan DeMeyere is the Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp, a leading online resale platform pioneering sustainable fashion through technology and operational innovation. With 15 years at ThredUp starting from its inception, Dan has overseen the company’s evolution from a peer-to-peer marketplace into a high-velocity, AI-enabled resale giant processing over 100,000 items daily. He is passionate about customer-centric product development and leveraging AI to transform retail experiences at scale.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Links Mentioned&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- ThredUp: &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;- Dan DeMeyere on LinkedIn: &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;👉 Don’t forget to join us at Shoptalk Fall, October 16–18 in Chicago!&lt;br /&gt;🎟️ Grab your tickets here: &lt;a href="https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets"&gt;https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Featured Sessions at Shoptalk Fall:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Harshida Acharya, Partner &amp; CSO at Fulfillment IQ – &lt;i&gt;Scenario Planning in a Volatile World&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ninaad Acharya, Co-Founder &amp; CEO at Fulfillment IQ – &lt;i&gt;Supply Chain Agility in the Age of Disruption&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dan DeMeyere, Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp – &lt;i&gt;Retail Intelligence: What AI Can – and Can’t – Do Today&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;James Reinhar, Founder &amp; CEO at ThredUp – &lt;i&gt;Leading Through Culture Shifts&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Check the full agenda &lt;a href="https://fall.shoptalk.com/agenda"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe and Keep Learning!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 "&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How do you scale resale operations to more than 100,000 items daily? In this episode, ThredUp’s Dan DeMeyere explains how the company evolved from a peer-to-peer startup into an AI-powered resale giant.

You’ll learn about the pivotal operational shift that eliminated seller friction, the automation breakthroughs behind the world’s largest clothing carousel, and how AI search transformed the way customers shop secondhand.

Join us live at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago, Oct 16–18 — Grab your tickets today: 
https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets


How ThredUp Processes 100,000 Items a Day with AI and Automation

What You’ll Learn<ul><li>How to reverse-engineer the customer journey to simplify complex operational challenges</li><li>Why grounding teams in customer empathy unlocks better delivery across multi-site venues</li><li>Cross-functional collaboration’s role in innovating under tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions</li><li>Balancing brand standards with local authenticity in high-scale venue operations</li><li>Embedding real-time two-way feedback channels with frontline teams for continuous improvement</li><li>Cultivating inclusive teams through targeted skill-building and representation to drive diverse leadership</li><li>Lessons from hospitality and gaming industries on agility amid market volatility and post-COVID shifts</li></ul>Highlights<ul><li>00:00 – Intro and Erin Chamberlin’s operational background at Topgolf and Caesars</li><li>01:22 – Erin’s career path: transitioning from consulting to casino and hospitality ops</li><li>04:50 – The “work backwards from the customer” framework for experience design</li><li>08:40 – Cross-functional innovation example: rethinking Topgolf’s donut hole injectors under tariff risk</li><li>12:00 – Scaling consistency across 97 venues through systemized audits and local empowerment</li><li>15:30 – Culture of innovation fueled by frontline feedback and open idea channels among Playmakers</li><li>20:15 – Managing growing complexity, market volatility, and agility post-COVID</li><li>24:50 – Building inclusive, diverse teams with skills development and mentorship programs</li><li>29:40 – Erin’s personal “lean-in circle” and the importance of peer support in career growth</li><li>32:00 – Upcoming innovations and expansions at Topgolf: new venues and new game experiences</li><li>33:20 – Closing and how to follow Erin on LinkedIn</li></ul> Quotes[00:04:54]: “You have all of these lenses and perspectives you've gathered throughout your career, and you try to simplify all of these complex challenges by working backwards from the customer.” - Harshida Acharya[00:07:42]: “What the tech team needs to deliver, what the supply chain team needs to make sure that we have staffed and inventory—we peel that back at each step until you get to the most simple form of what you need to accomplish.” - Erin Chamberlin [00:26:41]: “It's really about providing skills for folks... Getting them to feel comfortable about reading a P&L, getting them comfortable presenting to large groups... We put in place concrete things that folks could do to level up their skill sets—to make them feel more confident.” - Erin Chamberlin [00:30:48]: “It's meant to be, ‘Let's support each other. Don’t think that you’re alone in this.’ There are lots of us who are not sure if we belong here and if there’s a path for us to grow.” - Harshida Acharya About the GuestErin Chamberlin is the Chief Operating Officer at Topgolf, leading operations across over 90 venues globally. With deep expertise from leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment, Erin combines analytics, hospitality, and customer experience to deliver scalable, consistent, and playful experiences. She is passionate about building inclusive teams and fostering culture-led innovation in complex, rapidly growing organizations.Follow Erin on LinkedIn:  <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/</a>Topgolf venues: <a href="https://topgolf.com/ ">https://topgolf.com/ </a>
Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 ">YouTube</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; What You’ll Learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to reverse-engineer the customer journey to simplify complex operational challenges&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why grounding teams in customer empathy unlocks better delivery across multi-site venues&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Cross-functional collaboration’s role in innovating under tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Balancing brand standards with local authenticity in high-scale venue operations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Embedding real-time two-way feedback channels with frontline teams for continuous improvement&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Cultivating inclusive teams through targeted skill-building and representation to drive diverse leadership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lessons from hospitality and gaming industries on agility amid market volatility and post-COVID shifts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 – Intro and Erin Chamberlin’s operational background at Topgolf and Caesars&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;01:22 – Erin’s career path: transitioning from consulting to casino and hospitality ops&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;04:50 – The “work backwards from the customer” framework for experience design&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;08:40 – Cross-functional innovation example: rethinking Topgolf’s donut hole injectors under tariff risk&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;12:00 – Scaling consistency across 97 venues through systemized audits and local empowerment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;15:30 – Culture of innovation fueled by frontline feedback and open idea channels among Playmakers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;20:15 – Managing growing complexity, market volatility, and agility post-COVID&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;24:50 – Building inclusive, diverse teams with skills development and mentorship programs&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;29:40 – Erin’s personal “lean-in circle” and the importance of peer support in career growth&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;32:00 – Upcoming innovations and expansions at Topgolf: new venues and new game experiences&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;33:20 – Closing and how to follow Erin on LinkedIn&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Quotes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;[00:04:54]: “You have all of these lenses and perspectives you've gathered throughout your career, and you try to simplify all of these complex challenges by working backwards from the customer.” - Harshida Acharya&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;[00:07:42]: “What the tech team needs to deliver, what the supply chain team needs to make sure that we have staffed and inventory—we peel that back at each step until you get to the most simple form of what you need to accomplish.” - Erin Chamberlin &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;[00:26:41]: “It's really about providing skills for folks... Getting them to feel comfortable about reading a P&amp;L, getting them comfortable presenting to large groups... We put in place concrete things that folks could do to level up their skill sets—to make them feel more confident.” - Erin Chamberlin &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;[00:30:48]: “It's meant to be, ‘Let's support each other. Don’t think that you’re alone in this.’ There are lots of us who are not sure if we belong here and if there’s a path for us to grow.” - Harshida Acharya &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Guest&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Erin Chamberlin is the Chief Operating Officer at Topgolf, leading operations across over 90 venues globally. With deep expertise from leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment, Erin combines analytics, hospitality, and customer experience to deliver scalable, consistent, and playful experiences. She is passionate about building inclusive teams and fostering culture-led innovation in complex, rapidly growing organizations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Erin on LinkedIn:  &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Topgolf venues: &lt;a href="https://topgolf.com/ "&gt;https://topgolf.com/ &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe and Keep Learning!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-logistics-podcast"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="youtube.com/@ecomlogisticspod?sub_confirmation=1 "&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Topgolf COO Erin Chamberlin shares the operational frameworks, cross-functional collaboration, and culture that power 97 venues delivering consistent player experiences through supply chain agility, innovation, and inclusive leadership.

Rethinking Supply Chain & Ops at Scale: Lessons from Erin Chamberlin, Topgolf COO

Get the inside perspective on how successful supply chain technology companies and e-commerce fulfillment providers win in today's competitive landscape. eCom Logistics Podcast gives you insights from the top leaders and experts to get you the answers to your most pressing supply chain issues.

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