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Resilient Supply Chain — How Leaders Keep Business Moving

Resilient Supply Chain is for supply chain, operations, procurement and technology leaders who need practical ways to manage disruption, reduce risk and keep business moving.

Each Monday, former SAP Global VP and technology futurist Tom Raftery speaks with the executives, operators, founders and innovators redesigning how goods, information and decisions move through global supply chains.

These are candid conversations about what works in practice—not polished PR narratives or vague predictions. Guests explain how they are responding to supplier failures, geopolitical shocks, volatile costs, capacity constraints, changing regulations and rising pressure to improve both performance and sustainability.

The podcast examines:
Faster planning and decision-making under uncertainty
Supplier risk, sourcing strategy and business continuity
AI, automation, visibility and operational intelligence
Warehousing, logistics and fulfilment performance
Scope 3 emissions, circularity and responsible sourcing
The systems, incentives and organisational changes needed to turn data into action

The central question is simple: what helps a supply chain withstand disruption, adapt quickly and continue serving the business?

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Resilient Supply Chain — How Leaders Keep Business Moving

Maximising IT Asset Lifecycles: A Smarter Approach to Sustainability

March 03, 2025 • Tom Raftery / Shannon Payne • Season 2 • Episode 57

0:00 | 32:20

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The sustainability of IT infrastructure is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in reducing corporate carbon footprints. In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Payne, SVP of Supply Chain Solutions at MDSi, to explore how organisations can optimise reverse logistics, extend asset lifecycles, and reduce emissions in their IT operations.

Shannon explains why many large enterprises have well-defined procurement processes but lack structured methodologies for managing IT asset decommissioning, reuse, and recycling. She shares insights into how companies can reduce waste, lower costs, and maximise value from legacy equipment through certified pre-owned IT solutions, which can cut emissions by up to 80% compared to new hardware.

We also discuss the growing energy demand of AI, expected to surge by 160% by 2030, and how businesses can balance technology refresh cycles with sustainability goals. Shannon outlines key supply chain challenges, including tracking stranded assets, reducing unnecessary purchases, and optimising forward and reverse logistics for minimal environmental impact.

Key Takeaways:

The role of IT infrastructure in corporate sustainability and carbon reduction
How AI is reshaping supply chain efficiencies—and increasing energy demand
The business case for refurbished IT assets and the cost savings they offer
Why reverse logistics is often overlooked and how to make it more effective
Essential KPIs for tracking sustainability progress in supply chain management

💡 Want to learn how to reduce IT waste while cutting costs? Tune in now.

If disruption hit tomorrow, would you know where your supply chain was most exposed? In 15 minutes my free scorecard helps you assess 27 resilience statements, calculate your score, and turn the result into three priorities and a 30 day action plan. You can download the scorecard free at tomraftery.com/scorecard.

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