Chain Reaction is Sourcing Journal’s discussion series with industry executives to get their take on today’s logistics challenges and learn about ways their company is working to keep the flow of goods moving. Here, Brian Kirst, chief commercial officer at SnapFulfil, discusses how the software company helps its clients “fine-tune their processes” to meet customer and industry demands with advanced technology.
Name: Brian Kirst
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Title: Chief commercial officer
Company: SnapFulfil
What industries do you primarily serve? Which industry has the most to teach fashion about improving their supply chain logistics?
SnapFulfil serves various sectors, including third-party logistics (3PL), retail, e-commerce and manufacturing.
The 3PL industry’s expertise in multi-client inventory management and flexible resource allocation provides valuable insights for fashion logistics. Successful 3PLs must excel at optimizing warehouse space, labor and technology to manage fluctuating demand—critical skills for fashion brands handling seasonal collections and fast-changing trends.
What is the main thing brands and retailers could do (or stop doing) right now that would immediately improve logistics?
Standardizing product data eliminates downstream inefficiencies across warehouse management systems (WMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and automation systems. Poor or inconsistent data compromises the effectiveness of every technology solution—from basic warehouse management to advanced robotics and automation.
What logistic challenges do you think the industry is currently facing?
The supply chain industry, specifically warehouse operations, continues to face challenges that include labor shortages, rising operational costs and increasing customer delivery expectations. The lingering uncertainty in the space caused by geopolitical and economic disruption is also creating additional headwinds.
When it comes to supply chain logistics challenges, there are things companies can fix, and things that are beyond their control. How can the former help the latter?
Companies can focus on optimizing their controllable processes—like warehouse operations and inventory management—to better absorb external disruptions. Deploying a robust continuous improvement initiative allows operations to maximize the value of their technology solutions and increase efficiencies through enhancing existing processes.