Author

Andrew Woods

Published

24 March 2026

Estimated Read time

3Mins

SupplyChain Strategy was an official partner of Manifest 2026, and here are our insights into the event that had Vegas…

SupplyChain Strategy was an official partner of Manifest 2026, and here are our insights into the event that had Vegas rockin’.

The first thing you notice walking into the Expo Hall at Manifest 2026 is the movement. Robotics arms stack pallets a few metres from a booth showcasing AI-powered planning platforms. Autonomous trucks sit alongside warehouse automation systems. Drones buzz overhead as software startups demonstrate dashboards that track shipments in real time.

But it is not just the technology drawing crowds. Everywhere you turn, supply chain professionals are deep in conversation. Old colleagues reconnect, startup founders pitch ideas and procurement leaders debate strategy over coffee. 

Pam Simon, Conference Chair, Manifest, delivers the opening keynote speech and there’s a palpable buzz around this vast hall as she whets our appetite for what’s to come…

We first got an inkling of what was to come when we spoke to Tanzil Uddin, SVP of Content and Partnerships at Manifest, back in October: “2026 will be pushing things up a notch!” And he wasn’t wrong.

Beyond the supply chain

For three days in Las Vegas, Manifest becomes something more than a conference. It becomes a real-time snapshot of the global supply chain ecosystem.

Held once again at The Venetian, Las Vegas, the 2026 edition of Manifest 2026 welcomed more than 7,000 attendees representing manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, startups, investors and senior executives from across the industry.

And as the event continues to grow, its purpose has remained surprisingly consistent: bringing the entire supply chain ecosystem together under one roof.

From startup summit to global supply chain hub

The event’s origins date back to a much smaller gathering, the Future of Logistics Tech Summit. That boutique event focused largely on venture investors and early-stage technology companies. The modern incarnation of Manifest emerged in 2022, when the event was relaunched with a broader vision: a forum representing the entire supply chain landscape.

Today, the conference operates under Hyve Group and has rapidly grown into one of the sector’s most influential gatherings. As Uddin explains, the goal has always been to represent the entire ecosystem. “Manifest is really a full ecosystem event dedicated to the end-to-end supply chain. We bring together startups and investors, but also supply chain leadership like chief supply chain officers and chief procurement officers from retail, manufacturing, automotive, life sciences and more.” 

That diversity is visible throughout the show floor, where emerging technology companies sit alongside established logistics operators and major enterprise software vendors…

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  • AI in Supply Chain
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Author

Andrew Woods

Published

Estimated Read time

3Mins

As Manifest 2026 draws to a close, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Strategic Initiatives, Manifest, Katie Date reflects…

As Manifest 2026 draws to a close, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Strategic Initiatives, Manifest, Katie Date reflects on record-breaking engagement, the accelerating impact of AI, and how the fast-growing event continues to unite the global supply chain community. Plus, an exciting announcement that will see Manifest’s influence spread even wider… 

As the exhibition halls begin to quiet and the final meetings wrap up, the sense of momentum surrounding Manifest 2026 remains unmistakable. The event has once again positioned itself as a focal point for the global logistics and supply chain community, bringing together shippers, carriers, technology providers, investors and startups under one roof for several days of intensive networking and knowledge exchange. 

For Katie Date, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Strategic Initiatives, the energy is the clearest measure of success. “It feels great,” she says as the event draws to a close. “This year has been so successful on so many different fronts. The energy in Manifest has truly been palpable. You just walk around and you can feel the buzz.” 

That buzz is measurable as well as visible. Manifest’s proprietary badge technology tracks interactions across the venue, revealing the scale of engagement. “As of this morning,” Date explains, “our click to connect Qlik technology had recorded over 75,000 connections. By the end of today, I’m sure we’ll have surpassed 100,000 connections. We had almost 7,500 people check in to be a part of Manifest, which is just huge growth.” 

For the organisers, those interactions are the event’s defining metric. “Really how we measure success here at Manifest is on those connections,” she says. “To see so many people making valuable connections really is a great measure of success.” 

A platform for the entire ecosystem 

From its earliest iteration, Manifest has been designed to serve the full supply chain ecosystem rather than any single segment. That founding principle continues to guide the event’s expansion. “I think we’ve done a very good job of staying close to the original vision, which was to serve the entire supply chain ecosystem,” says Date. “We’re not an event that’s just focusing on shippers or carriers or third-party logistics providers. We’re bringing them all together. We’re bringing in investors and startups. We’re creating almost three days of content and exhibition that really give them an opportunity to interact and create value.” 

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  • Digital Supply Chain
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Author

Andrew Woods

Published

Estimated Read time

2Mins

Speaking at Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, Ray DeMelfi, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services, and Derek Miller, Senior Account…

Speaking at Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, Ray DeMelfi, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services, and Derek Miller, Senior Account Executive at Hy-Tek Intralogistics, present a clear view of how supply chains must evolve in a world defined by volatility, labour pressure and accelerating automation.

At Hy-Tek Intralogistics, strategy begins long before a system is installed, a robot deployed, or a facility redesigned. It begins with stepping back. The message is consistent. The companies that succeed are those that think beyond the immediate constraint and design for what comes next.

Strategy first

Hy-Tek operates as an end-to-end intralogistics partner, supporting organisations from early-stage supply chain strategy and network design through to technology integration, deployment and ongoing optimisation. The company combines consulting, software, automation partnerships and implementation expertise to deliver distribution and fulfilment systems tailored to specific operational requirements.

For Ray DeMelfi, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services, the most common mistake organisations make is focusing too narrowly on today’s operational pain points. His team works with customers to define how facilities and networks must operate, not just now, but for years to come. That means building data-driven concepts that reflect growth ambitions, service expectations and structural change across the business. “Understanding your growth is the starting point. What are you trying to achieve?” he says. “A lot of times, customers look at the constraints of today and become narrow in focus… but you have to step back and understand what your growth strategy is and what the requirements are to support that…”

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Author

Andrew Woods

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2Mins

James Wee, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, tells us how structural supply chain transformation…


James Wee, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Descartes, tells us how structural supply chain transformation is needed to counter almost constant temporary disruption…

At Manifest 2026, conversations about artificial intelligence (AI), automation and the realities of last-mile delivery are everywhere. Few executives are closer to the operational front line than James Wee, General Manager, Fleet Management at Descartes. Speaking amid the energy of the Las Vegas event, he presents a clear picture of an industry navigating structural change rather than temporary disruption.

“It’s a really exhilarating event,” he says of the gathering. “Lots of people. It’s a great turnout.” The show also offers valuable opportunities to connect with partners and customers. “We’ve had a great opportunity to connect and engage with clients and partners. It’s been well worthwhile to be here.”

Technology for fleets operating in a new reality

Wee leads the business unit responsible for last-mile delivery technologies at Descartes, designed for organisations running dedicated and private fleets. Descartes powers more responsive, efficient, secure and sustainable international and domestic supply chains by uniting logistics-intensive businesses on its Global Logistics Network (GLN). Shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers connect and collaborate on the GLN leveraging technology, data and AI to manage last mile deliveries, domestic and international shipments, transportation rating and payment, global trade research, customs compliance and a variety of regulatory processes…

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Author

Andrew Woods

Published

Estimated Read time

2Mins

We met with Drew Taranto, Vice President of Product Management for eCommerce and Returns at DHL, to see how supply…


We met with Drew Taranto, Vice President of Product Management for eCommerce and Returns at DHL, to see how supply chains are still adapting to these times of constant disruption…

Drew Taranto, Vice President of Product Management for eCommerce and Returns, is focused on growth strategy across omnichannel fulfilment and reverse logistics. His role spans working with brands across multiple industries to help them expand their eCommerce capabilities while adapting to changing consumer expectations. Taranto explains that his remit is firmly product and future-focused.

“What are we doing to provide additional services for our customers? What are we doing to change the industry in light of what’s coming from end-consumers? And really helping drive that within our company through the product development lens is really what my responsibilities are.”

Distribution at the core

As a global contract logistics provider, DHL Supply Chain designs and operates distribution centres, manages warehousing and fulfilment, and supports complex supply chain operations for manufacturers, retailers and brands worldwide. Within that landscape, distribution remains the operational backbone. Taranto is clear that the biggest structural shift for DHL lies in how its customers now think about their networks. “Warehousing is one of our core offerings,” he says. “But what I would say is that there are lots of shifts in how our customer base is thinking about and building their distribution networks. What’s important to them is constantly changing…”

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  • AI in Supply Chain
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