Manifest 2025: Innovation, Resiliency & Puppies

The Venetian in Las Vegas hosted 6,000+ supply chain and logistics professionals representing 60+ countries at Manifest:The Future of Supply Chain and Logistics, and while AI, robotics, and data were hot topics, the real story was how companies are adapting to an era of discomfort, change, and rapid decision-making. Here’s what stood out:

AI: The Supporting Actor, Not the Star

AI isn’t taking over—it is enabling. The conversation wasn’t about AI replacing people but empowering them to be more effective and efficient. Instead of hype, we saw real-world applications that support decision-making and optimize operations.

Warehouse Robots Took the Spotlight

The robot invasion is here, and it’s fun to watch. Warehouse automation is evolving fast, with companies showing off impressive solutions to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and address labor shortages. There was diversity in the solutions as well, with options for enterprise and SMEs (small and medium sized businesses). If you think warehouse technology is out of reach look again there are a lot of options.

 Women in Logistics: Progress, But Not Enough

While Manifest is committed to increasing the presence of women in logistics, there’s still work to do. The Women’s Lunch felt too big—which might sound like a good problem until you realize many of the male attendees weren’t engaged. More targeted, interactive networking could help drive real change. (that being said this is a really hard area to navigate and Manifest is doing more that most conferences)

Tech Companies Are Focusing on the Problem, Not the Code

A shift is happening. Instead of pitching their latest tech (to an industry that struggles with tech adoption), companies are leading with “here’s the logistics problem we solve.” That’s a smart move—shippers and brokers care about solutions, not just the software behind them. Many conversations were about how the tech helped not how innovative it was.

Conference Hack: MORE Puppies

The puppy lounge was a hit, proving once again that every conference should have puppies. Logistics may be serious business, but stress relief and fun are important too.

Warehouse Challenges: It’s More Than Just Space

The conversations around warehouses and distribution centres were eye-opening. Learning that the average time to find a lost item in a warehouse is 4 hours!? Clearly warehouse challenges are typically overlooked. From labor issues to space constraints to real-time inventory tracking, the need for smarter, more adaptive solutions was a recurring theme.

 Data: The Bigger, Dirtier Problem

The industry still struggles with bad, incomplete, and inconsistent data. Companies are stepping up to tackle “dirty data” issues, but clarity on how they are going to do that is still a bit questionable. While it is good that people have finally accepted that the collection of supply chain data is an ongoing issue, we are still a long way from a seamless solution.

Discomfort Is the New Normal

With everything happening in the world, things are complicated in the best of times and pure chaos in the worst. The industry is in a constant state of disruption, and complacency isn’t an option. Companies that will thrive are the ones that embrace fast decision-making, and minimize the red tape.

What Manifest Got Right

✔ Mini Booths for Startups: Great for small businesses wanting a presence without a massive budget.
✔ Meeting Areas on the Floor: Made networking and mini meetings easier and more comfortable.
✔ Actionable Sessions: Less fluff, more actionable takeaways.
✔ Diverse Exhibitors: A global perspective with strong international participation.
✔ Connection Tabs: A great idea—just wish they worked in real-time.

Room for Improvement

❌ Open Track Layout: If you were near an opening, hearing the sessions was a challenge.
❌ Women’s Lunch Needs Tweaks: A massive room with disengaged male attendees on their phones wasn’t the right vibe. More interactive formats could improve connections.

Final Thoughts

The biggest takeaway? Resilience, speed, and adaptability are no longer “nice to have” qualities—they’re survival tactics. AI, automation, and data are tools, but at the heart of logistics, people still matter most.

And also….more puppies next year.