
The Logistics of Logistics
The New Supply Chain Era with Nate Shutes
In "The New Supply Chain Era", Joe Lynch speaks with Founder of Ballast and Head of Strategy for LogistiVIEW, Nate Shutes , about how the evolving landscape of AI, fractional leadership, and community support are shaping the future for supply chain entrepreneurs. About Nate Shutes Nate Shutes has 25+ years of supply chain and logistics leadership spanning Fortune 500 companies to mid-market, founder-led businesses. He is the Founder of Ballast, the private peer group for supply chain entrepreneurs and Head of Strategy for LogistiVIEW, the leading Warehouse Orchestration Software platform for complex fulfillment operations. He is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and holds a BS in Transportation & Logistics from UW-Superior and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. About Ballast Ballast is a private peer group and mastermind for supply chain and logistics entrepreneurs. Supply chain entrepreneurship is hard. But you don't have to do it alone. Join Ballast. About LogistiVIEW LogistiVIEW is a leading SaaS provider in the emerging Warehouse Orchestration Software space. Our WOS is the neutral decision layer between your WMS, ERP, robotics platforms and people that optimizes fulfillment operations. Key Takeaways: The New Supply Chain Era In "The New Supply Chain Era", Joe Lynch speaks with Founder of Ballast and Head of Strategy for LogistiVIEW, Nate Shutes, about how the evolving landscape of AI, fractional leadership, and community support are shaping the future for supply chain entrepreneurs. Community and Support for Bootstrapped Founders (Ballast): Nate Shutes created Ballast, a private, paid mastermind group designed specifically for supply chain and logistics entrepreneurs. It gives bootstrapped founders a confidential, supportive space to discuss the hidden, high-stress realities of entrepreneurship—such as cash-flow limits and payroll risks—rather than just social media highlights. Refound Advisory and Fractional Executive Leadership: Through his fractional consulting firm, Refound Advisory, Shutes embeds directly within supply chain companies to offer hands-on operational leadership, strategic guidance, and culture alignment for scaling businesses that need executive help beyond community advice. Warehouse Orchestration with LogistiVIEW: As part of his fractional work, Shutes collaborates closely with founder Seth Patin at LogistiVIEW, a SaaS provider offering a Warehouse Orchestration System (WOS) that acts as a neutral decision layer unifying a company's WMS, ERP, robotics, and human workforce. The Role of Dual-Perspective Experience: Shutes emphasizes the value of having worked on both the 3PL/technology provider side (such as his 12 years at C.H. Robinson) and the shipper/brand side (at companies like Sleep Number and Bludot). Understanding both perspectives helps leaders avoid mistaking logistics as the sole driver when it is actually part of a larger, integrated supply chain. AI Strategy Over Automated Fixes: Throwing AI at an inefficient or broken process will only yield a "fancy broken process." To capture real value, supply chain leaders must address underlying process bottlenecks first, target low-level repetitive data tasks, and use AI as a strategic thought partner rather than a magical quick fix. Navigating the "Ethical Crumple Zone" & Security Risks: While AI speeds up workflows, human oversight remains critical—a boundary known as the "ethical crumple zone." Additionally, concerns around corporate data privacy, information leaks, and rogue AI agents are driving renewed interest in hybrid or on-premises tech setups as potential security moats. The Vulnerability of "Wrapper" Tech Companies: Startups built purely as UI wrappers around third-party AI platforms (without proprietary underlying code) face major existential risks. They lack control over fluctuating token/API subscription costs and can easily be rendered obsolete whenever base model providers launch identical built-in features. Learn More About The New Supply Chain Era Nate Shutes | Linkedin Ballast | Linkedin LogistiVIEW | Linkedin Ballast LogistiVIEW The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google , Apple , Castbox , Spotify , Stitcher , PlayerFM , Tunein , Podbean , Owltail , Libsyn , Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

