RILA Live from LINK

Both in-person and streamed live, the Retail Innovation Center Stage will spark curiosity and understanding of the biggest issues shaping the retail supply chain ecosystem and how they intersect with technology. Don’t miss this fast-paced lineup of stellar industry experts and disruptors who will make sure you walk away with new ideas and insights into topics from automation to the metaverse to sustainability.

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Monday Feb 21, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM: RILA & RIC Welcome
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM: The Future of Retail with Steve Dennis and DHL
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: How Flexible Labor is Changing the Way Warehouses Operate and Solving the Labor Challenge with Instawork
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: A Decade for Climate Action: The Supply Chain Imperative with Schneider Electric
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: E-commerce Accelerated - Using Automation To Keep Pace with AutoStore
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM: RIC Stage Wrap-up

11:30 AM – 11:45 AM: RIC Welcome
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Middle Mile Autonomous Logistics: Fueling the New Wave of eCommerce with Gatik
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Microsoft – The Power of the Metaverse in Supply Chain
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Attaining Flexible Infrastructure through Robotics Automation with Geek+
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Creating Successful Startup Partnerships – the Startup Perspective
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM: RIC Stage Wrap-up

Full Agenda

Explore the full agenda for the RILA LIVE at LINK.

Monday, February 21

1:00 PM – RILA & RIC Welcome

Brian Dodge, President, RILA
Nicholas Ahrens, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Innovation, & Content, RILA

1:15 PM – The Future of Retail with Steve Dennis and DHL

A fireside chat with Steve Dennis, Industry Thought Leader and Senior Contributor fresh off the general session stage with the Vice President Retail at DHL, Scott Lyons.

Steve Dennis, Industry Thought Leader and Senior Contributor, Forbes
Scott Lyons, Vice President Retail, DHL

1:30 PM – How Flexible Labor is Changing the Way Warehouses Operate and Solving the Labor Challenge with Instawork

With labor shortage difficulties continuing in 2022, distribution leaders are asking “where have the workers gone?” In this session, we’ll share data on the evolving nature of the hourly labor force, how operators are adjusting practices to recruit and retain workers, and technology’s role in providing flexible labor to help warehouses fill staffing gaps in a new, more agile way.

Mike Bohnett, Vice President, Sales & Partnerships, Instawork
David Dietsch, Senior Partnerships Manager, Instawork

2:00 PM – A Decade for Climate Action: The Supply Chain Imperative with Schneider Electric

Retailers are facing increasing scrutiny of their environmental impact (the E in ESG) from investors, government, and from consumers. Broad shifts in consumer purchasing habits, combined with climate action pressures, is driving retailers to make their logistics and fulfillment strategies more resilient, efficient, and sustainable. During this session, we will discuss developing the right sustainability strategies across all scope emissions of your value chain to not only respond to market and stakeholder pressures, but also achieve corporate ambitions, identify cost-savings, develop innovations, and increase the value of supplier relationships.

Ryan Gavin, Retail Segment Lead, Schneider Electric

2:30 PM – E-commerce Accelerated - Using Automation To Keep Pace with AutoStore

As e-commerce expands selection and demands faster SLAs, join Michael Pietras from AutoStore in discussing how to utilize automation to address these challenges and drive continued warehousing success.

Michael Pietras, Business Development Manager, AutoStore

2:45pm – RIC Stage Wrap-up

Tuesday, February 22

11:30 AM – RIC Welcome

Nicholas Ahrens, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Innovation, & Content, RILA

11:45 AM – Middle Mile Autonomous Logistics: Fueling the New Wave of eCommerce with Gatik

Gatik operates a middle mile autonomous logistics network - delivering goods from Micro-fulfilment Centers and dark stores to retail locations. This session will discuss the technology and how it enables retailers to automate their on-road supply chains, reducing costs, keeping delivery times short and enhancing road safety for all road users.

Brad Gillette, Head of Operations, Gatik

12:00 PM – Microsoft – The Power of the Metaverse in Supply Chain

What is the metaverse? How will it impact retailers? How should a retail supply chain leader think about this emerging technology? Microsoft will answer all these questions helping you to sort the real from the hyperbole.

Chris Dieringer, General Manager, Retail & Consumer Goods, Microsoft Corporation
Mike Buss, Industry Advisor for CPG Food and Beverage, Microsoft Corporation

12:30 PM – Attaining Flexible Infrastructure through Robotics Automation with Geek+

Retailers are striving for a more flexible supply chain infrastructure. Join Geek+ as they dive into robotics and automation and discuss what it takes to put these technologies into action in the retail context.

Randy - Randy Randolph, VP Americas: Channels & Partnerships, Geek+

1:00 PM – Creating Successful Startup Partnerships – the Startup Perspective

Retailers need more agility in their supply chains than ever before. Join a panel of startups for a discussion about how to best partner to achieve cutting edge solutions while avoiding the potential pitfalls of an earlier stage company.