#82: From Unstructured Data to Automated Processes

*Episode hosted by Andrei Palamariu*

In this episode, I interviewed Alex Yaseen, Founder and CEO of Parabola. We discussed the company’s mission to empower supply chain operations through technology. Alex shared how Parabola helps companies automate complex, manual processes by combining subject matter expertise with AI tools. He also highlighted the importance of involving end users and technical teams in the process, emphasizing quick implementation times and significant ROI. 

Alex also shared some of the success stories on how Parabola has helped customers deploy AI to make unstructured data from documents like POs and invoices workable and automated. And to end the episode, he provides actionable advice to leaders looking to enable their supply chain teams with tools and technology that actually live up to the hype.

  • Stream by clicking here.
  • Download as an MP3 here.




Connect with the Guest:

Alex Yaseen is based in San Francisco, CA, and is the founder and CEO of Parabola. Before starting Parabola, he worked as a consultant at Deloitte where he constantly saw manual work holding teams back from implementing new ideas to improve the business. He studied finance and computer programming at the University of Southern California.

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Questions I Asked:

  • What led you to start and grow Parabola to where it is now?
  • What supply chain tech trends are hype, and which are practical? How do you approach the practical ones?
  • How did you choose the solutions you offer, and why those specifically? What makes Parabola different?
  • Could you walk us through the journey—starting from when the team was figuring things out, to when you stepped in, went through the journey, and ultimately achieved success?
  • What patterns have you seen lead to lasting change? What ingredients do you need as a partner to truly make a big impact rather than just scratching the surface?
  • How long does it take to get a product shipped and usable by the client, on average?
  • What are some of the things that excite you the most? Where do you want to take the company moving forward?
  • What are your plans in terms of geographic growth and team growth?
  • What message would you give companies or executives trying to future-proof their supply chain operations?

Show Notes:

  • [00:36] Maybe we can start Alex with a quick introduction of yourself, your personal journey, and then maybe what led you to start and grow Parabola to where it is now.
  • [02:50] “It just became so clear that they would be so much more empowered within their companies if they had the ability to do things themselves in a scaled way and implement the awesome ideas they have of how they can move their company forward.” 
  • [03:27] In terms of supply chain tech trends that you see, what is from your perspective, the hype and what is practical? And how do you address those practical angles?
  • [05:49] “On the other hand, when deployed well, AI tools can create massive changes, […] and we’ve had a few companies who had a truly remarkable multi-million dollar ROI from deploying little bits of AI throughout their business. 
  • [07:33] Tell me a bit about how you selected the solutions you offer and why all of those. And how do all of these make Parabola different than anything else on the market?
  • [11:03] Maybe take us from the initial stage where the team was trying to figure things out, you stepped in, they went through the journey, and now they achieved something. Maybe you can give us that type of story.
  • [12:14] “Another trend is that leaders are really getting into the weeds, and I think new tech tools help them get into the weeds maybe more than ever before.”
  • [14:24] What have you seen as patterns of lasting change? Or what are the ingredients that you need as a partner to these companies to come in and actually make a big dent, and not just scratch the surface?
  • [19:03] How long does it take to actually get a product shipped and usable by the client on average?
  • [22:30] “In the first week, they’ve built a Parabola flow that is solving the problem from a business logic perspective, but also has integrated on either side to make sure it happens in a really automated way.”
  • [23:44] What are some of the things that excite you the most? Where do you want to take the company moving forward?
  • [26:38] “We have a lot of tools that are either recently launched or currently working on that will help make the automation process easier.”
  • [28:02] What are your plans in terms of geographic growth and team growth?[28:50] If you would have to give a piece of advice or a message to companies or executives trying to future-proof their supply chain operations. What would that message be?

Quotes from the Episode:


About the Host:

An insightful conversation with Alex Yaseen! I am your host, Andrei Palamariu, Founder of Supplify and Senior Director of APAC at Alcott Global. At Supplify, we are working on building a platform to connect the supply chain tech ecosystem. We match corporations with top tech companies to solve their supply chain and logistics challenges. If there is anything tech in the supply chain, contact me.

Alcott Global provides executive search solutions for key positions at all pillars of end-to-end value chains, from general management to overall supply chain operations, including executive and non-executive board roles.

On April 9-10, 2025, we are bringing together C-level executives from multinational companies to connect, collaborate, and innovate on a forum focused on business value creation.

Last September, we awarded the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain of 2024, recognizing their achievements in digitizing operations, decarbonization, and sustainability and creating a diverse and equitable environment for supply chain teams to thrive and excel.

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