Heidi has helped Infor become a leading provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions across industries like fashion, retail, electronics, manufacturing, and logistics. In this episode, she discussed how Infor Nexus connects over 94,000 companies across global trade ecosystems, bridging physical and financial supply chains. We dive into multi-tier traceability, the power of sustainable financing, and why agentic AI is poised to reshape operational execution. From navigating tariff complexity to launching digital product passports, we explore what it takes to future-proof supply chains with data, clarity, and scale.
Connect with the Guest:
Heidi Benko is Vice President of Product Management and Strategy at Infor. Over the past 26 years, she has played a pivotal role in building and scaling Infor Nexus, the company’s multi-enterprise business network platform. Her work spans product strategy, customer success, marketing, and innovation, focused on driving digital transformation in global supply chain management. Heidi has helped Infor become a leading provider of end-to-end cloud-based ERP and supply chain solutions across industries like fashion, electronics, food & beverage, and logistics.
Highlights & Show Notes:
- [01:22] How Infor Nexus connects ERP, WMS, and partners to streamline physical and financial supply chains across industries
- [03:54] Discussing clients’ top concerns on tariffs, geopolitical instability, and traceability mandates
- [05:41] The role of digital product passports and last-stage manufacturing in tariff management
- [06:52] Why multi-tier traceability hinges on data, compliance, and supplier transparency
- [08:39] How Agentic AI moves beyond recommendations to autonomous task execution
- [11:25] Why many supply chains need to digitize before they can truly leverage AI
- [12:53] How sustainable financing improves supplier ESG scores and cash flow access
- [14:41] How organizations can benefit from connected supply chain finance
- [17:45] Case study: achieving farm-level traceability through platform integration
- [18:43] Real-time control towers drive smarter stockout prevention and fulfillment decisions
- [20:34] Scaling with digital processes enables 3–4x growth without added headcount
- [21:36] New Infor developments in role-specific agents and customizable AI workflows
- [24:16] Advice to executives: Start using AI tools and ask your tech partners the hard questions
Quotes from the Episode:
About the Host:
What an insightful conversation with Heidi Benko! I am your host, Andrei Palamariu, Founder of Supplify and Head of Innovation at Alcott Global. At Supplify, we connect the supply chain tech ecosystem via a digital platform. 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, globally.
On September 10, 2025, we celebrated the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain for 2025 in the annual Leaders in Supply Chain Awards. These exceptional individuals are shaping the future of global logistics through innovation, resilience, and transformative leadership. Explore the insights, achievements, and strategies that earned them a place among the industry’s best.
At our in-person Makers & Movers event, we bring together C-level executives from multinational companies to connect, collaborate, and innovate on a forum focused on business value creation.
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92: Leveraging Cloud-Enabled Collaboration for Smarter Traceability with Jim Bureau of Loftware
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