463: Simplify Your Last Mile with Technology That Delivers, with CXT SoftwareD
04/14/25 • 45 min
Phillip Lechter of CXT Software talks about challenges in last mile; building a people-first culture; & how they're helping customers grow, compete & thrive.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[05.45] How CXT innovated over the past 25 years to meet the changing needs of an evolving logistics landscape.
“25 years is a long time in the software space!... In maturation of software, it’s easy to want to 'set it and forget it', and live off the benefits. But you can’t do that today. Supply chain is changing so rapidly, and our focus is on innovation, connectivity, and our ability to make it easy for our clients to do what they want to do - and not be hamstrung by the business we’ve created.”
[09.13] Where CXT is now, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“It’s about making ourselves as configurable as possible to our clients... our ability to serve multiple workflows based on the business our clients are doing for their own customers.”
[11.08] The ideal client for CXT.
[13.25] From the uniqueness of workflows to real-time visibility, some of the biggest challenges in the industry right now, as last mile strives to catch up with changing consumer expectations.
“Amazon has done some amazing things, but it’s made it very difficult for the average courier service – everyone wants that Amazon experience... And that’s the opportunity we have in the TMS space, to even the playing field.”
[16.04] How CXT’s white-labeled portal empowers clients with the tools they need, without a big costly investment, and how that ultimately drives customer loyalty and boosts satisfaction.
“Too often we’re in reactive not proactive mode. And the more we can streamline that, the more we can meaningfully create relationships with our clients.”
[18.59] How CXT’s shipment management technology supports operations teams across a range of functions, and a closer look at the user interface.
“We’re ensuring that a dispatcher still has the ability to make decisions, but some of the heavy lifting gets done for them. They’re managing exceptions rather than every single element along the way.”
“We see a ton of waste that’s really low margin. Even a 1% increase in profit can be pretty significant in this type of business.”
[24.30] The importance of driver management, and how CXT’s app integrates with operational and client functions to tackle challenges, and drive efficiency, accountability and customer service.
[30.19] Some of the key opportunities and growth areas CXT are supporting their customers with.
[32.53] A case study showing how CXT helped a long-standing client enter the medical space and demonstrate a significant efficiency metric, and the importance of partnerships.
[36.44] Why CXT consciously built a people-first culture, and what we can expect from them in 2025.
“This business is a people business... We use software as a way to make efficiencies, but it’s still somebody delivering to somebody else!”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to CXT Software’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with CXT and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram or YouTube, or you can connect with Phillip on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about last mile, check out 365: Delivering the Amazon effect: how to increase your last mile delivery efficiency by 30%, 348: How COVID Changed Last Mile Delivery Forever, with SEKO or 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail.
Phillip Lechter of CXT Software talks about challenges in last mile; building a people-first culture; & how they're helping customers grow, compete & thrive.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[05.45] How CXT innovated over the past 25 years to meet the changing needs of an evolving logistics landscape.
“25 years is a long time in the software space!... In maturation of software, it’s easy to want to 'set it and forget it', and live off the benefits. But you can’t do that today. Supply chain is changing so rapidly, and our focus is on innovation, connectivity, and our ability to make it easy for our clients to do what they want to do - and not be hamstrung by the business we’ve created.”
[09.13] Where CXT is now, what they do, and how they help their customers.
“It’s about making ourselves as configurable as possible to our clients... our ability to serve multiple workflows based on the business our clients are doing for their own customers.”
[11.08] The ideal client for CXT.
[13.25] From the uniqueness of workflows to real-time visibility, some of the biggest challenges in the industry right now, as last mile strives to catch up with changing consumer expectations.
“Amazon has done some amazing things, but it’s made it very difficult for the average courier service – everyone wants that Amazon experience... And that’s the opportunity we have in the TMS space, to even the playing field.”
[16.04] How CXT’s white-labeled portal empowers clients with the tools they need, without a big costly investment, and how that ultimately drives customer loyalty and boosts satisfaction.
“Too often we’re in reactive not proactive mode. And the more we can streamline that, the more we can meaningfully create relationships with our clients.”
[18.59] How CXT’s shipment management technology supports operations teams across a range of functions, and a closer look at the user interface.
“We’re ensuring that a dispatcher still has the ability to make decisions, but some of the heavy lifting gets done for them. They’re managing exceptions rather than every single element along the way.”
“We see a ton of waste that’s really low margin. Even a 1% increase in profit can be pretty significant in this type of business.”
[24.30] The importance of driver management, and how CXT’s app integrates with operational and client functions to tackle challenges, and drive efficiency, accountability and customer service.
[30.19] Some of the key opportunities and growth areas CXT are supporting their customers with.
[32.53] A case study showing how CXT helped a long-standing client enter the medical space and demonstrate a significant efficiency metric, and the importance of partnerships.
[36.44] Why CXT consciously built a people-first culture, and what we can expect from them in 2025.
“This business is a people business... We use software as a way to make efficiencies, but it’s still somebody delivering to somebody else!”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to CXT Software’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with CXT and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram or YouTube, or you can connect with Phillip on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about last mile, check out 365: Delivering the Amazon effect: how to increase your last mile delivery efficiency by 30%, 348: How COVID Changed Last Mile Delivery Forever, with SEKO or 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail.
Previous Episode
462: Procurement Unlocked: Sourcing Best Practices in a Tariff-Driven World, with ProcureAbility
Carlos Perico of ProcureAbility talks about sourcing best practices in a tariff-driven world & how to turn procurement from cost center to competitive advantage
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[04.29] An introduction to Carlos and ProcureAbility.
“All we do is procurement! It’s our speciality, it’s what we’re passionate about. And that’s key.”
[05.59] Tariffs: what they are, and why supply chain professionals need to pay attention.
[07.07] Diversification: Some of the strategies companies can employ to build agile supply chains for long-term resilience, the big challenge with long-term strategies, and why your supply chain is like Tetris.
“Diversification is the name of the game. You don’t want to have all your eggs in one basket – but the challenge now is that the baskets are getting very complex!!”
“For those long-term strategies to pay off, you have to start now.”
[14.08] How companies can utilize scenario planning or future-proofing to prepare for further tariff fluctuations.
“You need to know your risk. It sounds simple... but you need to go deeper. You need to dive deeper into understanding your supply chain at different levels, your supplier network – and data becomes even more important.”
[19.17] Dual-sourcing: what it is, and the impact that implementing dual-sourcing strategies can have on risk mitigation.
“Communicate to your stakeholders, because we human beings have a tendency to forget the risk when it’s not present... Communicate the risk you’re trying to mitigate in advance, build that relationship with the business.”
[24.57] How to effectively work with suppliers: How fluctuating tariffs are impacting supplier pricing and contract stability, and how businesses can think about strengthening long-term partnerships whilst retaining the need for short-term agility.
[31.19] Working with technology: How businesses can leverage AI and data analytics to predict and mitigate tariff impacts.
“Live data visibility is critical right now... Technology is allowing us to be immediately alert... So you can prepare and be more educated.”
[37.09] How AI helps businesses to shift the focus from damage control to proactivity, and turn procurement into a competitive advantage rather than a cost center.
“Everybody wants to mitigate cost... But you need to continuously evolve your procurement organization to become more of a business support and value driver, as opposed to just one cost center.”
[39.49] The key lessons to learn from this discussion.
[42.01] How Let’s Talk Supply Chain listeners can benefit from a limited-time discount with ProcureAbility.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:Head over to ProcureAbility’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with ProcureAbility and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Carlos on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about procurement, read The Three Biggest Challenges For Procurement – And What To Do About Them or listen to 243: Reinventing Freight Procurement with Emerge or 211: Transform Your Procurement Process, with Zip.
Next Episode
464: Women in Supply Chain, Beverly Steele
Beverly Steele talks about her journey, making a big change mid-career; what it means to be a workforce innovator; and her take on work-life balance.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:[04.29] An introduction to Beverly and her role at Inmar.
[05.11] Beverly’s career journey, and her decades of varied experience.
“I’ve been in reverse logistics well over 20 years. I actually stopped saying how long because I realized I’d been in it longer than some of my colleagues have been alive!”
[07.15] Beverly’s 20-year tenure at CORT, and an overview of the roles she took on as she climbed the ranks.
[08.07] Inmar’s joint venture with Blue Yonder to create a returns drop network that reduces costs for brands and makes life easy for consumers.
[09.46] Why Beverly made a big change mid-career, what she was looking for in her next step, and her advice for other mid-career professionals considering making a change.
“I’d moved up in the ranks and there weren’t many places for me to go to make the money I wanted to make and have the challenges that I wanted... It was scary, but sometimes I think: why didn’t I leave sooner?!’”
[12.33] From sales to reverse logistics technology – why Beverly transitioned to a different space in the industry, and the benefits of pivoting.
[14.41] Beverly’s Woman in Supply Chain Forum award, what being a ‘workforce innovator’ means to her, and the importance of increasing support and success for work from home teams.
“I’ve always had a passion for women in supply chain, and giving them the tools and opportunities to move into leadership.”
[15.46] As a part of multiple organizations and a champion for women, the big issue Beverly hears women in the workplace raise, time and again.
“Women don’t want to complain, it’s hard to find a voice without being looked at as angry or difficult.”
[17.49] What her ‘workforce innovator’ award means to Beverly, and why forums and awards for women are so important.
[20.05] Beverly’s experience of being a working Mom, the bias and discrimination still in play, and what needs to change to improve workplaces and cultures for working mothers.
“I spent most of my life hiding the fact that I was a Mom at work, I never wanted to talk about my kids in case people thought I was less dedicated. Then I dropped my kids off at school and, to my Mom friends who didn’t work, I was hiding the fact that I was a working Mom because they would say: ‘oh she’s leaving her kids.’ It was lonely.”
[23.03] Beverly’s take on work-life balance, and why it’s crucial to build a lifestyle that works for you.
“You need to be really clear on what’s important to you. And if you’re in a work environment where you’re not able to live the life you want, maybe it’s time for a change. Because not every company is going to have a culture that you’ll thrive in.”
[26.05] The future for Beverly.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:You can connect with Beverly Steele over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Inmar, check out 372: Women in Supply Chain, T.J. Kragenbrink or SEA 2, EP 87 – Are you getting the most out of your returns?
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