FLOW 2021 Recap: Leading the Conversation on Today’s Logistics Realities and the Future of Fulfillment

FLOW 2021 is in the books! 6 River Systems' third-annual user conference was a success with more than 30 virtual sessions spread out over two days. The event brought together over 1,300 registrants, top industry leaders, and change-makers to discuss and explore ways to help evolve the supply chain process.

The sessions ranged from highlighting customer case studies as we prepare for peak season, to new feature enhancements to 6RS's wall-to-wall fulfillment solution, to virtual networking opportunities.

Distinguished speakers discuss change and opportunity

Special guests included the following people:

• Mike Rowe, executive producer and host, joined the conference for a fireside chat to talk about labor challenges and the importance of changing the narrative about hard work. The conversation centered on the need for skilled labor, labor shortages nearly every industry is facing, and the key to building a balanced workforce.
• Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, dove deep into the future of fulfillment and the vision for Shopify and 6 River Systems’ pivotal roles in that future, highlighting trends driving change and identifying opportunities on the horizon.
• Thierry Driesens, digital transformation officer at DHL; Jeremy Bodenhamer, co-founder and co-CEO of ShipHawk and author of Adapt or Die; and Larry Emmert, vice president of operations at Legend Valve, were panelists for "The Future of Work: Human and Robot Collaboration," a session covering the progress of technologically influenced labor.

Attendees were also able to hear from Jerome Dubois, co-founder and co-CEO of 6 River Systems, and Gillian Hawkes, vice president of product at 6RS, about how the company's Chuck mobile robot and its intelligent software are improving productivity amid increased supply chain demand and pandemic-related challenges.

“FLOW continues to be a crucial platform helping to foster collaboration among leaders across the warehouse automation and supply chain spaces,” said Dubois. “It’s a privilege for 6 River Systems to be a leader in robotic automation bringing together key players that help the industry to grow.”

The Future of Work panel hosted by Scott Luton of Supply Chain Now (top left) featured Jeremy Bodenhamer of ShipHawk, Thierry Driesens of DHL (bottom left), and Larry Emmert of Legend Valve (bottom right). Source: 6 River Systems

Major customers provide perspective on trends

Supply chain leaders from retailers, third-party logistics providers (3PLs), and business-to-business (B2B) distributors from all over the world joined the conversation about the latest trends and technologies shaping the industry.

Panels, product workshops and showcases featured expert voices from Crocs, Supply Chain Now, Retail Prophet, The New Warehouse, Packsize, Olive, and more. They shined new light on fulfillment strategies, technologies, and improvements for current and future success.

FLOW 2021 couldn’t have come at a more crucial time, as the industry continues to be strained due to the ongoing pandemic and its trickle-down impacts on the global supply chain, just as another peak season is getting under way.

All of the FLOW 2021 sessions are available online.

About the author:

Chris Conway is director of marketing at 6 River Systems Inc.

6 River Systems will also be participating in a free webcast on how robots can provide scalability for seasonal demand on Nov. 17.