The Hidden Waste in Your Supply Chain (And How Digital Disruption Turns Trash Into Treasure)

Think your supply chain is running as efficiently as possible? Think again. Beneath the surface of every logistics operation lurk mountains of waste—unused truck capacity, excessive inventory, lost productivity, and more. But where some see problems, innovators see gold mines of opportunity.

The book reveals that while statistics might show up to 40% of truck capacity going unused, only about 10% is truly addressable by digital platforms. Why? Real-world logistics are messy—routes don’t always match, delivery times are fixed, and not every product fits every truck. This is where so many start-ups stumble: they build elegant solutions for theoretical problems, but falter when faced with the gritty realities of geography, regulation, and human behavior.

Disruption follows a predictable path: digitization (making information digital), disruption (challenging old models), demonetization (driving down costs), and democratization (opening access to all). But each stage requires a nuanced understanding of both technology and the people who use it.

Start-up success isn’t just about technology. The book’s scorecard approach—measuring market size, scalability, regulatory hurdles, and team quality—shows that execution matters as much as vision. The most successful disruptors are those who listen, adapt, and persist through the inevitable setbacks.

Ultimately, true innovation is about subtracting waste, not just adding new features. It’s about making space for new value to emerge—whether that’s a more efficient route, a smarter warehouse, or a platform that connects shippers and carriers in real time.

So next time you see an inefficiency in your supply chain, don’t just complain—ask how it can become your next competitive advantage.