What does success look like when you're automating inside a 3PL? In our latest TZE episode, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank sit down with Ryan Martin, SVP of Distribution Services at ITS Logistics, to get real about what it takes to design systems in high-variability, contract-driven environments.

Here’s what we cover:

🔹 Why automation must fit the business not just the customer

🔹 How to evaluate ROI when client contracts have limited terms

🔹 Avoiding the “make it work” trap and costly redesigns

🔹 How to plan for flexibility, reuse, and future uncertainty

This one’s a must-listen for operators, integrators, and decision-makers navigating multi-tenant fulfillment.

Scalability can’t come at the cost of disruption.

In our latest episode of the TZE Podcast, Jim Shaw, Jordan Frank, and Jen Thomas unpack the operational strategy behind Zion’s discovery process, covering everything from shared-use automation and modular sortation systems to flexible picking and packaging infrastructure.

They discuss how designing with future clients, having variable order profiles, and having system reuse in mind ensures your investment remains agile as demand evolves.

When it comes to goods-to-person systems, one size doesn’t fit all. In this episode, we sat down with Joe McGinnis from OPEX to break down when Perfect Pick® makes the most sense and where something else might be a better fit.

Here’s what we'll discuss:

🔹 High-throughput environments with lower SKU variability

🔹Systems that handle dynamic SKUs across multiple aisles

🔹 The role of data analytics in determining true system fit

🔹 Why throughput and SKU profiles should drive tech decisions

If you’re evaluating GTP systems or designing around complex order profiles, this episode offers the nuance most vendor decks don’t.