It’s a mix of presenting, networking, and learning from industry leaders—takeaways that keep our business running smoothly and strengthen our partnerships.
Author: Patty Brehm
Every year, we’ve focused on bringing a radically personal, customer-centric approach to our face-to-face interactions, traveling coast-to-coast to connect with industry leaders. 2024 was another great year to focus on building true connections.
As Andrew MacDonald, AVP of Sales, puts it: “Trade shows are where we bring our best. It’s a mix of presenting, networking, and learning from industry leaders—takeaways that keep our business running smoothly and strengthen our partnerships.”
From learning the basics and staying power of EDI to the inherently custom nature of APIs, and the fleeting romance between venture capital and logistics—the industry keeps things interesting. Here are some takeaways we received on the road in 2024.
Cybersecurity: A Growing Concern
The shift from preventing cyberattacks to preparing for their inevitability was a key theme across events.
“It’s not if a cyberattack will happen; it’s when,” echoed many attendees.
While cybersecurity is not a new topic in logistics and supply chain, bad actors are expanding their reach across industries, including technology (Dell), entertainment (Ticketmaster), and governments (Canada, the EU, and others). Consider these stats:
- Data breaches cost companies an average of $4 million annually.
- 1 in 2 Internet users have experienced a data breach.
- At the peak of the pandemic, the U.S. was a major international target for cyberattacks.
Addressing cybersecurity as a community, rather than in silos, is a necessary next step.
Andrew explains, “Shippers, brokers, carriers, and technology companies can work together by participating in audits like SOC 2. These audits identify internal processes and evaluate the technology supporting system integration and trust across platforms.”
JSON Takes the Spotlight
Cybersecurity wasn’t the only hot topic this year—data standards remain a focus, with the X12 Committee advancing common standards for JSON-structured data fields.
Jeff Korengold, Director of Sales Support and an X12 Committee member, shares, “As of now, I understand that X12 is exploring the development of API standards like what they’ve established for EDI, and Kleinschmidt will play an active role in those discussions. We are looking forward to attending next X12 Standing Meeting, taking place in February 2025.”
At the business level, API-related projects leveraging JSON as the preferred B2B communication protocol are surging. JSON continues to prove its value as an efficient, flexible standard for modern data integration.
What’s Next?
As we prepare for 2025 conferences like Manifest and Home Delivery World, our team will continue tracking these trends and crafting actionable solutions. From active participation in ANSI-standard committees to maintaining robust cybersecurity protocols, trade shows enable us to evolve alongside the industry and deliver on our commitments.
Ryan Dover, VP of Sales, shares his vision for the year ahead, “We are very excited about 2025 and will continue to provide the reliability, innovation, and best-in-class service our customers have come to depend on.
Our expertise in EDI and API integrations allows us to create data solutions for any industry, and any challenge, in both a timely and efficient manner. Whether it’s pairing with legacy platforms, or building seamless connections to a TMS, WMS, or ERP, Kleinschmidt delivers.”
