Core Insights - The "Supply Chain Insiders" series by Pallet aims to provide an unfiltered look into the logistics industry, featuring candid conversations with industry leaders about significant events and challenges in freight [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges and Developments - The series discusses major issues such as the rise of double broker mafias, freight fraud, and the impact of AI automation on the logistics sector [1] - Paul Bernard-Jaroslawski shares a dramatic account of his experiences with double brokers in Armenia, highlighting the violent nature of some operations in the industry [3] - Bill Driegert provides insights into Convoy's $1 billion collapse and DAT's strategic acquisitions, indicating a renaissance period for DAT as it evolves into a technology company [4] Group 2: Key Industry Figures and Their Insights - Ben Gordon, a prominent figure in freight M&A, emphasizes the importance of honesty and resilience in the industry, sharing lessons learned from high-stakes negotiations [2] - The series features influential leaders such as Bill Driegert, Paul Bernard-Jaroslawski, Nabil Malouli, and Ben Gordon, each bringing unique perspectives on the logistics landscape [5]

Summary of the Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: BorgWarner - **Industry**: Automotive and Powertrain Supply Key Points and Arguments Supply Chain Disruptions - BorgWarner faced supply disruptions impacting sales, including: - A cyber attack affecting JLR, resulting in a $35 million sales impact in Q3 [3] - Ford's aluminum supplier issue expected to impact BorgWarner by $50-$100 million in Q4 [3][4] - Semiconductor challenges with Nexperia have shown signs of improvement [3] Growth Dynamics - The company has experienced a backlog shift due to changes in the EV market, tariffs, and reshoring [5] - BorgWarner's outgrowth has been around 1% for 2024 and 2025, primarily due to unmaterialized volumes from won programs [6] - The company announced 17 new programs in the last six months, indicating a high level of activity [6] - Under new CEO Joe's leadership, there is a cultural shift encouraging all business units to seek growth opportunities [7] Foundational vs. E-Product Business - The foundational business is expected to see organic growth declines, but there are opportunities in turbochargers and all-wheel drive systems [11][12] - Advanced hybrid vehicles present significant content opportunities, with potential revenue four to five times that of pure combustion engines [15] - The e-products segment, particularly PowerDrive, has shown strong growth, especially in Europe and Asia [19][22] Margin Resilience - Despite organic growth declines, BorgWarner has maintained strong margins through cost controls, restructuring savings, and supply chain efficiencies [28][30] - The company aims for mid-teens earnings per share growth, leveraging cost management strategies [32] Automation and AI - BorgWarner has implemented AI in manufacturing for cost benefits, particularly in visual inspections and R&D processes [34][35] Battery Business Outlook - The battery segment has faced challenges but remains EBITDA positive and free cash flow positive, with a focus on long-term growth [26][41] Free Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - The company expects to generate approximately $900 million in free cash flow, a 20% increase year-over-year [59] - CapEx is currently low at 4% of revenue, but historically it has been around 5-6% [61] - BorgWarner is balancing share buybacks and M&A opportunities, with a focus on accretive investments [66] Regional Dynamics and China Exposure - Approximately 20% of BorgWarner's revenue comes from China, with 75% of that from local OEMs [48] - The company maintains a disciplined approach to ROIC in China, focusing on profitability despite competitive pressures [49][54] - There are opportunities for Chinese OEMs to expand into Europe, which could benefit BorgWarner [56] Conclusion - BorgWarner is navigating supply chain challenges while focusing on growth in both foundational and e-product segments. The company is committed to maintaining strong margins and free cash flow, with strategic investments in automation and a disciplined approach to capital allocation. The outlook for the battery business remains cautiously optimistic, and the company is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the evolving automotive landscape.

Business Trends in 2026 - AI automation is a key area to watch [1] - Cybersecurity will be a significant focus [1] Source - Forbes contributor Bernard Marr shares projections [1]

Industry Impact of AI Automation - Millions are losing jobs due to AI automation [1] - The debate focuses on airdrop farmers, highlighting a disconnect from the reality of AI's impact on employment [1]

Core Insights - Figure has launched an AI-powered Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan platform, enhancing its blockchain-based capital marketplace to address the growing demand in housing finance [1][2] - The platform allows investors to qualify for loans based on property cash flow rather than personal income, streamlining the underwriting and funding process [2][4] Group 1: Platform Features and Benefits - The DSCR platform significantly reduces loan processing time, potentially cutting it by over 80%, allowing funding in as few as 5 days compared to the traditional 21 to 30 days [3][4] - Automation through AI and blockchain technology lowers origination costs by up to 80%, addressing rising industry costs that have increased by 35% to over $10,000 per loan [4][6] - The platform provides tools for brokers, lenders, and investors to capitalize on the growing demand for investment property financing, with DSCR-backed loans increasing from 22% to 50% of all non-QM mortgage-backed securitizations between 2019 and 2022 [5][9] Group 2: Market Context and Growth - The demand for investment property financing is rising as homeownership becomes less accessible, with over $2 billion in DSCR loans originated in January 2025 alone [5][9] - Figure's platform is positioned to meet the needs of both traditional financial institutions and individual investors, offering a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving real estate investment market [7][8] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships and Industry Impact - West Capital and Axen are among the first partners to integrate Figure's DSCR product, highlighting the collaborative approach to expanding market reach [1][9] - Figure's technology aims to reshape financial services by combining AI automation with blockchain transparency, providing a solution that the market has been anticipating [6][9]

Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. reported strong performance in its AI and Data Cloud segments, with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from these areas reaching $1.2 billion, reflecting a 120% increase year-over-year [1][9] - The Data Cloud business has grown to a $7 billion segment, with a 140% increase in customer base and a 326% rise in data usage during the second quarter [2][9] - The Agentforce AI platform has signed over 6,000 paid deals, with 60% of customers transitioning from pilot projects to full production [3][9] Data Cloud Performance - Data Cloud is now a $7 billion business, with customer growth of 140% year-over-year and data usage increasing by 326% in the second quarter [2][9] - More than half of Fortune 500 companies are utilizing Data Cloud, indicating strong market penetration [2] Agentforce Growth - Agentforce has signed more than 6,000 paid deals, with 40% of bookings coming from existing customers expanding their usage [3] - The introduction of a new pricing model, flex credits, is contributing to 80% of Agentforce bookings, which may enhance recurring revenue over time [3] Future Growth Potential - The combination of Data Cloud and Agentforce is foundational for the Agentic Enterprise, which leverages accurate data to enhance AI agent performance [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts revenue growth of 8.8% and 9.1% for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, respectively [4] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Microsoft and ServiceNow are also advancing AI automation in the enterprise sector, with Microsoft integrating AI features into its Dynamics 365 platform and ServiceNow deploying industry-specific AI tools [5][6] Valuation Metrics - Salesforce shares have decreased by 25.4% year-to-date, contrasting with a 22% growth in the Zacks Computer – Software industry [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.48, significantly lower than the industry average of 33.89 [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Salesforce's earnings indicates a year-over-year increase of approximately 11.2% for fiscal 2026 and 11.7% for fiscal 2027, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 30 days [14]

Core Insights - ServiceTitan has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Conduit Tech, an HVAC design and sales platform utilizing LiDAR technology to enhance customer engagement and streamline building permit processes [1][5] - The acquisition aims to integrate Conduit's sales proposal tools with ServiceTitan's AI automation products, providing contractors with efficient measurement tools and improved customer experiences [1][2] Company Overview - ServiceTitan is a cloud-based software platform designed to support trades businesses, offering tools for business management and customer experience enhancement [6] - Conduit Tech, founded in 2022, specializes in providing HVAC contractors with a LiDAR-powered platform for quick and profitable design, sales, and installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems [3][7] Technology and Efficiency - Conduit's platform allows HVAC technicians to create 3D models and perform load calculations on-site in minutes, significantly increasing operational efficiency [2][7] - The technology enables contractors to serve more clients daily, present optimal options, and enhance revenue potential without the need for additional staff [2][7] Strategic Goals - The acquisition is expected to modernize the HVAC industry by equipping contractors with advanced tools to build trust and drive revenue [4] - Both companies share a commitment to empowering contractors with technology that enhances service delivery and operational efficiency [4][6]

Partnerships & Technology - Sui is a launch partner for Google's new Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), a standard for AI agents to transact on behalf of users [1] - Sui Network, originally developed by Mysten Labs, offers fast, programmable payments and privacy-first identity [2] Industry Focus - The industry highlights the future of AI automation through agentic commerce [1][2] - The industry emphasizes the importance of fast, programmable payments and privacy in agentic transactions [1][2]

AI Impact on Job Market - Certain careers and skillsets are more likely to thrive in the AI era [1] - Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli discusses job resilience to AI automation [1] Media Coverage - TomMackenzieTV interviews Synthesia CEO about AI and careers [1]

Core Insights - Salesforce is leveraging its ADAM framework, which consists of Agents, Data, Apps, and Metadata, as the foundation for its AI strategy, emphasizing that all four components are essential for effective AI agent deployment in enterprises [1][5]. Group 1: ADAM Framework and AI Strategy - The ADAM framework includes the Agentforce platform for AI agents, Data Cloud for unified data, MuleSoft for system integration, and various Salesforce applications like Sales Cloud and Slack, with Metadata serving as the linking platform [2][10]. - The pending $8 billion acquisition of Informatica is expected to enhance Salesforce's master data management and ETL capabilities, creating a unified architecture for agentic AI [2][10]. - Examples of products utilizing the ADAM framework include Tableau Next, which connects to Data Cloud, and Slack, which serves as a conversational interface for accessing Salesforce applications and agents [3][10]. Group 2: Customer Adoption and Market Position - Companies like Finnair, PepsiCo, and Falabella are implementing the ADAM framework for customer service automation and multi-cloud projects, showcasing its effectiveness in real-world applications [4][10]. - Management believes that the success of the ADAM framework will depend on customer adoption rates, with potential for significant growth if execution is successful [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as Microsoft and ServiceNow are also advancing AI automation in the enterprise sector, with Microsoft integrating AI features into Dynamics 365 and ServiceNow utilizing AI for IT service management and customer support [6][7]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Valuation - Salesforce shares have decreased by 30.7% year-to-date, contrasting with the 19.8% growth of the Zacks Computer – Software industry [8]. - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.33, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 35.32 [12]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year revenue growth of 8.6% for fiscal 2026 and 9.2% for fiscal 2027, with earnings expected to increase by approximately 10.8% and 11.5% respectively [5][15].