TBW ADVISORS LLC

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Conference Whispers: HIMSS 2026
Las Vegas, NV March 9 – March 12

Published: March 15, 2026 ID: TBW2157

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Computer Talk Radio Coverage

ABSTRACT

“HIMSS26 in Las Vegas spotlighted healthcare’s shift toward real‑time data, patient‑driven insights, and quietly automated workflows. Printers, paper bottlenecks, and cyber hygiene revealed how much unstructured data still shapes care. The through‑line: trusted data powering emerging AI. A community‑driven push toward interoperability and smarter infrastructure defined this year’s experience on the ground.”

The Conference
- The 2026 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition brought together roughly 25,000 attendees from across the global health ecosystem, hosted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.
Cautions
- Friendly reminder: this research provides examples of what was shared with us at the event, not an evaluation, validation, or recommendation of the given technology.
Exhibits

Have you ever found yourself trying to figure out what is wrong with you or a loved one? Every doctor running their own test but no one is communicating and you are left in the dark with no answers? Thanks to b.well consumers can now control and manage their own health data and get the answers they need. Coverage includes most medical practices in the US, Apple Watch, Samsung Watch, Aura Ring, Walgreens, Samsung phones, Google apps, and ChatGPT.

When you have an emergency, you want your EMS attendant to have the best possible information. Furthermore, you want the information created in the ambulance given to those in the hospital treating you. Good news, ImageTrend is focused on closing that exact gap enabling true continuum of care.

For anyone who has ever used an auto feed on a copier or scanner, you know they can be finicky. Successful execution has been considered an art form – for decades. Witness this Ricoh demonstration. Very quietly and with one push of the button, these scanners digitize hundreds of pages in seconds. They scan all types of hospital paperwork -forms of varying size, thickness, orientation, black and white or color. Today, auto size, auto orient, auto color detect, silent enterprise document scanners are realized.

Symphion provides turnkey services for establishing, maintaining and proving cyber hygiene of edge devices including printers. Protections include inventory management, detection and response, firmware security and password management. Focusing on healthcare native protocols including DICOM (an international standard for printing data storage, transmission and retrieval of medical information) and HL7, SecurITe (pronounced secure IT) protects networks by analyzing and securing its healthcare-related traffic.

At this point, you may be noticing a trend we also encountered in distribution during our coverage of Manifest and Retail, Supply Chain and Logistics Expo – a lot of discussion on printers. That means physical, unstructured, not digitized data. This causes problems on a few fronts. How are medical practices going to get reimbursed – paper is not part of the FHIR standard (pronounced FIRE standard) required to get paid. Interestingly the answer for this technology challenge comes from eFax from Consensus Cloud. They literally have transformed the old-fashioned traditional faxing into intelligent digital processing.

Behind every credible clinical AI, there’s one non-negotiable: data you can trust. Expo hall featured Drummond that explicitly focuses on the accuracy and completeness of the data once digitized, providing data validation for health care data. Many are also trying to create such intelligent products to serve the health care sector. The first requirement is that of data to train and create their models. For those seeking to depersonalize their healthcare data for training OR create fake data, Tonic.ai was ready to meet your needs. For organizations creating healthcare products requiring not just privacy and governance for their data but the ability to run really, really fast AI, OneSource Cloud was looking to meet you. As a dedicated cloud provider, they gain priority access to GPUs ensuring they can meet your needs. Their architecture is optimized for speed by optimizing the storage compute connection with an IB Switch or InfiniBand switch. For those not familiar, IB switches are designed for Ultra-low latency, very high throughput, RDMA (remote direct memory access for zero-copy communication) and offer high scalability. This is a feature one cannot directly request and manage in public clouds today.

Hospitals are some of the most high-tech buildings one can come across. Penetrating 40% of healthcare facilities, Schneider Electric is there to support the industry. Schneider Electric specializes in digitizing physical infrastructure for operational efficiencies. Hospital efficiencies start with smart, efficient infrastructure.

HIMSS Hal Wolf Press Q&A

With the exhibits covered, we now shift towards the bigger picture shaping healthcare’s future. Admittedly as a member of the press, one of the highlights is when HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) President and CEO, Hal Wolf, hosts the press for a round of questions and answers. Hal truly emphasized the last S in HIMSS for society. It’s that society that is going to enable healthcare to evolve with the injection of AI. He emphasized the impact AI is having on operational efficiency from supply chain management to bed utilization. Moving towards a translational AI Ecosystems, his hopes lie in seamless connectivity and true interoperability being achieved. One final message was the direct correlation and causation relationship between health and the economy. Specifically good physical health and well-being is required to drive a strong economy.

Conference Vibe

After 48 videos including a livestream and over a twenty fact checks, our coverage of The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2026 Global Health Conference and Exhibition or HIMSS26 for short, closes. HIMSS26 brought together approximately 25,000 healthcare technology and systems professionals from around the world. Exhibitions expanded and covered the entire upstairs expo hall at the Venetian Expo as well as the entire downstairs. Downstairs exhibitions were also known as, “The Park” also featured private meeting and demo spaces. One could buy food at the Venetian’s Café Press or at any of the Bistro locations. In addition, The Park featured snack time ranging from home made cookies you could smell a mile away on Tuesday. Wednesday attempted to top what Tuesday brought to the table with homemade scones.

We once again live streamed from on site. We let everyone know we were at HIMSS on the ground covering it as well as requesting assistance. Specifically, I requested assistance on your favorite videos for my segment on the March 14, 2026 broadcast edition of Computer Talk Radio.

We conducted research for twelve additional forthcoming Whisper Reports for our clients. The playlists are unlisted but available with the video version to be distributed via YouTube Whisper Club upper tier membership area on our YouTube Channel.
Readers and viewers wishing to experience the entire event are encouraged to view the Conference Whispers: HIMSS 2026 Playlist in its entirety. The playlist will be sited in the end screen, description, and as a pinned comment of the video edition.

The video edition will conclude with gratitude towards those that contributed and a montage of responses to Bonus Question, “What’s the best part about attending the HIMSS 2026 live in Las Vegas?”.

Next Year’s Conference

Unfortunately, next year’s conference will be in Chicago so we are not scheduled to attend or cover the event unless our coverage is sponsored. HIMSS27 will be taking place April 5-8, 2027. We look forward to its return to Vegas in the future.

^*When vendors’ names are shared as examples in this document, it is to provide a concrete example of what was on display at the conference, not an evaluation or recommendation. Evaluation and recommendation of these vendors are beyond the scope of this specific research document. Other examples products in the same category may have also been on display.

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©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Vegas Convention Library, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
March 14, 2026
Conference Whispers: CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
Las Vegas, NV March 3-7, 2026

Published: March 9, 2026 ID: TBW2150

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Computer Talk Radio Coverage

ABSTRACT:

“CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026 delivered a packed week of press announcements, massive exhibits, and next‑generation jobsite innovation, 140,000 attendees and over 3 million square feet of exhibits. Press Day highlighted electrification, repairability, and asset intelligence, while the show floor showcased automation, telematics, lifecycle support, and equipment spanning every hall and lot of the LVCC. We live‑streamed daily coverage and completed research for six forthcoming Whisper Reports. Readers can explore the full experience through the Conference Whispers playlist and upcoming video edition.”

The Conference
- A community of over 140,000 attendees from 128 countries including 2000 vendors gathered at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. The event spanned over 3 million square feet of exhibit space.
Cautions
- Friendly reminder: this research provides examples of what was shared with us at the event, not an evaluation, validation, or recommendation of the given technology.
Press Events

CONEXPO-CON/AGG featured an entire Press Day on Monday, the day before the formal opening. We were able to capture a few of the events. First, we captured Moog Construction’s event featuring their Adaptive Electrification Management System – AEMS. Moog is a motion control company, provides electrification solutions for heavy vehicles, aiming to improve motion control systems. Moog technology enables any manufacturer to use any type of electric solution they would like. Their design is focused on improving simplification through design and reducing costs. The result is a modular solution that achieves remote diagnostics and over the air updates. If someone can physically replace a module, over the air capabilities flash the module to act like it should in that specific system. The solution is targeted at 6-25-ton compact loaders and excavators.

The right to repair is alive and well in Europe but that is not the only thing that has come to life. Cojali USA solution focuses on the ability to maintain and repair a fleet of heavy equipment across manufacturers. Bringing you telematics that can act enabling not just predictive maintenance, but remote maintenance is also realized.

The equipment leveraged in construction and agriculture are rather expensive. Even smaller tools are highly expensive and can be quite costly if lost or stolen. Samsara Asset Tags leverages industrial strength Bluetooth to help increase your chances of recovery. Each asset added to the network adds to the network’s density in tracking other assets. Their network is connected to an inbuilding network for asset tracking thus covering all the highways and major commercial building across major geographies.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG saw an announcement of the arrival of Twins! Mack Trucks press event announced the updating of their very popular Granite Model of Mack Trucks. The second announcement that their every popular Pinnacle Model was being replaced with Keystone. The Keystone includes everything the Pinnacle model included plus additional chassis and sleeper options. The MP13, a13-litre engine in the Granite, now has 540 horsepower and a whopping 1950 torque.

Exhibits

Beyond the press events, Exhibits are always massive and physically impressive at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. John Deere didn’t just bring the equipment but wanted to make sure you know they support the entire lifecycle. Specifically, John Deere’s highlighted its connected support and the massive span of maintenance it represents to the customers. Bobcat introduced their RogueX3 concept machine which is electric, autonomous and module leveraging Moog’s electrification technology from the aforementioned press event. For those seeking brand agnostic, machine agnostic, roof mounted automation, CNF more commonly known as simply Case, shared their patented adaptable solution. Komatsu burst into expo hall with 7 brand new models across their lines. Epiroc not only shared their machines and automation, but also their customers appreciated span of services offering. Hyundai had a detailed display highlighting their leaps forward in advanced telematics improving reliability. Sometimes it is not about the machine as much as it is the components. Does your excavator or loader need a new bucket? Weir Group’s ESCO division exhibited their innovative buckets optimized for safety, durability, and performance. If your reason for hesitation in upgrading is moving your older assets off the books, have no fear! Ritchie bros. specializes in rotating equipment so you are free to upgrade your equipment today!

For OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in construction and agricultural equipment seeking to automate and optimize their equipment, MOBA Automation was hoping to speak with you. If you are an OEM and you really want to connect your physical equipment with the digital world, Trimble bridges the divide. Their massive booth highlighted their hardware, software, and services for positioning, modeling, analytics, and connectivity. Of course, predictive maintenance, remote maintenance, automation and all of these advanced capabilities that shined brightest are only possible IF the OEM installed the right sensors. To that end, sensor manufacturers were also on sight such as SIKO featuring location sensors. These location sensors can ensure you are never lost – even if GPS is denied in your location.

Conference Vibe

After 66 videos, three livestreams, and over two dozen fact checks, our coverage of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 closes. CONEXPO-CON/AGG welcomes over 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries. CONEXPO-CON/AGG occurs once every three years in Las Vegas Convention Center – the only Convention Center built strong enough to be able to house heavy equipment indoors. Featuring over 2,000 exhibitors, the event spanned over 3 million square feet of exhibit space. The massive event spanned every inch of the Las Vegas Convention Center including exhibits* in all of the lots including the massive new lot in front of the Fontainebleau the current Diamond Lot. The diamond lot featured next-generations jobsite solutions including attached robotic systems. The traditional Silver Lot featured demonstrations for brands. West Hall was the hub for smart construction technology and interactive workflow solutions with over 40 machines and 20 brand new models featured. North Hall focused on operational innovations. Central Hall was very concrete and asphalt centric including mixing equipment. Both South Hall Upper and Lower were leveraged for this event. South Upper was the prominent exhibition area for power equipment including electrified engines. South Hall features the ultimate in large scale equipment. As is customary, food was available throughout the convention center with all the normal LVCC eateries open and ready to serve including the major food courts including West Hall and North/Central Hall Lobby Food Court. Transportation options included shuttles, buses, and of course the famous Vegas Loop connection South, Central and West Halls.

We once again live streamed from on site. On Media Day Monday letting you know we are on the ground covering the event. Tuesday we shared the excitement of Exhibits officially opening. And Wednesday specifically, I requested assistance on your favorite videos for my segment on the March 6th broadcast edition of Computer Talk Radio.

We conducted research for twelve additional forthcoming Whisper Reports for our clients. The reports spanned research on improvements to jobsite output, automation, uptime, telematics, innovations in safety and those affecting the labor gap issue. The playlists are unlisted but available with the video version to be distributed via YouTube Whisper Club upper tier membership area on our YouTube Channel.
Readers and viewers wishing to experience the entire event are encouraged to view the Conference Whispers: CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 Playlist in its entirety. The playlist will be sited in the end screen, description, and as a pinned comment of the video edition.

The video edition will conclude with gratitude towards those that contributed and a montage of responses to the Bonus Question, “What’s the best part about attending the CONEXPO-CON/AGG live in Las Vegas?”.

Next Year’s Conference

The event is held every three years with the next event scheduled for March 13-17, 2029 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

^*When vendors’ names are shared as examples in this document, it is to provide a concrete example of what was on display at the conference, not an evaluation or recommendation. Evaluation and recommendation of these vendors are beyond the scope of this specific research document. Other examples of products in the same category may have also been on display.

Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Vegas Convention Library, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
March 8, 2026
Whisper Report: How will GenAI reshape Enterprise Finance Ops?
Published to clients: March 3, 2026 ID: TBW2119

Published to Whisper Club: March 3, 2026

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract:

“This Whisper Report investigates how Gen AI will reshape enterprise finance operations. Researched on‑site at Money 20/20 USA 2025 in Las Vegas, it examines how financial operations are evolving under accelerating automation and intelligence. The report highlights perspectives from AutoRek’s Nicholas Botha, Veratad’s Thomas Canfarotta, Globant’s Erin StillWell, Oracle’s James Calise, Zoominfo’s Brandon Tucker, localpayment’s Ezequiel Israel, and IPQS’ Shea Craft.”

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists and Publication
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
March 3, 2026
Whisper Report: How will AI change warehouse architecture?
Published to clients: February 24, 2026 ID: TBW2115

Published to Whisper Club: February 24, 2026

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract:

“This Whisper Report investigates how will AI change warehouse architecture. Researched at the Retail, Supply Chain and Logistics Expo in Las Vegas, it highlights how AI boosts worker guidance, accelerates operations, improves predictive decisions, and reshapes automation across physical and digital systems. It also stresses fragmented tech stacks and future robot‑centric warehouse design. Quoted: Steve Harris (Warehouse Craft), Priya Katyal (PGS360), Petros Dertsakyan (oloround), Rodrigo Hernandez (Bazarup), Sean Elmurib (Backops AI), Naushad Ahmed (MetaOption), Ingo Pietruska (Lufthansa).”

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists and Publication
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
February 24, 2026
Whisper Report: How can AI and behavioral analytics enhance identity security?
Published to clients: February 17, 2026 ID: TBW2086

Published to Whisper Club: February 17, 2026

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract:

“This Whisper Report investigates how AI and behavioral analytics enhances identity security. It highlights how organizations manage identity scale and emerging threats using behavioral baselines, anomaly detection, and contextual risk scoring. Researched at Identiverse held in Las Vegas, it incorporates quoted insights from Lumos’ Janani Nagarajan, GitGuardian’s Dwayne McDaniel, CyberSolve’s Ankush Kappor, Oasis’ Guy Feinberg, Simeio’s Octabio Lopez, Clarity Security’s James Davidson, Cubeless’ Treb Ryan, Apono’s Ofir Stein, Keeper Security’s Craig Lurey, Imprivata’s Diron Chain, and Panini’s Jim Harris.”

As covered on Computer Talk Radio

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists & References
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
February 17, 2026
Conference Whispers: Manifest 2026
Las Vegas, NV February 9-11, 2026

Published: February 16, 2026 ID: TBW2143

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

ABSTRACT

“Manifest 2026 brought together 7,350 attendees in Las Vegas, showcasing supply‑chain innovations across cold chain, warehouse automation, robotics, and logistics solutions. TBW Advisors LLC captured extensive on‑site coverage, including 62 videos, two livestreams, and over a dozen fact checks. Twelve Whisper Reports were also researched for deeper analysis across emerging operational challenges. Exhibits highlighted end‑to‑end supply‑chain platforms, automation breakthroughs, sensing technologies, and AI‑enabled workflow solutions across the expo hall.”

Featured on this Episode of Computer Talk Radio

The Conference
- Attendance at Manifest 2026 saw an increase from 2025 with a whopping 7,350 attendees!
Cautions
- Friendly reminder: this research provides examples of what was shared with us at the event, not an evaluation, validation, or recommendation of the given technology.
Conference Vibe

After 62 videos including 2 livestream and over a dozen and a half fact checks, our coverage of Manifest 2026 closes. No lines for the 7350 attendees at registration as the process was quite efficient and took place right outside of expo hall. Venetian came through for attendings with delicious food. If you were not already hungry, the smell from their Tuesday lunch and the Pasta station that accompanied Wednesday lunch was sure to get you there. Enjoy the walkabout to and through expo hall. We always try to bring you fresh vendors in our coverage but you will recognize many brands in the walkabout from our coverage of other distribution sector events such as Pack Expo and Retail, Supply Chain, and Logistics Expo. One observation we would like to share is the unique way Manifest physically sets up their track sections within the Venetian. It creates this great gathering space for people in between sessions not seen at other events. We were able to get a great video of the space while all were at the keynote. Vendors at the booths frequently strongly complimented the event. One attendee denoted that there was a highly desirable mix decision makers or their direct reports.

We once again live streamed from on-site. We streamed from outside of expo on Tuesday right before its grand openings requesting those attending to find me to answer Questions 1-6. On Wednesday we were back but from inside expo hall and reminding all to show us which videos you enjoy as assistance for my segment on the February 21st broadcast edition of Computer Talk Radio. Readers and viewers wishing to experience the entire event are encouraged to view the Conference Whispers: Manifest 2026 Playlist in its entirety. The playlist will be sited in the end screen, description, and as a pinned comment of the video edition.

We conducted research for twelve additional forthcoming Whisper Reports for our clients. The playlists are unlisted but available with the video version to be exclusively distributed first via YouTube Whisper Club upper tier membership area on our YouTube Channel.

Q1 Whisper Report: Where does AI most often fail in your supply chain?

Q2: Whisper Report: What data gap hurts your forecasting the most?

Q3: Whisper Report: Which workflow breaks first under real-time load?

Q4:Whisper Report: What automation fails most when scaling ops?

Q5: Whisper Report: Where is visibility still blind in your network?

Q6: Whisper Report: What cold-chain risk still keeps you up?

The video edition will conclude with gratitude towards those that contributed and a montage of responses to Bonus Question, “What’s the best part about attending the Manifest live in Vegas?”.

Expo Hall

For our coverage we will start with the easy and complete, end-to-end supply chain solution for brand owners by Aptean Supply Chain who’s logo was seen all over the registration area. Enlightening operations teams by answering the questions, “Where their stuff in the supply chain?”, Surgere enables better decisions. If ‘when’ it arrives is critical, C.R. England would like you to know their trucking services are on time 99% of the time! Moving things cross borders? Ascendia operates in 17 countries with an extensive footprint in Canada. Executives looking to automate their operations but truly desire support may appreciate finding Engineering Innovation in the expo hall.

This year we also explicitly covered some cold pack technologies and vendors leveraged for perishable goods and transportation of items that must remain refrigerated. ColdTrack is a cold chain 3pl, shipping, pick pack and storage services provider for the perishable market direct to consumer. If you need to transport up to 10,000 lbs of cold chain, Reefer Van Network was on site showcasing their solution. Wondering if your solution maintained acceptable temperature? Willog, a South Korean standout, brought their six‑metric supply‑chain intelligence to the USA. Concerned about how to get packages from an automated supply chain all the way to the door? Specifically, are the last 10 feet causing you concerns? Rivr.ai was once again onsite this year albeit capable of even heavier loads! This robot can get packages from a truck to humans at a door or a package from the human to bring to the truck.

Moving into the warehouse, for those creating machines meant to be around people but don’t want to force your customers to wear cautions vests? Matrix Design Group created robot technology enabling your system to avoid people without putting requirements on people or their clothing! Do you desire automated inventory for your cold chain inventory even though your freezer gets down to -10 degrees? Dane Technologies robots not only answer the call but come with increased safety and efficiency technology for your workflows. Perhaps loading the trailers is your pain point and you are having difficulty finding dock workers. You simply need to load and unload them and don’t want any complex technological integrations or have to bug the IT department? Expand that dream and what if I told you automation exists to load that trailer AND that it can be done in under 5 minutes? That’s right Slip Robotics has expanded their line up! Now the Slip Lift is separated from the Slip Carrier – watch how this innovation can load and unload a truck in 5 minutes. Do you want to add automation but are concerned about complex training in your brownfield facility? Yondu.ai’s drop in robot might just be the adaptable, quick-learning automation you are seeking! Order consolidation your pain point and hoping to find an automation solution? Unbox Robotics can even handle orders with multiple pieces of the same inventory and move vertically.

Moving deeper into the warehouse, Rufus Labs is redefining how one can get labor statistics with their multi-purpose hand scanner. It is valuable to note that this scanner is on the back of one’s hand, not handheld in the palm enabling. This placement enables the user to maintain full dexterity and capacity of their hands. Simply require package dimensions. This year’s show we captured FreightSnap’s dimension solution in the expo hall. For those seeking back office agentic solutions, freehand declares you no longer need to outsource. You can insource with your own AI agents!

Next Year’s Conference

The Manifest 2027 will once again return to Las Vegas and will be held at the Sands Convention Center on February 8-10^th, 2027.

^*When vendors’ names are shared as examples in this document, it is to provide a concrete example of what was on display at the conference, not an evaluation or recommendation. Evaluation and recommendation of these vendors are beyond the scope of this specific research document. Other examples of products in the same category may have also been on display.

Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, The Whispers, Whisper Club, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
February 16, 2026
Whisper Report: What IoT innovation will redefine smart living in 2026?

Published to clients: February 2, 2026 ID: TBW2135

Published to Whisper Club: February 2, 2026

Whisper Email Release:

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract:

“This Whisper Report investigates what IoT innovation will redefine smart living in 2026. Researched on‑site at CES 2026, it explores how emerging technologies are reshaping home experiences in ways that blend intelligence, responsiveness, and new forms of interaction. Designed to spark curiosity, the report brings forward perspectives from Perfect Corp.’s Dr. Wayne Liu, X‑Origin’s Szeyu Wong, RiseLink’s Dr. Pengfei Zhang, and LG Electronics’ Chris DeMaria.”

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists and Publication

Spatial Computing (XR)

1. Whisper Report: What XR tech will change enterprise workflows first?

2. Whisper Report: Which spatial computing use case will scale fastest?

3. Whisper Rerpot: What’s the killer XR use case no one sees coming?

Smart Home / IoT

4. Whisper Report: What’s the biggest IoT security blind spot today?

5. Whisper Report: What IoT innovation will redefine smart living in 2026?

6. Whisper Report: Which connected device will drive the next big shift?

Health Tech / Med AI

7. Whisper Report: What AI breakthrough will transform patient care next?

8. Whisper Report: Which health tech will cut costs without cutting quality?

9. Whisper Report: When will AI in health beat human diagnosis?

Robotics / Automation

10. Whisper Report: What robotics advance will reshape manufacturing first?

11. Whisper Report: Which automation trend will hit enterprise hardest?

12. Whisper Report: What’s the hardest problem in robotics no one solved?

13. Conference Whispers: CES 2026 – TBW ADVISORS LLC

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©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, Whisper Club, Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.

February 3, 2026
Whisper Report: What’s the next data breach our industry isn’t ready to handle?
Published to clients: January 6, 2026 ID: TBW2123

Published to Readers: January 7, 2026

Whisper Email Release: TBD

Public/Video Release: TBD

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract:

“This Whisper Report investigates the next data breach our industry isn’t ready to handle. It captures urgent insights from Put Data First revealing how emerging threats are reshaping risk landscapes. These include AI pipeline compromises, indirect prompt injections, company chat exfiltration, and deep fake-driven social engineering. Expert perspectives explain why traditional defenses fail. The report urges proactive strategies to secure data integrity across every stage of AI-driven operations before vulnerabilities escalate.”

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists and Publication
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
January 6, 2026
Whisper Report: What’s the biggest supply chain risk CIOs ignore?
Published to clients: December 30, 2025 ID: TBW2114

Published to Readers: December 31, 2025

Whisper Email Release:

Public/Video Release:

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract

“This Whisper Report investigates the biggest supply chain risk CIOs ignore. It captures urgent insights from Retail, Supply Chain, and Logistics Expo revealing how external shocks, demand disconnects, and fragmented systems quietly erode resilience. Industry leaders share candid perspectives on tariffs, inventory pitfalls, and costly tech missteps—issues that can derail growth overnight. If you think your supply chain strategy is future-proof, this report may challenge everything you assume about stability.”

Analysis available only to clients at this time. Join the YouTube Whisper Club at the Whisper Club Level to get access to the video edition today.

Related playlists and Publication
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
December 30, 2025
Whisper Report: What tech blind spot will stall aftermarket innovation in 2026?
Published to clients: December 23 2025 ID: TBW2128

Published to Readers: December 24, 2025

Whisper Email Release: February 9, 2026

Public Editions: February 12, 2026

Analyst(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Photojournalist(s): Dr. Doreen Galli

Abstract

“Aftermarket innovation in 2026 faces three critical blind spots: workforce training lagging behind rapid tech adoption, supply chain visibility gaps impacting profitability, and misinterpretation of EV battery health undermining consumer trust. These challenges, identified through expert insights at AAPEX and SEMA 2025, demand proactive strategies to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness in an evolving automotive landscape.”

Target Audience Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO)
- VP of Aftermarket Strategy, VP of EV Programs, Director of Training & Development
- Supply Chain Data Analyst, EV Battery Diagnostics Engineer, Aftermarket Product Manager
Key Takeaways
- Workforce training lags behind rapid tech adoption, creating operational inefficiencies and slowing aftermarket innovation.
- Supply chain visibility gaps threaten profitability, requiring cleaner data and faster delivery strategies to stay competitive.
- Misinterpretation of EV battery health erodes consumer trust, impacting resale value and aftermarket growth.
What tech blind spot will stall aftermarket innovation in 2026?

We took the most frequently asked and most urgent technology questions straight to the experts from the automotive sector gathering at the Venetian Convention Center AND Caesars Forum AND the Las Vegas Convention Center for AAPEX & SEMA 2025. This Whisper Report addresses the question regarding what tech blind spot will stall aftermarket innovation in 2026 as depicted in Figure 1.

1.      Training Can’t Keep Up

New innovation is great but only if you know how to use and apply it. The first challenge isn’t as much as the tech as the ability for the employees in the organizations to use the tech as shared by Texa’s Fabio Mazzon. “Up to speed with new technology and be try to be trained as much as possible and follow everything that is new in the automotive world.” Sometimes, the technology changes come faster than the teams are ready for. Keeping up to date with the current speed of innovation is a common challenge of many today. Be sure to schedule your inquiry with your TBW Advisors LLC’s analyst to ensure your roadmap is futureproofed and ready for all the new innovations coming your way. For additional research on training technologies available see Conference Whispers: HR Tech 2025.

2.      Supply Chain Stay in the Dark

One of the biggest challenges for those in the aftermarket industry is simply staying profitable with the greatest challenge being the supply chain. The tariffs alone have thrown global supply chain into a new environment. As Lynnco’s Andrew Yokiel emphasized, “Supply chain. Having greater data and visibility into everything from small parcel down to up to full truckload, LTL, and getting your product to your customers faster and having an idea where it is in the marketplace and having cleaner data to make business decisions to be profitable.” Profitability, much like having customers, is truly a key ingredient to staying in business.

For additional on data in supply chain and logistics see Whisper Report: What are the biggest challenges of using generative AI in Logistics and Whisper Report: Can generative AI prevent supply chain disruptions.

3.      Battery Health Misread

In order for the used and aftermarket to flourish, the value of those components or in adding those components should be commonly agreed upon and understood. Unfortunately, this is a challenge particularly in the EV market as Midtronics’ Lance Losinski emphasized. “Consumer understanding and credibility of the value say the health of a battery pack. That drives the market prices down because the understanding versus mileage on a gas car versus what’s the state of health battery and how long is it going to last and how do you repair these things, creates the biggest gap for a consumer to be able to trust and utilize the vehicle despite having lower service costs long term and things like that. I think that’ll be the biggest blocker in the near term.”

Related playlists and Publication
Corporate Headquarters

2884 Grand Helios Way

Henderson, NV 89052

©2019-2026 TBW Advisors LLC. All rights reserved. TBW, Technical Business Whispers, Fact-based research and Advisory, Conference Whispers, Industry Whispers, Email Whispers, The Answer is always in the Whispers, Whisper Reports, Whisper Studies, Whisper Ranking, The Answer is always in the Whispers, and One Change a Month, are trademarks or registered trademarks of TBW Advisors LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without TBW’s prior written permission. It consists of the opinions of TBW’s research organization which should not be construed as statements of fact. While the information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, TBW disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. TBW does not provide legal or investment advice and its research should not be construed or used as such. Your access and use of this publication are governed by the TBW Usage Policy. TBW research is produced independently by its research organization without influence or input from a third party. For further information, see Fact-based research publications on our website for more details.
December 23, 2025