Awards
Presented by
Submission Deadline:
Friday, May 15th, 2026
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The NextGen Supply Chain Conference Awards recognize the companies shaping tomorrow’s supply chains with advances that are helping organizations navigate the complexities of the modern supply chain while also preparing them for success in the future.
When a company is selected as a winner, a representative from their company accepts the award live at the NextGen Supply Chain Conference.
The Visionary Award
The Visionary Award recognizes a best-in-class organization that exemplifies leadership across its entire supply chain. This honor is reserved for companies that consistently demonstrate forward-thinking strategy, effective use of technology, workforce development, and the ability to adapt and lead through change, setting a benchmark for excellence in the industry.
Evaluation Criteria for the Visionary Award
Evaluation criteria for the Visionary Award include —
- Holistic supply chain excellence across functions
- Clear leadership vision and long-term strategy
- Effective use of technology and data
- Commitment to workforce development and organizational maturity
Why Apply for the Visionary Award?
Apply if your organization sets the benchmark for modern supply chain leadership. This award recognizes companies that combine strategic vision, disciplined execution, effective technology adoption, and workforce development into a cohesive, future-ready model. It’s an opportunity to be recognized not for a single initiative, but for holistic, industry-leading performance.
Eligibility for the Visionary Award
The Visionary Award is editorially selected and not open for nomination. Recipients are identified by the NextGen Supply Chain Conference Advisory Board as best-in-class organizations demonstrating leadership across strategy, technology, and workforce development.
Accepting the Award
for Tractor Supply Company
Colin W. Yankee
Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer
2026 Winner
Tractor Supply is being recognized with the 2026 NextGen Supply Chain Conference Visionary Award for transforming its supply chain into a strategic growth platform as part of its “Life Out Here 2030” strategy. The company has reimagined rural retail fulfillment through a combination of network expansion, robotics-enabled distribution, and a purpose-built last-mile delivery model designed for bulky goods and geographically dispersed customers.
Investments in large-scale distribution centers, including its highly automated Maumelle, Arkansas, facility, and the rapid expansion of a nationwide hub network have enabled Tractor Supply to scale operations while improving delivery reliability and customer experience. By aligning supply chain strategy directly with business growth, Tractor Supply has created a differentiated model for serving rural communities.
Past Winners of the Visionary Award Include —
End User / Intelligent Transformation Award
This award recognizes an end-user organization that has successfully applied artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or advanced digital technologies to meaningfully transform its supply chain operations. Preference is given to companies that have moved beyond pilots and proofs of concept to production deployments that are embedded into day-to-day decision-making and execution. Winning organizations demonstrate not only technological sophistication but also strong change management, organizational adoption, and measurable business impact.
Evaluation Criteria for the End User / Intelligent Transformation Award
Evaluation criteria for the End User / Intelligent Transformation Award include —
- Technologies are deployed at scale and in active use (not pilots)
- Demonstrated operational, financial, or risk-reduction impact
- Integration of technology into decision-making and workflows
- Organizational adoption and change management effectiveness
Why Apply for the End User / Intelligent Transformation Award?
Apply if your organization has moved beyond AI ambition to scaled, day-to-day execution. This award recognizes end-user companies that have embedded intelligent technologies into operational workflows and are delivering measurable business impact. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate real transformation at scale—not pilots, proofs of concept, or isolated innovation.
Eligibility for the End User / Intelligent Transformation Award
This award is editorially selected by the NextGen Supply Chain Conference Advisory Board and Editorial team. End-user companies are not eligible to self-nominate. Recipients are identified based on demonstrated, real-world use of intelligent technologies that are delivering measurable supply chain impact.
End User / Autonomous Operations Award
This award honors an end-user organization leveraging robotics, automation, and autonomous systems to drive more efficient, scalable, and resilient supply chain operations. It recognizes companies that have thoughtfully integrated automation into their operating model, balancing technology, workforce strategy, and process design to deliver sustained performance improvements rather than one-off gains.
Evaluation Criteria for the End User / Autonomous Operations Award
Evaluation criteria for the End User / Autonomous Operations Award include —
- Scope and maturity of automation or robotics deployed
- Measurable improvements in efficiency, throughput, safety, or service
- Integration with labor strategy and operational workflows
- Scalability and repeatability of the automation approach
Why Apply for the End User / Autonomous Operations Award?
Apply if your organization has successfully integrated robotics or automation into core supply chain operations. This award recognizes end-user companies achieving sustained gains in efficiency, throughput, resilience, or safety through thoughtful deployment at scale. It’s a chance to highlight operational excellence—not one-off automation projects.
Eligibility for the End User / Autonomous Operations Award
This award is editorially selected by the NextGen Supply Chain Conference Advisory Board and Editorial team. End-user recipients are identified by the conference team based on proven deployment of automation or robotics at scale and the resulting operational improvements.
Past Winners of the End User Awards Include —
Solution Provider / Intelligent Transformation Award
This award recognizes a solution provider delivering AI-driven or digital transformation technologies that are actively deployed by end-user customers and producing real-world supply chain value. It honors providers whose solutions go beyond marketing claims to demonstrate measurable outcomes, strong customer adoption, and a differentiated approach to solving complex supply chain challenges.
Evaluation Criteria for the Solution Provider / Intelligent Transformation Award
Evaluation criteria for the Solution Provider / Intelligent Transformation Award include —
- Proven customer deployments and adoption
- Demonstrated customer outcomes and ROI
- Differentiation in technology, architecture, or approach
- Scalability across customers, industries, or use cases
Why Apply for the Solution Provider / Intelligent Transformation Award?
Apply if your solutions are helping customers move from AI ambition to execution. This award recognizes providers whose technologies are actively deployed and delivering measurable supply chain outcomes. It’s a chance to demonstrate real customer impact, not just innovation claims.
Eligibility for the Solution Provider / Intelligent Transformation Award
This award is open for nomination to solution provider companies offering AI-driven or digital transformation technologies that are actively deployed by end-user customers. Eligible nominees must be able to demonstrate real customer adoption and measurable outcomes.
Solution Provider / Autonomous Operations Award
This award honors a solution provider offering robotics, automation, or autonomous technologies that customers are actively deploying to modernize and streamline supply chain operations. It recognizes providers that enable execution at scale through reliable technology, strong implementation capabilities, and solutions that integrate effectively into real operating environments.
Evaluation Criteria for the Solution Provider / Autonomous Operations Award
Evaluation criteria for the Solution Provider / Autonomous Operations Award include —
- Breadth and depth of customer deployments
- Operational impact achieved by customers
- Ease of implementation and integration
Scalability and long-term viability of the solution
Why Apply for the Solution Provider / Autonomous Operations Award
Apply if your automation or robotics solutions are being deployed at scale and driving operational results for customers. This award honors providers that excel in execution, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient supply chains through reliable, scalable technology.
Eligibility for the Solution Provider / Autonomous Operations Award
This award is open for nomination to solution providers delivering robotics, automation, or autonomous solutions that customers are actively deploying in operational environments. Nominees should be prepared to share customer use cases and results.
Past Winners of the Solution Provider Awards Include —
Startup Award
This award recognizes an emerging company bringing innovative products, technologies, or business models to the supply chain market. It honors startups that demonstrate strong differentiation, early customer traction, and a scalable approach capable of delivering meaningful impact as the company grows.
Evaluation Criteria for the Startup Award
Evaluation criteria for the Startup Award include —
- Innovation and differentiation of the product or solution
- Market traction, customer adoption, or revenue growth
- Scalability of the business model
- Funding, partnerships, or growth trajectory
Why Apply for the Startup Award
Apply if your company is redefining what’s possible in supply chain innovation. This award recognizes emerging companies with bold ideas, strong differentiation, and early market traction. It’s an opportunity to gain visibility as a rising force in the supply chain ecosystem.
Eligibility for the Startup Award
This award is open for nomination to early-stage and emerging companies delivering innovative products or technologies to the supply chain market. Eligible startups should demonstrate differentiation, early customer traction, and a scalable business model. The winner will be asked to present at the NextGen Supply Chain Conference.
The NextGen Supply Chain Conference defines eligible Startup companies as meeting the following criteria:
- The product or solution has been commercially available or in active pilot/testing for five (5) years or less.
- The product must be in use by at least one end user, either through a paid deployment, pilot, proof of value, or structured testing engagement. Pre-revenue companies are eligible, provided real-world use can be demonstrated.
- Annual revenue does not exceed $10 million, or the company attests that it remains below this threshold.
- The company operates as an independent entity and is not a subsidiary of a large, established solution provider.
Past Winners of the Startup Awards Include —
NEW THIS YEAR!
Partnership in Execution Award
This award recognizes a joint achievement between an end user and a solution provider or consulting partner for delivering a successful, measurable operational initiative. It celebrates collaboration that goes beyond technology deployment to produce tangible improvements in performance, efficiency, or resilience, demonstrating shared accountability and execution excellence.
Evaluation Criteria for the Partnership in Execution Award
Evaluation criteria for the Partnership in Execution Award include —
- Clarity of the business problem addressed
- Measurable operational or financial outcomes
- Strength and effectiveness of the partnership
- Quality of execution and sustainability of results
Why Apply for the Partnership in Execution Award
Apply if a true partnership made the difference in delivering a successful operational initiative. This award celebrates end users and providers who worked together to solve real problems and achieve measurable results. If collaboration, not just technology, was the key to success, this is your moment to tell that story.
Eligibility for the Partnership in Execution Award
This award is open for nominations. It recognizes a successful collaboration between an end user and a solution provider or consulting partner that delivered measurable operational results. Recipients are identified through editorial research and advisory board input. The winning combination will be asked to present their achievements at the NextGen Supply Chain Conference.
