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Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 26 3 5 Annee Ferri is Woodpack Global's vice president of communications. She plays a senior role in leading the organization's communications with the members of Woodpack Global and the industry. She may be reached at 703.519.6104 or annee@woodpackglobal.org. "His advice: start smaller than you think you need to. " companies that didn't exist a few years ago. Each has its merits, but the category matters less than two key questions. First: Do They Actually Know Your Industry? "e first thing you should do is get an understanding of how familiar they are with the realities of your business," Pericle says. A vendor who has never set foot in a pallet yard will struggle to build something that works in one. Second: Are They Willing To Show Up? "AI requires an on-site approach in order to be implemented to the degree that it needs to be," notes Pericle. If a vendor resists visiting your facility or taking time to understand your operation, it's time to move on. e decisions leadership teams make now will shape how their companies serve customers for years to come. Pericle's message, delivered to a room full of industry leaders shortly after our conversation, was straightforward: find your starting point, find partners who are equipped to support the journey, and most of all, just get started. "e Intelligence Age rewards those who move with high agency," says Pericle. "You have the know-how of your industry; you have these incredible tools—and the distance between having an idea that would change your business and seeing it actually change your business is shorter than it's ever been— largely because of AI." Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 26 3 5

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