Maritime Industry Briefing: Demand Forecasting, Fleet Buying, and Blended-Wing Aircraft

## Distributors Seek Demand Forecasting Overhaul by 2026 According to a new report from Phocas Software, 54% of distributors expect to adopt a new demand forecasting approach in 2026. The 'Inventory Trends in Wholesale Distribution' report suggests that distributors are looking to improve their ability to predict customer demand and optimize inventory levels. "Distributors are under pressure to meet rapidly changing customer expectations while managing costs and inventory risk," said the report's authors. "Our research indicates a growing recognition that legacy demand forecasting methods are no longer sufficient, driving distributors to explore more advanced, data-driven approaches." ## Trucking Market Signals Potential Turnaround A recent 'fleet buying spree' suggests the trucking industry downturn may be nearing an end, reports FreightWaves. Strong truck orders in February point to fleets ramping up capital spending as freight volumes, rates, and regulatory clarity improve. "The surge in orders is a clear sign that fleets are becoming more confident about the future," said FreightWaves chief insights officer Dean Croke. "Fleets are betting that the worst of the downturn is behind us and are positioning themselves for an expected recovery." ## Blended-Wing Aircraft Pioneer Adds Aviation Veteran to Advisory Board Natilus, a U.S. aerospace manufacturer of blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft, has appointed Mylène Scholnick, the former Head of Global Fleets for Amazon Air, to its advisory board. Scholnick will help advance the commercialization of Natilus's regional freighter, KONA, which is expected to enter the market later this decade. "Mylène's deep experience in fleet operations and logistics will be invaluable as we work to bring our innovative BWB design to market," said Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev. "Her expertise will help ensure the KONA freighter delivers the performance and cost savings that cargo operators require."