The 16th Supply Chain Management for Efficient Consumer Response Conference, SCM 4 ECR, Business & Academic Partnership 2025, took place on 11–12 December 2025, in the historic city of Târgovişte – with the theme “Developing New Technologies in Aligning Supply Chains with the Consumer Experience. SC Security Management by increasing the Resilience of Inter-Organizational Collaboration Agreements” (https://www.scm4ecr.com/). The Conference was chaired by Prof. Virgil POPA Ph.D., Valahia University of Târgovişte, Romania, and co-hosted by Ruediger HAGEDORN, End-to-End (E2E) Value Chain Director, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Paris (the Global Network Serving Shopper & Consumer Needs). The event organizers were the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Valahia University of Târgovişte, and special partner The Consumer Goods Forum – E2E Value Chain.

Conference Co-Chairs were: Dr. Gerd WOLFRAM, CEO and Owner IoT Innovation & Consult, Partner Digital Connection (Cologne Area, Germany), The Founder RFID Implementation METRO Group, Head of the METRO Group Future Store Initiative, Author; Prof. Costel NEGRICEA, Ph.D., Habil, Rector of the Romanian-American University, Member of the Board and Honorary Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee  (Board of Directors – Comitetul Roman al Distributiei); Prof. Valentin RADU, Ph. D., Habil, Vice-Dean of Faculty of Economic Sciences, Valahia University of Târgovişte; Prof. Michael BOURLAKIS, Ph.D., Director of Research for Cranfield School of Management, Group Head (Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management) and Director of Centre for Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Cranfield University; Prof. Theodor PURCAREA, Ph.D., President of the Romanian Distribution Committee, Professor at the Romanian American University, and Member of the Advisory Board of the Romanian Competition Council; Prof. Marta STAROSTKA-PATYK, Ph.D., Habil, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland; Prof. Tomasz JAŁOWIEC, Ph. D., Habil, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Management Institute, Poland; Assoc. Prof. Gökhan KIRBAÇ, Ph.D., Istanbul Kültür University, Turkey; Professor Borna ABRAMOVIC, Ph.D., Head of Chair of Railway Transport Management, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences; Associate Prof. Ed LINDOO, Ph. D., Regis University, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Welcome addresses were delivered at the beginning of the conference by the Conference Hosts & Organizers Virgil POPA and Ruediger HAGEDORN, as well as by the Vice Rector of Valahia University of Târgoviște, Prof. Daniel Emil Constantin DUNEA, PhD. Ing. Hab. According to tradition, conference audience’s real interest, attention, and participation during the presentations was kept engaged from the very beginning thanks to the Conference Founder Virgil POPA and world-renowned Keynote Speaker Ruediger Hagedorn, who shared their valuable insights and expertise, as well as to the other distinguished speakers.

It was an insightful conference, a rewarding experience, that led to new insights and positive developments regarding more adaptable, resilient and agile supply chains, so as to drive competitive advantage by valorizing AI, automation and innovative approaches, ensuring strategic change and continuously improving customer-centricity. Also, the conference was a fresh validation of the passion, competence and perseverance of the builder of this reputed brand – SCM 4 ECR Conference – Professor Virgil POPA (who is also a Member of the Board and Honorary Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee), Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Supply Chain Management Journal, Valahia University of Târgoviște. And as usual, the SCM 4 ECR Conference benefited from the conference presenter Lect. Alina TĂBÎRCĂ, Ph.D., who ensured a deeply connection with the audience by delivering clear, engaging, and persuasive messages.

At this particular impactful event – SCM 4 ECR Conference – it was highlighted the need of ensuring essential skills’ development to meet changing business needs and shifting customer expectations, within the context in which a real Interoperable Talent is already required by an industry becoming fully committed to ensure an interoperable system building for the seamless goods and data flow based on Interoperable Professional able to blend Supply Chain, Technology and Commerce.