Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) Optimizing Supply Chains and E-commerce: Inside PriceSmart’s Tech Evolution with CIO Wayne Sadin
Mar 24, 2025
Wayne Sadin, CIO of PriceSmart with 40+ years leading tech turnarounds, describes modernizing legacy retail systems into a real-time, AI-ready platform. He discusses embedding IT into business teams, shifting budgeting to drive alignment, multichannel e-commerce and fulfillment, supporting local suppliers across 13 countries, and preparing systems for RPA and future AI-driven operations.
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From AS400 Green Screens To A Fresh Outside View
- PriceSmart ran on a heavily customized AS400 green-screen ERP that sufficed until consumer behavior shifted.
- Wayne was hired as a consultant, found long-tenured staff and nearshore legacy practices, and was invited to bring fresh ideas.
Embed IT People Inside The Business
- Embed IT staff inside each business vertical so technology decisions originate from business needs.
- Wayne placed an IT lead in each of four retail silos and asked business leaders to treat them as part of their staff for weekly and quarterly alignment.
Make The Business Own Project Budgets
- Change budgeting so business units own project budgets and decide priorities while IT decides implementation.
- Wayne reclassified IT spend into business cost centers so each leader funds their tech roadmap labeled “business projects where IT helps.”
