Although supply chain finance has been around for a long time (in different forms), in the past two years companies have taken a new look at this area. Pressed by the growing global competition to continuously reduce costs, companies are looking for yet another source of savings or profit growth - and supply chain finance has emerged as a new area to target to gain these improvements. Companies have begun to realize that finance costs embedded in the supply chain could be reduced by optimizing financial strategies with supply chain partners, finding new sources of pre- or post-export financing and implementing financial supply chain technologies. Some innovative firms have already revised the financial relationships with their buyers, suppliers, financiers and services or technology providers, which has allowed them to improve supply chain management processes and obtain better access to credit at various stages in the supply chain. New developments in supply chain finance, together with the supporting technologies, are helping market leaders to enhance global trade management and improve relationships with suppliers and customers worldwide.

-Viktoriya Sadlovska, research analyst, AberdeenGroup