Apprise Software Inc., a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply-chain management software for consumer goods companies, has created a new version of Apprise Mobile, its mobile sales-management application.

Soon, the labyrinthine aisles at Walmart's distribution centers - stocked high with canned beans, toys and many other products - could also have a low humming sound.

Anyone managing a supply chain has to have a good head for logistics, coordinating a number of sources in manufacturing or procurement, negotiating for the best supplies at the best prices, and navigating a maze of partners on all levels. This means an extensive amount of time taken for inventory and cataloguing.