Analyst Insight: Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) will no longer be able to squeeze the wages and benefits of their warehouse workers for cost savings. In the past, 3PLs came in with a lower hourly rate and a lower benefit package, with a mix of contract and full-time employees. The savings from this strategy, along with design improvements, workflow and systems, enabled the 3PL to present a value proposition with a lower cost for operation. - Valerie Bonebrake, SVP, Business Solutions, Tompkins

Analyst Insight: Cost cutting by itself is not fun for most employees and does not inspire them. But getting lean and cost cutting in some areas to make the company "Fit for Growth" is motivational because the goal is to reallocate resources and invest in capabilities that will help the company win. Once supply chain professionals embrace that the purpose of the cost cutting is smarter investment to become more competitive, they will rally around the cause. - Rodger Howell, Principal, PwC's Strategy&; John Plansky, Principal, PwC's Strategy&

Analyst Insight: The power has shifted from seller to buyer as consumers continue to bring B2C online shopping expectations and behaviors with them to the B2B markets they work in. Amazon continues to expand both its same-day delivery capabilities and its product offerings to encroach on some traditionally B2B markets like automotive aftermarket parts distribution. Like it or not, your business is being disrupted by, and in competition with, the Earth's largest retailer and marketing-savvy media company. - John Giangrande, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Leader, Fortna Inc.

Reversing years of steadily increasing prices, the cost of beef is expected to decrease between 10 percent and 17 percent across all primal cuts in 2016 in what amounts to "the biggest story of the year" for chain restaurant operators, said DeWayne Dove, vice president of risk management for supply chain management firm SpenDifference.

The Specialty Chemicals Market Volume Index, a tool created by the American Chemistry Council, fell in January, dropping 0.5 percent on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis after a 0.1 percent decline in December.

The outsourcing of logistics is supposed to save businesses big money. They pay only for the services they need; they turn over complex operations to a pro, and they get expensive assets off their books. It all makes eminent sense - unless your name is Amazon.com Inc.