An environment of increasing risks, complex regulations and continuing cost pressures is impeding healthcare executives from moving quickly to seize untapped industry opportunities, according to the 7th annual UPS "Pain in the (Supply) Chain" survey. Globally, healthcare executives are planning for strategic partnerships and technology investment to mitigate risks and capitalize on growth opportunities.

"Planning for disruption" can seem like a contradiction in terms, but there are measures that food companies can take to protect themselves from the inevitable crises that threaten to derail their supply chains, however unpredictable they might be, says Brian Benjamin, senior director of strategic accounts with Havi Global Solutions.

Through its partnership with eBay Enterprise, Ace Hardware's omnichannel initiative now offers in-store pickup in many of its locations, and is moving toward making the service available in at least 1000 stores.

Described as its most important analytics announcement in a decade, IBM has launched a set of cloud-based data analysis tools using its Watson artificial intelligence technology. The company's goal is to make data analytics - and business intelligence based on big data - more accessible to anyone in the enterprise who needs it.

Automation may be the single most important issue for distributors across the country as they tackle the escalating costs associated with multichannel distribution.

As the economy continues to improve, more manufacturers are making capital investments to fuel their growth. When business owners and managers consider acquiring equipment, they often think of their payment option as a "lease versus buy" decision.