The consumer products sector, like every segment of the economy, is facing volatility on a scale and level of complexity never seen before, particularly in the area of inventory management. Economic volatility and demand variability present challenges that old models for managing the CP supply chain are not equipped to handle. Fortunately, a new breed of inventory optimization technology is helping CP companies tackle these challenges and improve supply chain efficiency.

Numerous countries have implemented laws and regulations that control the importation of products with encryption. Complying with each country's regulatory requirements is essential to doing business for multinational companies, but there are challenges associated with establishing a global process to meet country-unique requirements.