As global trade management software has improved visibility to international shipments, companies have been able to enhance performance measures, moving from departmental indicators to broader metrics that drive coordination between departments, says Stephanie Miles, senior vice president of commercial services at Amber Road.

Managing deliveries with transportation scheduling software is quickly becoming a necessity for manufacturers as nationwide productivity continues to rise.

The Supply Chain Management Systems Project is a PEPFAR funded program administered by USAID designed to get life-saving drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDs to many developing countries, most of them in Africa. Clinton De Souza, Warehousing and Distribution Principal Advisor, explains how the project has leveraged private sector logistics firms to exceed its goals.

Mobility solutions are boosting employee and asset efficiency, increasing safety and reducing risk, especially for trucking companies. These and other mobility-driven changes are discussed by John Favors, specialist in field technical services at CBeyond; Michael Nischan, risk control and safety consultant, The McCart Group; Ryan Barnett, director-market development, XRS Corp; and Chad Oginz, enterprise account executive, Ortec. The conversation is facilitated by SupplyChainBrain Editor Emeritus Jean Murphy.

Today's multichannel consumers are driving manufacturers and retailers to find new ways to sustain service levels while containing costs. This, in turn, requires transportation and logistics providers to be more innovative and agile than ever.

Data integration is the key to getting the right information to the right person at the right time, enabling supply chains to seamlessly meet customer expectations. Kristi Montgomery of Kenco Group details the key components of successful data integration.

The complexities of managing global trade are many, which may be why a lot of companies overlook savings available in Free Trade Agreements. Scott Byrnes explains how to leverage FTAs and discusses other strategies to optimize global trade.

Jim Wicker, President of JW Logistics, talks about changes in the retail industry that are increasing the focus on last-mile logistics and the challenges this poses for both retailers and their transportation providers.