The sign in the elevator banks at Coca-Cola Refreshments reads: "There is a person at the end of our supply chain." Well, that's a start.

The TrueCommerce EDI (electronic data interchange) Solutions Group of HighJump Software has partnered with NumberCruncher.com, a vendor of inventory and order-management software for QuickBooks users.

Analyst Insight: E-commerce continues to grow by double digits and many companies are striving to achieve omnichannel success. A successful omnichannel strategy means having the capability to meet customers' increasingly high expectations by enabling them to buy anywhere, take delivery where they want to take delivery, and make returns where they choose. While today's leading retailers understand the need for omnichannel success, the majority are falling short of meeting their objectives. – Kelly Reed, Executive Vice President, Tompkins International

Analyst Insight: The rise of omnichannel fulfillment and e-commerce is having a dramatic impact on distribution network design. As omnichannel fulfillment becomes the new normal for consumers, distribution and logistics professionals are increasingly reassessing their fulfillment networks, the attributes of their distribution facilities and the expectations placed on their partners. This reassessment is leading to more innovative fulfillment options, but uncertainty remains on the profitability of additional customer service solutions. – Barry Blake, Vice President, Research, SCM World

U.S. Carnivores U.S. meat exporters caught in the middle of the West Coast port labor standoff diverted millions of pounds of chilled pork and beef into cold storage facilities over the last few weeks, creating an oversupply of meat, analysts said.

Analyst Insight: Supply chain efficiencies and dynamics are tested daily by the heightened need for companies to meet a growing set of demands. As efficiency and consumer demand converge, visibility grows in importance and can only be brought about through collaboration. What makes visibility and collaboration between stakeholders possible is a common language of standards that can enable supply chain participants to understand and act on information with agility and precision. Industries achieve remarkable progress together. – Siobhan O'Bara, Senior Vice President of Industry Engagement, GS1 US

Retail demand planning is, to a great extent, a game of numbers. But the store that relies entirely on hard statistics is likely to be in for an unpleasant surprise.