Supporting the many different channels through which today's consumers shop for, purchase and return products presents tremendous challenges and opportunities for retailers, says Annibal Sodero, assistant professor at the Sam Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas.

Data-based predictive analysis that helps companies anticipate global catastrophes and model potential supply chain disruptions is playing an increasing role in risk management, says Perry Rotella, supply chain group executive at Verisk Analytics.

Executives from supply chain partners Manhattan Associates and Papa John's Pizza discuss how they use modeling and optimization tools to safely test changes in Papa John's transportation policies, leading to continuous service improvements at the lowest possible cost.

Department store Kohl's has completed its installation of a radio frequency identification solution to track garments in select categories at its stores, as well as distribution centers.

Geographical information systems and advanced mapping tools will increasingly be used in the supply chain to map potential risks and mitigation strategies as well as to track people and assets inside the four walls, says Wolfgang Hall, global industry manager at Esri.

Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of CSCMP, reflects on the organization's accomplishments over its 50-year history and shares his vision going forward for the industry and its practitioners.

MIT's High-Viz Supply Chain Project is developing a way for companies to automatically map and analyze supply chain risk. Bruce Arntzen, executive director of the Supply Chain Management Program at MIT, explains the methodology underlying this project, progress to date and barriers that still exist.

Companies typically spread supply chain costs evenly across customers and products, but that results in some products and services subsidizing others, says Stan Aronow, director of supply chain research at Gartner. Aronow explains how cost-to-serve modeling can provide insights that lead to smarter and more profitable operating decisions.

The past year was a good one for the third-party logistics industry, according to the14th annual 3PL Study. Shanton Wilcox, principal at Capgemini Consulting, a co-sponsor of the study, highlights year-over-year changes and responses to "deep dive" questions.