Logility Inc., a supplier of advanced retail planning and supply chain optimization solutions, has released Logility Voyager Retail Optimization V5.4. This latest release extends the value of an integrated retail and supply chain platform and delivers new merchandise planning views, extended allocation functionality and robust assortment planning capabilities, says Mike Edenfield, president and CEO of Logility.

Information technology providers who market to the federal government got some holiday cheer as the U.S. Congress and the White House approved legislation to improve the way the government acquires IT equipment and services. The reforms are significant and welcome, and no doubt will facilitate the marketing of IT to federal agencies.

Research suggests that 83 percent of global private label supply chain executives say supply chain transparency impacts productivity and overall consumer confidence. However, it also found that 43 percent of organizations are still using offline methods, like Excel documents and the telephone, to communicate with supply chain partners.

DIRECTV’s service depends on equipment imported from Asia and forward-positioned in 250 locations to support home installations. Having long used Microsoft Excel to forecast demand, the company had a rocky journey to an automated forecasting system from SAP. Randy Sullivan discusses lessons learned and ultimate benefits.

Backward-looking KPIs, especially those on safety stock, are a necessity in successful S&OP processes, says Erik Hjerpe of TreeHouse Foods, a private-brand food manufacturer. He explains why this is so and how TreeHouse employs a variety of safety stock strategies.