The last two years have brought an explosion of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) provided in long-term subscription or on-demand models. Both new application providers and traditional enterprise software license firms have provided new versions of their software and services to ensure a market presence in these sectors of the technology market (though there are still a few hold-outs that sell only on-premise licenses).

The consumer of the future will be more mobile, social and self-sufficient, willing to share details on themselves and their preferences in exchange for highly personalized relationships with their favorite stores, according to a new IBM consumer survey. The study also found that consumers' willingness to advocate for a particular retailer is becoming multifaceted, with consumers looking for a flawless experience, whether it's when they're researching, purchasing, or receiving delivery.

While automation of supply chain processes is considered an important factor in improving efficiency, a large proportion of respondents to a Kewill study still struggle with manual operations. Only 11 percent have 100-percent hands-free shipping in their distribution center operations, for example.

Demand uncertainty is far and away still the top concern of supply chain mangers, according to a survey by LifeWork Search, an employee recruitment firm. Eighteen percent felt inventory surplus was the top concern, 12 percent voted for inventory shortage, while 8 percent believe lead times are the top holiday concern, and 3 percent chose "other".

Retail is in a dramatic transformative phase. Consumers' multichannel access and shopping make multi/merged channel fulfillment the focus for retail. No more relegating supply chain to the backwaters of retail management!

A new innovation study by Latitude, Next-Gen Retail: Mobile + Beyond, finds that smartphones and tablets are fundamentally changing how people think about shopping and, by extension, their everyday lives. The research reveals that mobile shopping makes people feel more relaxed, productive and informed, as well as more open-minded and receptive to discovering new things.

Knapp, an Austrian firm specializing in warehouse automation and logistics, has developed an RFID-based conveyor system for sorting and packing goods in a specified sequence. The solution ensures that items can be placed within boxes in the correct order"”for instance, with the heaviest products on the bottom"”and that packages can be loaded onto trucks in a particular sequence, so they can be unloaded easily at various stops along a delivery route. At present, the system is being installed at a warehouse operated by Olymp, a German manufacturer of men's shirts.

The experience of a Houston-area couple indicates that maddeningly frustrating experiences with online shopping continue, and to the detriment of retailers.

Matt Fates envisions a world where no one talks about Big Data anymore. Using the totality of an enterprise's data to make forward-looking business decisions, develop new products, and improve marketing efficiency will be so common that there won't be a name for it. But getting to that point, in his view, will involve a cultural shift; a change of consciousness.