Increased offshore manufacturing coupled with growing demands for more customized products and rapid delivery require a more flexible order-fulfillment model. Supply-chain strategists and solution providers are responding to this challenge.

With economic activity heating up, businesses are again eager to compete in the global arena. To do so, they need to raise the performance of their supply chains to world-class levels.

Relying in part on point-of-sale data, this software improves merchandise assortment, boosts total sales and helps increase average selling prices.

Point of sale is "where the facts are" that help retailers readjust orders to accommodate sales peaks and valleys that may be predictable but aren't always intuitive.

Ten best practices in supply-chain planning, culled from conversations with leading supply-chain executives, analysts and vendors - the first of a series of six "Best Practices" articles to be presented this year.

Major ERP players are poised to give best-of-breed vendors in supply-chain management and execution a run for their money as the economy gains steam and companies once again begin to invest in technology.