For years, marketers have had two goals. They wanted to truly be able to engage with customers uniquely, based on both their interests and their value to the retail brand. They have also wanted to manage that conversation across every digital marketing channel, unifying email, web/mobile sites, display ad, and social efforts. While widely viewed as two separate goals, they were innately connected – how can you have cross-channel marketing without knowing who, specifically, you are communicating with? 2015 is the year when the promise of cross-channel marketing nirvana is fulfilled, finally.

A recent IHS Automotive analysis of user interfaces in future automotive infotainment systems finds increased global commonality and complexity. Technologies and features developed by automakers and suppliers have heavily focused on designing interfaces that users can understand quickly and operate efficiently. The Multi-Modal Interface Concept is a major growth driver in building new and innovative human-machine interface (HMI) platforms, according to the analysis by IHS Automotive.

Demand planning and forecasting projects are popular tactics today for boosting financial results and shareholder value-for good reason. They typically produce one-time and often significant inventory reductions but also higher inventory turns that allow organizations to sustain lower inventory levels over time. The results look great on paper, prompting executives to search for more ways to "optimize" inventory throughout the supply chain.