When organizations turn to the web to offer their suppliers and/or joint venture partners direct access to services and business processes to reduce costs and speed up processing, a virtual organization emerges.
As enterprises look to minimize complexity, improve inbound supply chain efficiency and reduce costs, there is a growing need for intelligent solutions that provide the visibility, optimization and integration required to ensure that every part, component and package is shipped using the most effective service level.
Initiatives such as the Global Supply Chain Forum, which resides at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, give the business world access to academic expertise and valuable research, says forum director Douglas M. Lambert. Such efforts are becoming more common, he says, adding that "the business community ought to be our laboratory."
Hubspan Inc., a vendor of business-integration software based in the cloud, has released six new business-to-business applications, built using the NetSuite SuiteCloud Computing Platform.
Encompass Global Logistics LLC, a third-party logistics provider specializing in the trans-Pacific trade, has launched a mobile application for cargo management, compatible with all Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod products.
With $12bn in brand revenue, Ralph Lauren was facing the challenge of coping with rapid growth, both at the wholesale and retail levels. Complicating matters were the apparel leader's broadly diverse customer base, geographic coverage and product array.
Omni-ID, a developer of on-metal passive UHF radio frequency identification tags, has introduced a new line of UltraThin tags and inlays. The devices provide on- and off-metal performance, an ultra-slim profile and support for flexible application on curved surfaces.
Aras, a vendor of open-source product lifecycle management (PLM) software, has made available cloud-based replication technology for Aras Innovator, developed by Ilesfay, a provider of data-replication services for organizations with distributed work groups.
Airclic, a provider of cloud-based mobility software, has released a new version of its Food Perform product for the food-distribution industry. The tool eliminates paper manifests and allows for clean invoicing.