Over the past five years we have experienced a dramatic change in the role that manufacturing has played as part of the fabric that ties together our global economies. No longer seen as simply "black boxes" in the supply network that simply consumed materials and produced products "” manufacturing has experienced a renaissance whereby investment has returned with an expectation of continued growth into the future. In today's demand-driven reality, the role of the factory has evolved to necessitate greater flexibility and an ability to adapt to real-time sales information, resulting in better customer satisfaction, efficiency and profits.

Gauging the size of the supply chain technology market is a problematic exercise"”determining what technology components to include and what to leave out, which companies to include and who to leave out.

Logistics complexity - in the form of fragmented channels, increased product variations, and consumer demand for customized solutions - has been increasing, according to a global study published by BVL International, a worldwide supply chain and logistics membership organization.

Saks Fifth Avenue is over halfway through a multi-year, multi-front, multimillion-dollar transformation into an omnichannel enterprise. The retailer has already deployed approximately 2,000 iPad tablets in its stores to facilitate associates' communication and engagement with customers, and will be launching an e-commerce site for its OFF 5TH outlet banner this fall.