CargoSphere, a cloud-based network for global freight-rate management for the ocean and air logistics industries, has developed version 4.0 of its CargoSphere Rate Network (CRN).

Analyst Insight: For the better part of 40 years truly leading-edge firms have made supply chain design/redesign using network optimization models an integral part of their overall corporate strategy. The focus has gradually evolved from a myopic consideration of the number and location of warehouses to a comprehensive examination of the entire supply chain, from sources of raw materials to the customer. The principal impediments to success are myopic scope and failure to institutionalize the process. - Jeffrey J. Karrenbauer, President, Insight Inc.

Analyst Insight: While much has been written about demand driven, daily demand variability drives operations crazy. Most current inventory planning and optimization applications are disconnected from daily reality resulting in operations relying on custom spreadsheets and tribal knowledge to reconcile the gaps between plan and actual. In addition, the inventory planning applications are often disconnected from the optimization applications (if implemented at all), further exacerbating the operations conundrum. - Rich Sherman, Supply Chain Discipline Expert at Trissential

The NOVUS Trust has launched a new logistics and supply chain degree in order to address the shortage of graduate talent in the supply chain and logistics industry. Sponsored by companies in the industry, the 4-year Logistics and Supply Chain Bachelors of Science degree course will "arm graduates with the tools they need for a successful career in the industry," starting with a guaranteed job from one of the course sponsors.

TAKE Solutions, a vendor of software for supply-chain management and the life sciences sector, has made enhancements to its OneSCM supply-chain collaboration suite.

Now more than ever, the supply chain is being buffeted by forces nearly impossible to predict - making increased levels of efficiency and agility more important than ever before. But you can become a Supply Chain Top 25 Peer Voter and help rank manufacturers and retailers who are leading the way in supply chain.