John Brockwell, practice leader in trade management consulting with J.P. Morgan, talks about how companies are shifting from a mindset based purely on cost, to one that the accounts for the variability of global supply chains.

Some brand owners are working closely with retailers, but there's still a big disconnect between planning and reality, when it comes to getting the right product to the right stores, according to Prakash Arunkundrum, director of process consulting with i2 Technologies.

Al Gagnon, senior account executive with enVista, traces the history of labor-management applications in the warehouse, and talks about why and where the technology is catching on with companies today.

The battle between enterprise and stand-alone applications continues. Patti Satterfield, vice president of marketing and business development with Fortna, outlines some of the considerations companies need to take into account before choosing between the two.

Senior adviser Kevin Dooley traces the history of the initiative, and details its ongoing efforts in devising a standardized method of sustainability reporting for consumer product manufacturers.