A lot of companies are falling short in their efforts to derive full value from the sales and operations planning (S&OP) function. But the main reason for their failure might surprise you.

The outsourcing of logistics is supposed to save businesses big money. They pay only for the services they need; they turn over complex operations to a pro, and they get expensive assets off their books. It all makes eminent sense - unless your name is Amazon.com Inc.

SATO Global Solutions has joined with Intel to offer a software platform that allows retailers to capitalize on the Internet of Things.

Checkpoint Systems Inc., a vendor of merchandise-availability applications for the retail industry, has collaborated with Microsoft Corp. to bring its Checkpoint RFID software to the cloud, and enhance it with Microsoft analytical tools.

What's the biggest risk to global supply chains today? Natural disasters? Terrorism? Supplier failure? Port strikes? How about ignorance?

Connell Limited Partnership, a global manufacturer serving the automobile, appliance, mining, rail and industrial equipment industries, has completed its acquisition of SencorpWhite, a provider of automated systems for the packaging industry through its Sencorp, Ceratek and Cerapak product lines.