Analyst Insight: Sales and operations planning is almost sacred to those who have it, but still fuzzy to those who don't. Those who do, cannot imagine running their business without it, while those who don’t, are still debating the merits and are not clear about the value. Whether you have it and are looking for tips to improve, or are seriously considering but yet unsure, read on. - Bryan Ball, Vice President and Group Director, Supply Chain and Operations Practices, Aberdeen Group

Infor has developed an update of Infor Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) 10x.

Despite the vital role that technology plays in helping companies manage the complexity and volatility in global operations, only 48 percent of the more than 1,000 global companies surveyed for an Accenture study use technology extensively in their emerging market supply chains.

From banners to jerseys, flags to face paint, the World Cup illustrated just how important a brand is for firing up fans. As brands come to mean more to everyday consumers, so, too, do the processes – from procurement to distribution – needed to fulfill a brand’s promise.

A manufacturer of timekeeping technology learns all the efficiency tools in the world aren't enough without more precise demand planning and forecasting.

Since their inception, ERP systems have demonstrated their value in connecting business functions by bringing together data and making it accessible within an organization. However, with the globalization of supply chains and the increased need for collaboration, the ERP systems that once promised to be the "do-all" solution are proving insufficient when it comes to aligning business functions outside of the four walls of an organization. Sales and operations planning (S&OP) is one of those functions.

NeoGrid has released two new supply-chain applications: NeoTPM for trade promotion management, and NeoS&OP for advanced sales and operations planning.