What has been the impact of cloud technology on the supply chain and logistics industry? Tom Boike, vice president of supplier management with UPS, offers a perspective.

Product lifecycle management (PLM) and product design have been applications that have been slow to move to the cloud, for a number of reasons. But as companies increasingly switch on to the flexibility, scalability and affordability that cloud platforms offer, so adoption has increased.

S&OP has never been more important or more confusing. For the supply chain leader, it is growing in importance and is on the top of the list for a 2014 focus. However, the market for technology solutions is confusing. We count more than thirty-five solution providers claiming to provide S&OP solutions with a range of capabilities. Here we share insights on why it matters. - Lora Cecere, CEO and Founder, Supply Chain Insights

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.

Supply chain, logistics and warehouse operations are at the heart of most companies' physical processes, either inbound into production or outbound to customers. This is never truer than for the food and beverage manufacturing industry in the UK.

High-tech firms have had to deal with volatile demand as consumers preferences have rapidly changed in view of innovative products and services. Market velocity is so high in this sector that products and entire companies can go from "high flier" to "crash and burn" very quickly. Even leading companies with strong brands have to continue to develop revolutionary products and new business models to stay relevant.