Analyst Insight: Consumers now demand that their software solutions be flexible, configurable and are able to accommodate business changes without much business impact. Enterprise software vendors have been forced to shift their dated SOA and legacy-based architecture to more adaptable and configuration-friendly solutions that allow consumers to adjust to changing business practices and processes. – Dylan Persaud, Managing Director, Eval-Source

Analyst Insight: The issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indian retail has been in the headline news over the past few years. However, little media attention has been paid to the supply chain aspects of foreign retailers setting up shop in the country. The entrance of new foreign retailers into India will have a positive impact on domestic retail supply chains, bringing in global best practices, technological know-how and strengthening the position of local small suppliers. - Viktoria Sadlovska, Managing Director, Prameya Research, & Lead Author of the Pragmatic Value Chains Blog

Analyst Insight: Economic growth has recently slowed in the BRICS countries, causing concern among both global and domestic investors. In many industries, the time for reaping quick rewards from investment has passed. If companies want to continue succeeding in the BRICS markets, they need to increase their focus on creating competitive operational models, with a major emphasis on improving supply chain management. - Viktoria Sadlovska, Managing Director, Prameya Research, & Lead Author of the Pragmatic Value Chains Blog

The last year has seen much change in the enterprise business process management software market. The U.S. BPM market for 2013 amounted to $65bn and is expected to grow to more than $77bn by 2017. Certain verticals are poised to surpass the expected CAGR of 4.3 percent of market growth. Organizations focusing on BPM will see the largest impacts, as many inefficiencies can be fixed, if done correctly. - Dylan Persaud, Managing Director, Eval-Source

Sourcing and transporting raw materials and components are growing expenses for U.S manufacturers and distributors. Foster Finley, managing director, AlixPartners LLP, offers advice on how better sourcing decisions can help keep these costs in control.