The blockchain has emerged from the shadows. Now it might hold the key to transforming global supply chains.

Analyst Insight: Many countries have struggled to regain the economic prosperity they experienced before the 2008 financial crisis. Stemming from the frustrations of slow economic growth, a wave of populism is spreading across many countries, and perhaps one of the most startling results has been Brexit. Populism does not necessarily mean the end of globalization, but instead changing globalization that is evident as supply chains are adapting to the new environment. - John Haber, CEO, Spend Management

The ability to monitor the behavior and condition of one's suppliers depends on having access to hard numbers. But a surprisingly large percentage of companies lack this critical data.

How can a new company break into the venerable freight-forwarding business? Technology holds the key.

Analyst Insight: There are a few risk-mitigation methods that can improve the bottom line, and they have been around for some time. They are Product Portfolio Management (PPM), Customer Value Management (CVM), Total-Cost-to-Serve (TCS) and Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment (GMROII). - Gregory Schlegel, executive-in-residence, Center for Supply Chain Research, Lehigh University

Analyst Insight: You design a product, source it, build it, store it, ship it, and your consumer enjoys it... then what? It is inevitable that at some point the original intended use will be over and the product will reach its end of life. What happens now is a topic that is piquing the interests of many traditional and non-traditional supply-chain players. The challenge lays in how to efficiently reintegrate or disposition these products. - Melissa Hadhazy, associate partner, Infosys Consulting

In the wake of the defeat of his healthcare proposal, President Trump might well be hoping for a comeback in the form of passing new trade legislation. What are the chances of that happening?