I don't know anyone who would argue with the assertion that supply chain operations must be highly dynamic and adaptable in order to succeed in today's fast-changing markets. Why is it, then, that pricing of transportation and other supply chain services remains a largely static process, based on annual bids and static routing guides that can never do more than reflect a single snapshot in time of a company's freight volumes and flows?

Demand for U.S. industrial distribution centers, larger than 300,000 square feet, is high and rising, according to real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle's first "Big Box Velocity Index". Improving economic conditions, the continuing growth of e-commerce and a deep bench of tenants seeking space have all created this highly competitive fight for industrial and warehousing space. As a result, there is 96.7 million square feet of industrial construction under way, with nearly half speculative, with an average building size of 360,000 square feet.

With advancing technology and the short electronic product lifecycles that come with these innovations, the electronics industry is ever-evolving and changing to meet the needs of consumers globally. While there are a number of best practices to follow and supply chain trends to be aware of when planning for the product development and launches of the next phone, computer, tablet or other electronics device, there are four that top the list, according to the Change in the (Supply) Chain survey that IDC Manufacturing Insights conducts each year on behalf of UPS.