AFN, a 3PL based in Chicago, uses business intelligence to improve its internal decision making and to support supply chain decisions of its clients. Eric Malcolm, director of sales strategy, explains the company's approach.

Mobile has become an integral part of our everyday lives, extending beyond just personal use for the consumer to what is now a can't-live-without-it tool in the business world as well. Today, just about every industry is impacted by mobile devices, opening the door to workplace flexibility, increased efficiency and quicker exchange of data and knowledge. However, with this opportunity comes greater risk. Without the proper data exchange technology, secure information can be exposed, lost or more difficult to track. To address these challenges, application programming interfaces (APIs) are being used to help supply chain organizations take control of their data, and enable various systems and devices to communicate with each other.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says the international freight decline of 2.3 percent in the first three months of 2013, on a 0.3 percent drop in capacity, is a "temporary stall".

A report by Transport Intelligence entitled Global Transport and Logistics Financial Analysis 2013 reveals the winners and losers in the global logistics industry over what has been a tempestuous six-year period.