Today's ever-expanding supply chain offers businesses greater opportunities for efficiency and success in the growing global business environment. The instantaneous and constant flow of data, products and services around the world, however, brings with it a greater risk of violating the numerous and often complex U.S. trade compliance laws and regulations. Businesses that fail to set up policies and procedures to ensure compliance face risks ranging from shipment delays to hefty fines and penalties.

Companies plan to spend more in 2013 on a range of procurement-related technologies, but they are seeking a more strategic approach to doing so. So says a survey, "Corporate Spending and Procurement Trends - 2013", was conducted by Xchanging, a business process, procurement and technology services provider and integrator.

Depending on which corporate silo you belong to, inventory can be a liability, an asset or something in between. How do supply chain professionals overcome these biases and implement optimal inventory management solutions?

Bribery scandals have dominated headlines in several countries in recent months, among them India and Nigeria. International enforcement of anti-bribery laws has been increasing in the United States and major European countries.

Today's supply chain is reliant on a complex network involving the movement of goods, services, funds and information across a range of parties worldwide. This makes the supply chain vulnerable to not only cyber-attacks and disruptions, but also cyber espionage.

Although fleet bankruptcies get most of the attention, the slow, steady and largely unnoticed downsizing of fleets will have a major impact on freight capacity as tonnage picks up, according to Derek Leathers, president and COO of Werner Enterprises.