With omni-channel, mobile, online competition and other forces at play, retail is in a state of dynamic transformation. Item-level RFID is playing a role in that transformation and major retailers are starting to adopt it in a big way.

Conceptually, supply chain "risk" is used to denote perils, loss, dangerous occurrences, hazards, and even vulnerabilities. Risks include everything from management functions to fraud, to fundamental honesty and loyalty issues encompassing every aspect of an organization's status and operations. In addition to the firm's built-in management risks, the international supply chain provides additional third-party risk elements such as foreign shipper practices, carrier practices, weather, foreign government involvement, unforeseen disruptions in the process, timing, language, cargo quality and quantity, even payment issues.

Survey results from MyBuys and the e-tailing group reveal customer-centric marketing - the ability to engage consumers in one-to-one conversations across the customer lifecycle and all touch points - increases buyer readiness, engagement and sales activity.

Schlumberger saved millions on its inbound transportation spend once it decided to re-tool the way it paid its freight bills.

The growth of global trade, internalisation and externalisation of borders, and increased security threats to international supply chains are putting pressure on Customs organizations around the world.

To put China's sustained growth into perspective, when it surpassed the United States in 2010 to become the world's largest manufacturer, its output accounted for 23 percent of global manufacturing. Fast forward two years and China has gained an additional 10 percent of total manufacturing share, with $2.9 tr of the total $8.8tr global manufacturing output, putting their total value at 20 percent more than the US.