Kewill and LeanLogistics have announced their rebranding as BluJay Solutions, and, in conjunction, have unveiled the BluJay Global Trade Network - a model that goes beyond automation to help organizations harness the full power of the global supply chain ecosystem.

Analyst Insight: Today's supply-chain industry is currently dealing with a shortage of talent to fill critical positions. Unfortunately, many companies are also finding the skills in their current workforce lacking in order to manage today's complex business environment. In light of this, many universities are offering more educational opportunities to assist developing the talent base in the supply chain through online master's programs. – Karl Manrodt, professor of logistics and supply chain management, Georgia College, and Donnie Williams, assistant professor of logistics and supply chain management, Georgia College

The outlook for global container carriers remains grim at the outset of 2017, says analyst AlixPartners in their latest industry report.

Help wanted: America needs truck drivers. In 2015, American Trucking Associations estimated that for-hire trucking companies had nearly 50,000 fewer drivers than they needed. The shortage was less severe in 2016, but the trade group expects it to worsen in coming years.

Britain's car industry may never be able to boost the level of local content to over half in its cars to meet the standards set in some bilateral trade agreements, the chief executive of the country's biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover told Reuters.

Analyst Insight: Soaring consumer expectations and new legislation for GMO labeling and food safety modernization are driving a major transformation in the food and beverage industry, and rapidly creating a new industry normal. Supply-chain standards and new packaging innovations can help industry keep up with and even anticipate the demands of increasingly engaged consumers. – Angela Fernandez, VP of Retail Grocery and Foodservice, GS1 US