The U.S. trade deficit widened last year to the biggest since 2012 as exports fell more than imports, though a narrowing gap in December suggests demand is stabilizing overseas for American goods.

It's no exaggeration to say that supply chain planning is seeing a revolution, says Jack Noppe, chief technology officer at Kinaxis. Now, no function or department has to plan in the dark or without knowledge of how a plan affects others in the supply chain.

DHL Express has published research highlighting growth opportunity for retailers and manufacturers with an international online product offering. The report, "The 21st Century Spice Trade: A Guide to the Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunity," looks at the markets and products that offer the highest growth potential, the motivations and preferences of customers making international online purchases and the success factors for online retailers that wish to expand overseas.

Asia's expanding economies and growing middle class are a benefit to Singapore and may help offset the threat of a trade pullback from the U.S., according to the city state's Economic Development Board.

The ideal center of excellence not only supports internal teams at a company but advocates for customers, says Leah McGuire, director of the Kinaxis Center of Excellence.

Ordering a bottle of Corona beer at a bar in the United States is a simple proposition. But getting it there from its brewery in Mexico involves a complex, cross-border supply network that will likely get more complicated if U.S. president Donald Trump follows through on vows to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or tax imports.