Analyst Insight: Lehigh University developed the first MBA SCRM class in 2010. The concept has now grown to a global level: The SCRM Consortium includes 17 companies; SCRM continues to be a popular course at Lehigh and ERM is currently taught at Villanova University; 20-plus workshops and 10 conferences per year are held around the globe. A recently published book and the Consortium itself continue to support companies to Identify, Assess, Mitigate and Manage supply chain risks. - Gregory Schlegel, founder, The Supply Chain Risk Management Consortium

Analyst Insight: International e-commerce, also known as cross-border e-commerce, is growing at a rapid rate, but is faced with a number of challenges such as currency, delivery times, customs and returns. As a result, logistics providers such as FedEx, UPS and Pitney Bowes have acquired niche players to expand international e-commerce capabilities. Combined with these niche players, logistics providers are utilizing global gateways to reduce costs and delivery times. - Melissa Runge, vice president of analytical solutions, Spend Management

Analyst Insight: Many companies continue to struggle with ensuring their operations are fully aligned with, and are enabling, their business strategies. The rapid introduction of digital disruptions, and the resulting need for enterprise-wide digital strategies, have exacerbated the problem. Business strategies are mostly about products and target markets. Operations must deal with customer experiences and delivering on the services and value propositions for buying the products. - Gene Tyndall, executive vice president, Tompkins International

Analyst Insight: According to marketing firm eMarketer, double-digit growth is anticipated for e-commerce through 2020 from a projected $1.915tr in sales in 2016 to $4tr by 2020. Brick-and-mortar stores are investing heavily to compete with e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Alibaba, but will it be enough? Supply chains continue to play a major role as brick and mortar stores invest and transform their businesses to meet today's retail challenges. - Kim McQuilken, COO, Spend Management

Analyst Insight: It's surprising yet true that not many professionals in supply chain or S&OP are aware of Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC), a critical success factor metric. Many in finance are well aware of the metric. The elements are simple - Inventory Days of Supply + Accounts Receivable Days of Supply - Payables Days of Supply. Why is the metric so foreign and why doesn't everyone in SCM and S&OP use it to measure success? - Gregory Schlegel, executive-in-residence, Center for Supply Chain Research, Lehigh University