Analyst Insight: Consumers want the same experience regardless of what supply chain is in play. Consumers' expectations are growing and now the brands must be more cognizant of their supply chains and how it supports the brand. The dynamics between CPG - retail - consumer has changed drastically. Consumers no longer distinguish between channels and therefore CPGs themselves must be more proactive to manage their role in this ecosystem. - Guy F. Courtin, Vice President & Principal Analyst Constellation Research

Analyst Insight: Data has become as consumable as a box of crackers. As a society, we expect information about product origins, ingredients, allergens and other information will be available at our fingertips prior to purchase. However, data inconsistencies often frustrate consumers on their quest to learn more and can stop them from completing their purchase. As a result, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are focusing on data quality to satisfy the demands of increasingly empowered consumers. - Angela Fernandez, Vice President of Retail Grocery and Foodservice, GS1 US

Analyst Insight: Digital business creates new opportunities for consumer packaged goods companies to transact directly to their end consumers. Digital business is information-enabled business that employs an abundance of new information in ways that better service customers. Bottom-line digital business offers the potential to transform the way that CPG companies interact with and serve their customers allowing them to create new operating models that tighten the bonds with their end consumer, which has the potential to transmogrify the CPG industry. - Dwight Klappich, Vice President, Supply Chain Research, Gartner

Only 18 percent of CEOs say they have eliminated operational silos and are delivering seamless omnichannel shopping experiences for their customers. This means that the majority of retailers surveyed are still operating in silos, which is taking a toll on retailers' profitability and ability to create a seamless shopping experience for customers.

Analyst Insight: Consumer perceptions of a company's supply chain have a big impact on how consumers feel about a company and its corporate brand. Research provides insight into how supply chain reputation impacts the overall corporate reputation and how supply chain strategies can be used to boost consumer perceptions of corporate brands. - Viktoria Sadlovska, Research Director, Reputation Institute

Analyst Insight: As technology platforms become more sophisticated, affordable, secure and widespread, they are poised to become useful tools in spurring collaboration along the supply chain. In fact, when coupled with collaborative buyer-supplier agreements, it could become a primary factor that makes collaboration a reality instead of just an aspiration. - Kate Vitasek, faculty member of the University of Tennessee's College of Business Administration

Analyst Insight: The demand for increased efficiency in China distribution is driving some incremental improvements in supply chain. Growth is on the rise for domestic transportation, localized supply chain IT solutions are experiencing revenue growth, and the amount of automation installed in new facilities is on the rise. Changes are also happening in real estate and there is an increase amongst importing and exporting. - Jim Serstad, Managing Director Asia, Tompkins International

Analyst Insight: Companies competing in the chemical and energy industries continue to place a high priority on sustainability and environmental responsibility. The high visibility of these factors in today's society certainly helps make the case for sustainability and environmental responsibility in terms of maintaining a positive brand image. However, leading firms are also recognizing that efforts to drive sustainability and protect the environment are also helping to deliver additional value beyond brand image. - John Santagate, Research Manager, IDC

Law enforcement is hot on the trail of cargo thieves. But the thieves are hot on the trail of your shipments.