Technology

British Telecommunications Issues Cloud-Based App for Global Supply Chains

November 2, 2012

British Telecommunications plc (BT) has developed cloud-based capabilities for BT Trace, the company's suite of services for managing global supply chains.

JDA Releases Multichannel, Cloud-Based Training Program

November 2, 2012

JDA Software Group Inc.

JDA Software Group Inc. has released JDA Minutes, a new multichannel training service.

IFS Launches New Smartphone Apps; Update of Service-Management Tool

November 2, 2012

IFS

IFS, a vendor of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and related software, has launched seven new smartphone applications in the IFS Touch Apps series, in addition to its first app for Windows Phone and Windows 8.

Motorola Solutions Unveils New Line of Hands-Free Mobile Computers

November 1, 2012

Motorola Solutions

Motorola Solutions, Inc. has developed the HC1 headset computer.

How to Align Supply Chain Capability and IT Systems

October 29, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

Every company possesses supply-chain capabilities and supporting IT systems. But they often don't mesh. Roddy Martin, senior vice president of global supply chain with CCI, calculates the price of misalignment - and lays out a strategy for combating the chronic problem.

You Must Know Suppliers' Capabilities Up Front or Your Product Launch Could Fail

October 29, 2012

Inside Supply Management

Building solid supplier relationships and focusing on value creation can help supply managers discover strategic suppliers' unique capabilities.

The 'New' Internet Demands That Every Business 'Go Digital'

October 26, 2012

BCG Perspectives

Every business needs to "go digital." Data about customers, competitors, suppliers and employees are exploding. Ninety percent of all data were created in the past two years. By 2016, there will be 3 billion internet users globally, and the internet economy will reach $4.2tr in the G-20 nations. No company or country can afford to ignore this phenomenon.

Retailers, Grocers, Restaurants 'Miss Major Opportunities' to Cut Costs and Improve the Bottom Line

October 26, 2012

Intesource

Is ignorance bliss when it comes to sourcing? A recent poll of buyers in the retail, grocery and restaurant chain industries found that 75 percent of those not using e-sourcing methods are confident that they're getting the best value from their suppliers. But they're wrong, according to a report from Intesource. A suppliers' true rock-bottom price is almost always far lower than a buyer suspects. And it's even more likely another qualified source may be hungrier for new business. Buyers just need to know how to shift the tables.

Bringing WMS to the Cloud

October 26, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

Dan Radunz, vice president of product development with HighJump Software, shares his insights on the readiness of warehouse-management systems to move to the cloud. He also reveals some of the top drivers for cloud adoption by WMS vendors and their customers.

U.S. Companies Continue to 'Play Year-End Games' With Receivables, Payables and Inventory

October 25, 2012

REL

Many large U.S. companies continue to try and "game the system" at year's end, artificially improving their balance sheets by manipulating receivables, payables and inventory, according to a study from REL, a division of The Hackett Group. Their efforts, which can range from deep discounting and extended payment terms on sales to simply "losing" supplier bills, do have a positive impact in Q4, the study found. But these companies pay a harsh price in Q1, when working capital performance bounces back to even worse levels than before.

Technology

The latest news, analysis and trends regarding technology solutions and their impact on supply chain management. New technologies in forecasting and demand planning, supply chain visibility, big data analytics, the internet of things (IoT), cloud and software as a service (SaaS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and transportation management systems (TMS) and WMS are transforming the way companies do business - and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are improving operations through their strategic use of supply chain technology solutions.