Technology

Consumers of the Future Value Self-Service and Personalization, Study Finds

December 14, 2012

The consumer of the future will be more mobile, social and self-sufficient, willing to share details on themselves and their preferences in exchange for highly personalized relationships with their favorite stores, according to a new IBM consumer survey. The study also found that consumers' willingness to advocate for a particular retailer is becoming multifaceted, with consumers looking for a flawless experience, whether it's when they're researching, purchasing, or receiving delivery.

Demand Volatility Remains Top Concern of Supply Chain Management, Survey Says

December 14, 2012

LifeWork Search

Demand uncertainty is far and away still the top concern of supply chain mangers, according to a survey by LifeWork Search, an employee recruitment firm. Eighteen percent felt inventory surplus was the top concern, 12 percent voted for inventory shortage, while 8 percent believe lead times are the top holiday concern, and 3 percent chose "other".

LexisNexis Launches Risk-Monitoring Tool for Supply Management

December 14, 2012

LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal and Professional has launched LexisNexis SmartWatch, a risk-monitoring tool for supply-management professionals.

Aldata Develops Shopper Relationship Management Tool for Marketers

December 14, 2012

Aldata

Aldata, a vendor of applications for the retail and distribution industries, has created Aldata Shopper Relationship Management (SRM), part of its new Aldata Omni-Shopper Suite.

Omni-Channel, Multichannel, Merged Channel - A Look at the Dynamic World of Retail

December 13, 2012

ChainLink Research

Retail is in a dramatic transformative phase. Consumers' multichannel access and shopping make multi/merged channel fulfillment the focus for retail. No more relegating supply chain to the backwaters of retail management!

Aligning Transportation With a Single Platform

December 13, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

Mike Mulqueen, senior director of product management at Manhattan Associates, talks about the advantages of integrating all aspects of transportation management onto a single platform and how the resulting holistic approach drives value at many levels.

AirClic Releases Update of Cloud-Based TMS Application for 3PLs

December 13, 2012

Airclic

AirClic, a provider of cloud-based software for mobile supply chain and logistics operations, has released version r12.4 of Transport Perform, its transportation-management system (TMS) application.

CargoSmart Offers New Visibility Tool for Ocean Shipments

December 13, 2012

CargoSmart Ltd.

CargoSmart Ltd., a vendor of shipping and logistics applications in a software-as-a-service (SaaS) mode, has created a new visibility tool for shippers and logistics service providers.

Combating Economic Volatility and Demand Variability

December 12, 2012

Filippo Foccaci, Product Manager, IBM Supply Chain Optimization

The consumer products sector, like every segment of the economy, is facing volatility on a scale and level of complexity never seen before, particularly in the area of inventory management. Economic volatility and demand variability present challenges that old models for managing the CP supply chain are not equipped to handle. Fortunately, a new breed of inventory optimization technology is helping CP companies tackle these challenges and improve supply chain efficiency.

Mobile Commerce Changes Attitudes, Could Boost Retail Sales, Study Finds

December 12, 2012

Latitude

A new innovation study by Latitude, Next-Gen Retail: Mobile + Beyond, finds that smartphones and tablets are fundamentally changing how people think about shopping and, by extension, their everyday lives. The research reveals that mobile shopping makes people feel more relaxed, productive and informed, as well as more open-minded and receptive to discovering new things.

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.