Sales & Operations Planning

Companies in U.S. See 2018 Spending Surge as Tariffs Boost Costs

May 9, 2018

U.S. companies lifted their outlook for investment this year while noting that tariffs will raise prices and cause supply disruptions, according to a private survey.

How Do Companies Name That Price? A.I. Can Help

May 7, 2018

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

When it comes to determining the optimal price of a product, component or raw material, artificial intelligence can do more than come up with the answer. It can help you to understand the questions you ought to be asking.

Truck Maker Volvo Rides Demand Boom but Supply Chain Feels Strain

April 30, 2018

The New York Times

Truck maker AB Volvo beat first-quarter expectations thanks to strong demand for trucks and construction equipment across most markets but cautioned that its supply chain was coming under pressure.

DHL Reports on A.I.’s Potential Benefits — and Looming Concerns — in Logistics

April 25, 2018

Air Cargo World

DHL and IBM have released a joint report on the development of artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology and its potential to change the logistics industry — noting that, in many ways, A.I. is already making profound changes to the retail environment, not all of which are positive.

IMF Says the Global Smartphone Boom Has Reached Its Peak

April 23, 2018

Bloomberg

The global smartphone boom that’s helped propel Asia’s economic growth and reshape trade channels in recent years may have peaked.

The Staggering Environmental Footprint of All the Food That We Throw in the Trash

April 20, 2018

The Washington Post

The mass quantities of food Americans waste every year has staggering environmental consequences, according to a study published this week.

Nestle, European Retailers Make Progress in Talks to End Price Row

April 19, 2018

Reuters

Nestle and European supermarket retailers are making progress toward settling a months-long price dispute but the Swiss food giant still needs to offer more concessions, German chain Edeka said.

South Dakota E-Commerce Sale Tax Fight Reaches U.S. Supreme Court

April 17, 2018

Reuters

A high-stakes showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will determine whether states can force out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes in a fight between South Dakota and e-commerce businesses.

Nordstrom Is Opening a New York Store as Other Retailers Close Theirs

April 11, 2018

The New York Times

The Nordstrom family has run stores for more than a century, first selling shoes in the Pacific Northwest and later introducing fashion-forward clothing to wealthy suburbanites across the country.

How California Taught China to Sell Electric Cars

April 2, 2018

Industryweek

California wants 5 million emission-free cars on the road by 2030. China, with a far larger population, wants 7 million electric vehicles by 2025. California has a cap-and-trade program to limit emissions from power plants, factories and fuel suppliers. China is launching a cap-and-trade system to lower fuel consumption and cut reliance on oil imports.

Sales & Operations Planning

The latest news, analysis, trends and solutions regarding sales and operations planning (S&OP) and its impact on supply chain management. New technologies in S&OP 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 using S&OP solutions for supply chain optimization.