Manufacturers, retailers and distributors looking to make better use of working capital have a number of creative options at their disposal. But many prefer simply to slow-pay their suppliers.

U.S. manufacturers are lagging their European counterparts in the adoption of creative approaches to supply-chain finance. But three companies are demonstrating the varied ways in which that tool can be effectively deployed.

To meet modern-day demands for speed and efficiency, logistics providers need to discard paper processes and go digital.

Suppliers existing on already thin margins are fearful of being beaten down on price by powerful buyers. So why would they embrace reserve auctions, which end up awarding contracts to the cheapest bidder?

For private colleges and universities, spend-management offerings can prove to be a valuable asset in the struggle to manage tight budgets.