Recent developments in the global trade environment have been coming hard and fast.

Despite the continued buzz around the potential for blockchain technology to enhance data security in the supply chain, the airfreight industry has seen a slow start to creating tangible application. But last week, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba put its word into action by premiering its own blockchain-encrypted platform, the Food Trust Framework.

It’s increasingly looking like Walmart and its partners will beat Amazon to take over Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce giant.

Challenge: A company's engineering and sourcing departments were siloed and lacking access to historical information and accurate market data (pricing, availability and risk). The engineering department partially designs based on performance, but the bills of materials (BOMs) sent to the sourcing department were not procurable. The company needed access to the right data to increase contract negotiating power and reduce product launch risks due to inventory and manufacturing issues.

Macy’s, the 160-year-old mall standby, is looking for a new audience — and thinks it has found it in a Manhattan concept store.