Analyst Insight: The power has shifted from seller to buyer as consumers continue to bring B2C online shopping expectations and behaviors with them to the B2B markets they work in. Amazon continues to expand both its same-day delivery capabilities and its product offerings to encroach on some traditionally B2B markets like automotive aftermarket parts distribution. Like it or not, your business is being disrupted by, and in competition with, the Earth's largest retailer and marketing-savvy media company. - John Giangrande, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Leader, Fortna Inc.

Analyst Insight: The automotive industry is an orchestration of marketing, logistics and product development. This orchestration, which leads to higher complexity and demand, requires that many parts be available in manufacturing and services. And this global and complex way of looking at a problem drives the European automotive industry to operate in Asia, as well as localize their supply chains for sales in Asia. However, the logistics for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) between these two continents sometimes become complex. - Thomas Wiedmann, Managing Director, Europe, Tompkins International