SAP SE has released version 6.1 of the SAP Integrated Business Planning application.

Analyst Insight: S&OP is much more of a journey than a destination. After getting the supply/demand match process established, the question becomes "what is needed to move the process beyond the supply chain function and get ownership across the organization?" A good place to start is the front end of your business. - Bryan Ball, Vice President and Group Director, Supply Chain and Global Supply Management Practices, Aberdeen

Analyst Insight: Data analytics is playing a bigger role in supply chain analysis and consulting practices. According to a Deloitte study, "big data" and advanced analytics are being integrated into optimization tools, demand forecasting, integrated business planning, supplier collaboration and risk analytics at a rapid pace. - Traci Doenitz, Vice President of Information Systems, Spend Management Experts

Analyst Insight: Sales and operations planning is a fundamental process that all retail, manufacturing and consumer products companies should have in place. Surprisingly, many companies do not have a process to formally balance product supply with product demand. Many articles and books have already been written on the technical steps which outline a successful S&OP program. These resources describe the nuances of product rationalization, demand forecasting, supply forecasting, S&OP "True Up" and executive review. - Brewster Smith, Project Manager, Tompkins International

ModusLink Corp. has launched its Enhanced Planning and Integrated Collaboration (EPIC) tool.

Long tails can get, well, rather long. Some see this as a mandate to hunt down and kill off the items furthest out on the tail.