The big North American distributor of industrial products was looking for a means to eliminate paper and curb the flood of e-mail exchanges generated by its supplier-management efforts. It also wanted to keep closer tabs on a growing supplier base. Time for an automated solution.

From "What Happened?" to "What's Coming?"

To meet the challenge of Amazon.com and other e-commerce rivals, the parent of Sears, Roebuck and Kmart launches an initiative to provide one- to two-day delivery of orders to online shoppers nationwide, drawing on inventory from strategically located stores.

Argue all you want about the reasons behind gridlock at U.S. West Coast ports, but one conclusion is inescapable: it proves the need for effective supply-chain risk management.

In which we hear more insightful predictions about the coming year and beyond from Bay Area supply-chain executives.

Proexport, the Colombian government agency charged with promoting tourism, trade and investment has been reborn as PROCOLOMBIA, effective immediately.

Steve Ellet, vice president of supply chain design at Chainalytics, discusses the importance of supply chain network design and how to build a process that ensures confidence in results.