Point of sale is "where the facts are" that help retailers readjust orders to accommodate sales peaks and valleys that may be predictable but aren't always intuitive.
Hollywood studios know that box-office receipts are greatest in the first weeks of a film's release, and the same is true for their video sales divisions. MGM Home Entertainment's VMI initiative ensure that its retailers are stocked (and replenished) with the latest videos.
As manufacturers and retailers outsource more and more of their business processes, they will need sourcing solutions that provide real-time information to all parties.
The breadth and depth of web-based applications for managing procurement and sourcing is expanding to the point that it touches on just about every important business process a company performs.