Regional parcel carriers can fill an important market niche for many shippers, says Mark Magill, director of business development at OnTrac. By specializing in next-day deliveries within specific and often large geographic regions, these carriers can offer greater flexibility, faster transit and lower rates, he says.

The number one imperative for North American shippers continues to be cost reduction and cost containment, which means that logistics providers must analyze and scrutinize operations more diligently than ever in order to find such opportunities, says Jeremy Haycock, president of Damco North America.

Seagate Technology has launched a program to eliminate costly and wasteful inventory from its supply chain. Scott Robbleloth, director of supply chain, explains how the company did it.

Benoit Reinards of Flanders Investment and Trade explains why global retailers like Nike have made Flanders their hub for distribution throughout Europe and beyond.

The Open Group Trusted Technology Forum, a global consortium formed to create information-technology standards and certifications, has published the Open Trusted Technology Standard (O-TTPS).