Analyst Insight: Pressure is mounting on logistics infrastructure in China due to increasing domestic consumption. As Chinese consumers become more sophisticated, distribution networks will have to respond with greater accuracy, efficiency and speed. The same supply chain principles that have been tried and proven in the West will, out of necessity, become more accepted in China. - Jim Serstad, Managing Director, Asia, Tompkins International

SAP AG is acquiring SmartOps, the vendor of software for inventory and service-level optimization.

Analyst Insight: The talk in outsource circles these days continues to revolve around the need for bigger and better collaboration and innovation. Some articles talk about the end of outsourcing, but what they mean - and a better way to put it - is to think about the end of outsourcing relationships as we know them. - Kate Vitasek, faculty, University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education. and Founder, Supply Chain Visions

Analyst Insight: Third-party logistics providers continue to be the recipients of outsourcing requirements and have grown to provide a critical business capability, but the business rationale in selecting an outsourcing partner appears to be changing. The use of 3PLs remains compelling, with shipping companies continuing to report productivity gains - along with cost reduction and service enhancement - but in discussions with clients, increasingly manufacturers are looking to leverage industry best practices and process knowledge as a first priority. - Simon Ellis, Director, Supply Chain Strategies Practice, IDC Manufacturing Insights