A key component of supplier risk management for many companies is monitoring the supplier's financial health and viability to try and obtain early warning of potential supplier issues that could impact the continuity of supply. However, by itself, supplier monitoring misses opportunities to actually bolster and improve the supplier's financial health, which is particularly important for those suppliers that are highly leveraged and/or have cash flow challenges.

Is it wise to take advantage of early-payment discounts offered by suppliers? Or should you make other use of your cash until payment is due? There are lots of things to consider.

Transcepta LLC has begun offering trade-finance services to its customers.

Oracle Corp. has released 57 new mobile applications for its JD Edwards EnterpriseOne software suite.

Although U.S. companies still trail their European counterparts in using the Chinese currency renminbi for cross-border deals, the frequency has nearly doubled in the past year, according to a recent HSBC study, as reported by the publication Treasury & Risk.

By many accounts, as the economy adds jobs, more small businesses are looking to borrow money, and more banks are eager to lend it - at least to the right borrowers.

PrimeRevenue Inc. has partnered with Propell, a Southern African provider of financial services, to offer supply-chain finance in Africa.