Analyst Insight: At the beginning of 2011, IDC Manufacturing Insights predicted that supply chain visibility would climb on the IT application priority list as manufacturing companies identified the business cases to improve both service levels and dollars saved. This held true throughout the year as manufacturers get a handle on what visibility means to their organizations in a tactical, rather than strategic, manner. - Simon Ellis, practice director, Supply Chain Strategies, IDC Manufacturing Insights

Analyst Insight: Ditching spreadsheet programs and stand-alone supply chain solutions for integrated software solutions is key to increasing visibility throughout the supply chain. By improving visibility, supply chain leaders can further optimize inventory and improve forecasting abilities, as well as increase the business's ability to react to disaster within the supply chain - a top priority for many executives. - Michael Koploy, ERP analyst, Software Advice

Omni-channel commerce has put the consumer in the driver's seat, with the ability to shop anywhere, buy anywhere and receive products in the manner and time of their choosing. While this revolution has been a great convenience to consumers, it has left many retailers scrambling to develop a seamless operation that not only delivers the consumer's expectations regardless of channel but does so profitably. Therein lies the rub.