Dan Cassler, assistant chair of the Information Logistics Technology Department at the University of Houston, offers an update on supply-chain sustainability - and details both the benefits and pain to be derived from such efforts.

Aldata, a vendor of software for retailers and distributors, has introduced Aldata Mobile Shelf Execution.

Logility Inc. has made available a new application that enables SKU-level planning for products where traditional forecasting techniques are ineffective.

Cortera has launched a B2B Purchase Insights offering, enabling sales, marketing and finance executives to better research and understand their customers, prospects and suppliers.

Kewill has developed a new version of its Web-based application for order management. The update of EasyTrade Web Edition allows open-community collaboration between companies and suppliers, enabling the electronic exchange of orders and e-invoices.

Thrive Technologies Inc. has released Firstcast, a demand-forecasting service.

An IDC MarketScape report from IDC Retail Insights finds that product lifecycle management has evolved to become a central lynchpin for retailers to conduct customer-centric, efficient and effective brand management. The new study, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Retail Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) Applications 2012 Vendor Assessment, examines the impact of retail PLM and its ability to improve return on capital and brand equity, while reducing risk. Vendors evaluated in this report include: Centric Software, Core Solutions, Dassault Systemes, Gerber, Lectra, NGC, PTC, SAP, Siemens and TradeStone Software.

Emcien Corp. has released a new version of EmcienPatterns, its application for analyzing customer buying patterns by retailers, distributors and consumer packaged goods manufacturers.

Epicor Software Corp. has formed a new alliance with Tour de Force CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Inc.