Analyst Insight: From a strategic perspective, warehouse managers are faced with balancing competing objectives. They need to get orders out of the door faster, keep inventory moving amid fluctuating demand, and minimize costs. It will require not only process efficiencies within the four walls but better collaboration with both upstream and downstream partners to keep these competing pressures in check.

Analyst Insight: Not sensing the upturn in the economy is almost as bad as being hit with the downturn. Value chains have slashed inventories in their effort to remain cash-positive. Some are already scrambling as their sales pick up but their inventory coffers are empty. It's not surprising that sales and operations planning initiatives have grown in importance.

Analyst Insight: Continued globalization and increasing leverage of third-party services for manufacturing, distribution and returns keeps the warehouse and logistics sector strong. Though the growth of warehouse space slowed due to poor sales of consumer and commercial goods in the U.S. over the last year, technology sales continue to thrive though growth for some was not robust in the last year.

Analyst Insight: While the economic slowdown has adversely impacted the volumes of global sourcing and product distribution, global recovery will continue to fuel expansion of importing and exporting worldwide. For companies that source and distribute internationally - more than 80 percent of all companies that make or sell products - supply chain managers need to continue improving their knowledge and processes for effective global supply chain management.

Analyst Insight: Despite the fact executives downgraded risk levels in our recent risk survey, the impact of current economic conditions is long lasting. Global supply chains will continue to face major risks in 2010 and beyond. As such, designing a supply chain risk management strategy is still critical.

Analyst Insight: The retail industry will face many difficult challenges in 2010. Unemployment and underemployment are high and living standards for Americans continue to erode, leaving little money for purchases outside of necessities. Also, issues in housing, banking and health care will continue. Although there may not be much sales growth in 2010, retailers can still strengthen their bottom lines by having an effective retail supply chain, which is essential to reduce costs and maintain high service levels.

Analyst Insight: As the economic recovery proceeds, companies should be changing their sights from mere tactical cost-cutting measures to more strategic improvement initiatives. Productivity increases and cost containment are now considered a given at the leading companies. The bigger benefits are coming from companies that are integrating logistics and distribution more broadly into innovative supply chain improvement strategies.