Adoption of carton-level tagging - using temperature-sensing RFID for pharmaceuticals - could be nearing an inflection point, as was seen recently with item-level tagging in apparel. But tracking temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals is very different from tracking apparel.

Although the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been in effect for 35 years as of Dec. 19, many companies still have a long way to go in complying with it. Indeed, 44.6 percent of professionals say either that their companies are not making improvements to prevent and detect corrupt activity or that they don't know if their company is doing so, according to a survey by Deloitte.

Africa is becoming more attractive to manufacturers and other businesses, but the 2012 BCG e-Intensity Index reveals inconsistency in Africa. Governments of the countries moving up the rankings look to encourage internet use among consumers, businesses and within government itself because they recognize that it can be a powerful edge in the competitive global economy. Other countries risk falling further behind. Is the glass half empty or half full? This is the question that the results of the 2012 BCG e-Intensity Index pose to governments across Africa.

Late next year, consumers will be able to buy smartphones that either come with native "hypervisor" software or use an app allowing them to run two interfaces on the phone: one for personal use, one for work.