Suppliers existing on already thin margins are fearful of being beaten down on price by powerful buyers. So why would they embrace reserve auctions, which end up awarding contracts to the cheapest bidder?

Transportation and the supply chain play a critical role in ensuring the safety of food as it moves from farm to the ultimate consumer, says Wilbur Deck, solutions engineer with Trimble.

For private colleges and universities, spend-management offerings can prove to be a valuable asset in the struggle to manage tight budgets.

Business intelligence is a mandatory tool for companies that wish to survive in the current economy.

The old days of the Quality movement seem quaint in retrospect: the banners, the slogans, the prizes and team-building events. Today, quality management is all about information — or, more to the point, how to keep from getting buried in it.

Supply-chain visibility is just the first step in the journey toward enabling a digital supply chain, says David McCarty, vice president of customer solutions with TransVoyant.

Jim Hayden, chief technology officer with Savi Technology, details how analytics are improving the supply chain — especially human capabilities.

Spencer Askew, chief executive officer with Teknowlogi, offers his definition of the term "software intelligence," and discusses how it enables new developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, as businesses juggle multinational suppliers and service providers, constantly shifting regulations, and more informed consumers demanding increased responsiveness and sustainability.