Larry Lapide, research affiliate at MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics, employs a maritime metaphor to dramatize the pressing need for companies to implement an effective sales and operations planning (S&OP) process.

Aldata has developed the Aldata Omni-Shopper Suite, an integrated set of software applications aimed at retailers and manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods.

Inventory optimization might seem like an old concept, but many companies fail to apply it properly, especially in the area of multi-echelon inventory management. Karin Bursa, vice president of marketing with Logility, details IO's key benefits and challenges.

JustEnough Software, a vendor of demand-management applications for retailers, distributors and brand owners, has launched its new Promotion Management tool.

DeltaTRAK, a cold chain, environmental monitoring and food safety management solutions provider, has introduced the Cold Chain Vaccine Monitoring Card.

Accellos Inc., a provider of supply-chain execution software, has released AccellosOne Mobile, a new series of mobile applications for smartphones and tablets.

India's business-process-outsourcing companies have a problem. The $50bn industry has enjoyed phenomenal growth: The top 20 BPO companies' employee base grew 12 percent in 2011, according to Dataquest, and the domestic market is expanding. Yet BPO companies are struggling to attract the right talent.

DeltaTRAK has introduced a line of time- and temperature-indicator labels for cold-chain, environmental monitoring and food safety management.