SupplyChainBrain and JobsInLogistics have joined forces for the specialized purpose of:

Ripples of anxiety are likely to be coursing through internet retailers this month. That's because two events - the introduction of the Marketplace Fairness Act in the U.S. Senate and an opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy - made it more likely than it has been in 50 years that they will have to collect taxes in states where they don't have a physical presence. If that happens, out-of-state retailers would be compelled to collect sales and use taxes in almost 10,000 state tax jurisdictions that, according to the Tax Foundation, exist across the United States.

Apple is known for consistently maintaining a smooth-running global supply chain. But every once in a while, something blows up.

Of all the issues the Obama administration is grappling with, a modest redesign of what food labels say about sweeteners might not have seemed among the more controversial. But ever since First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the plan last year, a lobbying frenzy has ensued.

Billions of transactions around the world everyday connect buyers and sellers in the online marketplace. This globally connected marketplace demands and deserves a sound international mailing and shipping protocol.

The Reusable Packaging Association has issued comprehensive protocols to ensure the continued safe use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh and perishable products in the supply chain. The guidelines encompass washing, handling, storing, packing, displaying and collecting RPCs. They also include rigorous and defined Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP), and hourly, daily, monthly, and quarterly microbiological testing.

Is it feasible to scan every one of the 15 million containers that enter U.S. ports each year? With a new technology, the long-term answer might well be yes.

Analyst Insight: In optimizing their global supply chains, companies focus on quality, cost and service metrics and trying to maximize return on their investments in supply chain projects. What is often overlooked is the major impact that supply chains have on intangible capital of a company – its corporate reputation. – Viktoria Sadlovska, Research Director at Reputation Institute

What does it take to overcome the logistics challenges of serving customers in emerging markets?