If you can't comply with today's strict delivery windows mandated by many retailers, consider expedited shipments, says Tom Goosmann, sales director of Panther Expedited Services. The cost will be much cheaper than the chargebacks and penalties a merchant will assess.

Choosing the right supply chain is key to being a good steward of the environment, says Darrell Zavitz, vice president, supply chain, at the Dow Chemical Company. Moreover, there's always good business value in waste reduction and energy conservation.

Business is moving toward a model of empathy for a partner's organization and its goals, both commercial and fiscal, says Michael J. Stolarczyk, president of Kontane Logistics. A long-term, solid relationship built on that kind of collaboration ultimately pays off for all concerned.