Analyst Insight: The talk in outsource circles these days continues to revolve around the need for bigger and better collaboration and innovation. Some articles talk about the end of outsourcing, but what they mean - and a better way to put it - is to think about the end of outsourcing relationships as we know them. - Kate Vitasek, faculty, University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education. and Founder, Supply Chain Visions

Analyst Insight: With the government of India recently liberalizing foreign investment into the country's retail sector, many global retailers are eyeing the country as the next expansion opportunity. The experience of early entrants into India's organized retail has shown that supply chain inefficiencies are among the top hurdles to profitability. The unique Indian context requires creative sourcing approaches and significant investment in training and retaining local skilled supply chain talent. - Viktoria Sadlovska, Chief Research Officer, Prameya Research

Analyst Insight: Third-party logistics providers continue to be the recipients of outsourcing requirements and have grown to provide a critical business capability, but the business rationale in selecting an outsourcing partner appears to be changing. The use of 3PLs remains compelling, with shipping companies continuing to report productivity gains - along with cost reduction and service enhancement - but in discussions with clients, increasingly manufacturers are looking to leverage industry best practices and process knowledge as a first priority. - Simon Ellis, Director, Supply Chain Strategies Practice, IDC Manufacturing Insights

UPS has launched of UPS Access Point, a network of convenience stores, petrol stations and newsagents which consumers purchasing goods on the web can choose for delivery and returns. It is starting with a network of 600 sites with 1,500 set to be in place in the United Kingdom by June 2013.

The government is to spend $180mn on construction of the new Kampala Port at Bukasa in Wakiso District. Cypriano Okello, the deputy project coordinator, said the government would acquire 500 hectares of land for the port in May.