Analyst Insight: Many companies continue to struggle with ensuring their operations are fully aligned with, and are enabling, their business strategies. The rapid introduction of digital disruptions, and the resulting need for enterprise-wide digital strategies, have exacerbated the problem. Business strategies are mostly about products and target markets. Operations must deal with customer experiences and delivering on the services and value propositions for buying the products. - Gene Tyndall, executive vice president, Tompkins International

Analyst Insight: According to marketing firm eMarketer, double-digit growth is anticipated for e-commerce through 2020 from a projected $1.915tr in sales in 2016 to $4tr by 2020. Brick-and-mortar stores are investing heavily to compete with e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Alibaba, but will it be enough? Supply chains continue to play a major role as brick and mortar stores invest and transform their businesses to meet today's retail challenges. - Kim McQuilken, COO, Spend Management

The ability to monitor the behavior and condition of one's suppliers depends on having access to hard numbers. But a surprisingly large percentage of companies lack this critical data.

Analyst Insight: The need to enable omnichannel capabilities has driven significant capital investments and will continue to do so. We are seeing the first wave of omnichannel investments reach maturity and paying dividends. Those companies whose investments were too little or came too late are struggling. But as e-commerce growth continues, steadily carving out more of the retail sales pie, companies will need to re-evaluate their networks and make additional investments to drive competitive advantage. - Jason Denmon, retail industry leader, Fortna Inc.