Retail

It's Time for More Innovation in Green Supply Chain Management

February 18, 2009

Adrian Gonzalez, director, Logistics Executive Council, ARC Advisory Group

To be honest, I'm a bit "greened out" at the moment. I feel like I did a few years ago, when RFID was all the rage. The first few months of RFID were exciting, learning about the technology and listening to executives at Walmart, Gillette (now P&G), and other early adopters talk about their ambitious plans. But as the months went by, there were fewer and fewer new developments to discuss or analyze. Every conference had the same set of speakers, and all the case studies (what few there were) started to sound the same. I think we've reached a similar plateau with green supply chain management.

Will Pendulum Shift from Customer Service to Cost Reduction?

February 18, 2009

Nari Viswanathan, vice president and principal analyst, Aberdeen Group

The elongation of the supply chain on both ends of the spectrum has resulted in a phenomenon where companies are able to compete at a global level for customers. Companies that were previously handicapped by lack of channel partners, high levels of investment in advertising and marketing are able to leverage the internet and compete with their larger competitors. In other words, globalization has resulted in increased customer centricity.

Supply Chain Planning Trends for Consumer Goods Companies

February 18, 2009

Lora Cecere, vice president, consumer products, AMR Research

Consumer products companies were early adopters of supply chain planning and supply chain execution. Most implementations are mature; yet in 2009, 24 percent of companies are considering switching supply chain planning vendors.

Culture is Key: Sustaining the Business Eco-system

February 18, 2009

Jhana Senxian, Sustainability & Corp. Responsibility practice leader, Aberdeen

Corporate responsibility agendas revolve around a triple bottom line (TBL) framework geared to benefit: people, planet and profit. A great deal of business-focused, sustainability research emphasizes a transformation of business processes that support the goals of planet and profit and neglects the centrality of people in making it happen.

Supply Chain Intelligence: Driving Business Performance Improvements

February 18, 2009

Viktoriya Sadlovska and Nari Viswanathan, Aberdeen Group

In today's global business environment, managing supply-chain-wide information effectively is becoming critical to business success. Today's multi-enterprise supply chains require the "intelligent enterprise" to make optimal decisions not only within its four walls but as it relates to managing supply chain partners and distribution networks. To make optimal decisions across end-to-end supply chains, executives and mid-level managers require actionable insights and intelligence on tactical and strategic levels.

Isolate, Prioritize, Automate

February 18, 2009

Dan R. Robinson, advisory services principal, Ernst & Young

There is a tendency to begin discussions of supply chain optimization from the perspective of available business process management software. But to attain real success, companies should base their technology choices on the ability to manage those issues that really matter. In other words, the real starting point requires isolation and prioritization of the most important needs and variables. [The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ernst & Young LLP]

3PL Revenues Are Up Despite Recession

February 18, 2009

Evan (president) and Richard Armstrong (CEO), Armstrong & Associates

Despite an ongoing freight recession in 2008, third-party logistics service provider revenues grew an estimated 5.5 percent to $128.7bn.

Supply Chain Carbon Coalition Meets March 17 in Brussels

February 18, 2009

eyefortransport

Rude Is Out These Days in Business

February 18, 2009

The Economist

Analytics Software Helps Best Buy Chart Financing Strategy

February 18, 2009

CRM Daily

Retail

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the retail industry — which comprises companies that operate physical or internet stores with diversified product lines. Learn how pharmaceutical and biotech companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.