ChainLink has created a beautiful 48" X 36" poster summarizing the ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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A recent study estimates the cost from sicknesses due to contaminated food in the U.S. to be $152B/year. Meanwhile, food safety legislation is making its way through congress, containing new guideline... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Although many people think of Augmented Reality as a game—ride the Tour de France or ski the Himalayas, augmented reality has genuine practical applications for challenging supply chain tasks.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Achieving excellence in Supply Chain has always been a challenge, but the last decade has gotten more complex, requiring solutions to enable clarity... ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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In part two we explore the impacts that New Product Introduction and Inventory Strategy decisions have across the enterprise on Sourcing and Transportation teams.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Cloud Computing continues to generate new and innovative business opportunities, especially when combined with Marketing Automation, for the CEO, CFO, and Supply Chain, not just the Marketing Departme... (more information)
by By Barbara Angius Saxby, Accelent Consulting
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Social Networking has already changed the structure of some governments. And it has power to change the very structure of the enterprise. ... (more information)
by Sree Hameed
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The Next Generation of Transportation Applications.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The sluggish return of jobs during the economic recovery may be due, in part, to the slower-than-expected spending of stimulus money. Most states lag behind in getting started on the local level, and ... (more information)
by Commentary by Bill McBeath
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How Systems Will Work in the Future -- Actually Now.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Immigration policy has a profound influence on the makeup and availability of the workforce, the degree of competitiveness, and the culture of a nation. But setting immigration policy is a difficult b... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Management Dynamics serves Content and services beyond traditional software solutions.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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China's currency is in the news again as the EU and US try to deal with trade imbalances and their own flagging economies...... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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How SMB Food Companies Embrace Technology and Thrive.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Natural gas seems to be in the headlines everywhere recently. From T. Boone Pickens's plan to Exxon's proposed merger with U.S. natural-gas producer XTO Energy Inc., to Xcel Energy Inc.'s plan to move... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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For decades, Demand Management and Retail have been begging for smarter customer segmentation and analytics. That day may have come...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Is this just one more part of Google's plan for Total World Domination (or at least perhaps to become a telecoms company)? Actually this recent announcement is likely to encourage innovation a... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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No longer content with merely providing the dominant search engine scouring and indexing every square millimeter of the web, Google just launched a new addition to their Google Product Search for mobi... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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SAP Concur recently launched SAP Business Exchange. The vision is bold: to provide an SMB community—across all of SAP and beyond to non-SAP customers—that aggregates purchasing power, provides peer be... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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GS1, HP and Microsoft enter product recall space - but GS1 enters as a nonprofit. What is the impact to industry?... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Insights and updates from the GT Nexus user conference.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Having attended my first Bridges in 2004 in San Francisco and seeing it again ten years later, it is impressive to see the growth. Ten years -- ten times the growth. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Hacking reaches into every aspect of consumer data&.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Convergence - Unified Applications and Devices for the Second Decade.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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HarrisData technology strategy includes Apple and IBM PureSystems technologies.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The tsunamis of data generated by connected care will be nearly useless to caregivers without systems that help digest it all. Can the systems and methods already developed to manage big data in suppl... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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SAP Ariba is getting serious about managing direct materials spend, as well as innovating in areas such as machine learning, blockchain, integrating with other networks, and more. We explore these and... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Creating and maintaining sustainable and green business practices is a growing challenge for Electronics firms. As consumers obsess on the latest electronics gadgets and demand for all things electron... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The RFID system market is maturing, beyond just devices and physical implementation, to providing users with more complete solutions. The vendors who offer well-thought-out solutions, based on solid e... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Acquisition of Nexternal ecommerce solution enhances competitiveness.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Leaders from the auto-ID and RFID community met in Washington D.C. last week, including holding the first meeting of the RAIN Alliance for UHF RFID (whose founders include Google and Intel). The Inter... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Last week's Ariba LIVE conference clarified SAP's cloud strategy, highlighted the importance and future plans of Ariba's Business Network, and further cemented the central role of HANA as the foundati... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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This year at Descartes' annual conference, they launched their new Descartes Community, highlighted myriad new solution capabilities, and showcased a number of interesting customers and use cases. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath and Ann Grackin
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DocuSign's 2015 MOMENTUM conference showed us how they are transforming companies (and lives). There were numerous customer examples to learn from. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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This year's Fifth Annual Auto-ID & Sensing Solutions Expo at MIT provided one more confirmation that RFID is thriving, with a more diverse set of devices, systems, and applications than ever. Here's a... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Oracle OpenWorld 2019 includes SuiteConnect San Francisco, a conference-within-a-conference. Here we share some of the things we learned about Oracle NetSuite, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle Auto... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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From new Omni-Channel capabilities, to integrated Service Resource Planning, great customer stories, and more, there were a lot of sweets at SuiteWorld. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin and Bill McBeath
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Home delivery services and same-day are driving retailers to rethink their processes.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Amazon's entry into the home delivery arena will, no doubt, have many businesses examining their own delivery options. A closer look reveals that home delivery is not a new phenomenon, yet doing it pr... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Cisco's legal department has taken steps to move from being a gatekeeper slowing things down to being a business enabler of faster cycle times for contract approvals and greater operational efficienci... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Cisco's legal department has taken steps to move from being a gatekeeper slowing things down to being a business enabler of faster cycle times for contract approvals and greater operational efficienci... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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The latest technology and updated UX/UI are needed to attract a new generation of supply chain professionals. But they are also benefitting everyday users.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Amazon (and others) have profoundly raised customer expectations for frictionless commerce, fast-free delivery, and nearly infinite selection. This impacts not just retailers, but manufacturers and di... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Heavy equipment manufacturers are deeply involved in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) phenomena. Here we examine the impact of IoT on mining equipment and operations.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The theft of pharmaceuticals has gone down dramatically in the past few years. Learn how they made such strides.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Although RTLS has utility, and the projects have been interesting, much has to happen to make this market grow.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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From crowdfunding to 3D printing to insourcing, innovation is changing the face of business. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Solution providers offer simulation tools that help retailers try things out in a virtual environment before trying them in the real world. JDA 3D and Impinj SPS are good examples.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Economic recoveries continue, but the imbalance in trade, wealth, and the impact of our economy needs to be addressed.
... (more information)
by By Lucy West
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Impinj recently launched their new xArray, ceiling-mounted RFID reader system, intended to deliver "always on item intelligence." Here we consider the industry implications and why it is a meaningful ... (more information)
by Scot Stelter
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With the new Monza R6 chip, Impinj continues its relentless improvements to the performance and reliability of UHF RFID. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The Omni-channel revolution is compelling retailers to reinvent their stores, in turn opening up a new battlefront among solution providers over whose software will be running these newer store operat... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Inflation rates remain low globally, but with varying impact, depending on each country's current rate of economic growth and other factors. The IMF is urging higher inflation, but this is unlikely t... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Infor provides a great example of ongoing reinvention of a software firm: taking a collection of decades old applications, leveraging the deep and rich functionality developed and lessons learned over... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Does this signal a new direction for Infor?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Infor hosted analysts for a stealth look at some of the new innovations in their labs in NYC.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Infor's ERP portfolio gets a makeover. To understand Infor's many ERP packages read on.
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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At Inforum, we got a good sense of the energy, innovation, and ability to evolve that is keeping Infor competitive.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Design innovations enabled Tata to build a $2,500 car. Now that is how you get into an emerging market such as India in a big way.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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How was Tata able to build a $2,500 car? Here we dig into some examples of their 'frugal engineering' approach.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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RFID Live exhibitions go beyond hardware demonstration solutions. As the device market matures, the focus is on the business solutions, while electronics sets new records in performance.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Exciting new developments from the RFID Journal Live! show, including NFC's killer app (my prediction), the arrival of the 5-cent tag (really & finally!), passive RFID sensors, visual tags in m... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Highlights from the Epicor Insights Conference 2013.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Highlights from Insights--Epicor User Conference.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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There is growing recognition of S&OP's value. However, many organizations persist in considering S&OP as merely a meeting, rather than an information-rich, decision-driving process. Organizations that... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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RFID Alive - Learnings from RFID Live Part Two ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Private vs. Public and Internal vs. External Clouds, security concerns and more from a panel discussion at MIT.
... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Hybrid environments (cloud + on-premises) will be a reality for decades to come. Tools which manage environments that mix together legacy infrastructure (e.g. data centers, licensed applications) with... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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To help visualize the distributed architecture of the Internet of Things (IoT), we explore specific concrete examples of what distributed intelligence looks like in the smart factory, smart building, ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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2015 may have been the peak of hype for the Internet of Things, but hype drives investment. We expect that 2016 will see even bigger and broader investments in IoT, as well as a land grab amongst IoT ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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IoT forces companies to re-evaluate their partnerships and their role in the ecosystem, as well as whether to take an open vs. closed approach at different levels in the solution stack co-created by t... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Recommendations for dealing with Internet of Things data, the role of data brokers, and data ownership. How IoT can change a firm's core business model.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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It seems everyone is jumping on the Internet of Things bandwagon, and IoT Platforms are sprouting up like mushrooms after a good rain. In this series, we will help sort out IoT Platforms, starting wit... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Internet of Things hardware and software platforms provide local intelligence sitting between the intelligent things and the internet/cloud applications. In some cases, the bulk of the end-to-end solu... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Highlights from the MIT/ChainLink panel discussion on IoT in Transportation, including applications of IoT in transportation and logistics, data ownership, privacy and liability, the impact of driverl... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Small and medium manufacturers and wholesale distributors are trying to determine where IoT fits into their business strategies, within the constraints of limited budgets, inhouse expertise, ban... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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We continue our look at how small and medium manufacturers and wholesale distributors are implementing IoT. Here, we examine how they are incorporating IoT into products and using it to create value-a... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Manufacturers with complex MES requirements have a pure-SaaS option in IQity combined with NetSuite.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How will Social be implemented in the enterprise? Research Findings from ChainLink Research.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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"On-premise, on-demand and on-device," said Bill McDermott, SAP's new co-CEO. But with the recent rebellion by their customer base against SAP's cost increases, as well as significant re... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Enterprise software firms such as Epicor, LCI/MACROLYNK and others are launching their own Enterprise Social Networking technology. But what will drive user adoption on these types of enterprise socia... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Harvard appoints ethics expert as the new Dean of the Harvard Business School, raising the question - are we finally putting ethics on the business agenda?... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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For much of the last 50 years, IT and OT (Operational Technology) have remained two separate and different worlds. Much of the M&A that has occurred over the last decade has been about consolidation b... (more information)
by Sree Hameed
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Merchandising Methods Redefined. What impact will RFID, Smart Dressing Rooms and Smarter Merchandising software portent for Retailer Success?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Impact of Omni-Channel, Home Delivery, and the Biggest Christmas Ever on Logistics.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Revised CPG Retail Footprint - from Merchandising to Supply Chain - Part 1 of 3.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The Russo-Ukrainian war has put into focus the question of the proper role for responsible enterprises in response to abuses by authoritarian regimes. Here we look at some of the challenges and soluti... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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What happens when Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon are part of your sales channel?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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* * * On the First Mobile Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me... * * *... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Strategies such as Market Segmentation and Promotion Management can lift Holiday spirits and sales.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Don't hit that markdown button; Pricing Strategies for a Small Planet.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Customer Engagement - Customer Segmentation Beyond the Numbers... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Brand power is when consumers camp out to get into your store...
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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In spite of the noise and the crowds, shoppers spent over $10B on black Friday, which was a modest increase from last year. ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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With omni-channel, mobile, online competition, and other forces at play, retail is in a state of dynamic transformation. Item-level RFID is playing a role in that transformation and major retailers ar... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Once items are being tagged at the source, there are many different places and ways within the retail supply chain that RFID can be used to improve performance or provide additional value to the consu... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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These two real-world examples highlight what is possible when retailers take an end-to-end approach to item-level RFID.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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'Cloud' dominates JDA's latest strategy announced at Focus 2012. But it is more about selling their expertise than a different software delivery model. Here we discuss what their cloud strategy actual... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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As usual, there was a plethora of thought leadership at Focus, JDA's annual conference. It seems they also realize thought leadership only counts if people actually implement it. They are increasingly... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Updates and Insights from JDA's FOCUS 2015 Conference.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin and Bill McBeath
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JDA executes in sales, but digesting the entire i2 legacy will be a challenging road ahead.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The people in an organization make or break it. A solid education program is one key strategy to sustain supplier relationships and maintain human expertise through periods of organizational flux.
... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Session at Northeastern brings strategic insights to global markets.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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HighLights from the JDA mega conference.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The mood at this year's JDA Focus (their annual conference) was optimistic, coming off of healthy growth last year, with tons of new innovations, and major R&D investments underway. Here we cover the ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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With the RedPrairie merger and past acquisitions, JDA has amassed what is arguably the most powerful collection of supply chain planning and execution software on the planet. At their recent annual co... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The web has become the dominant force in supply chain operation and technology. In this series we will discuss how it's evolving.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The acquisition trail in B2B leads to a more integrated footprint through mergers and acquisitions: EMANIO/DiCentral; Liaison and Hubspan; Cleo; 1Sync and SA2 make 1WorldSync. ... (more information)
by The ChainLink Team
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PowerPlex 2014 highlighted how small and medium manufacturers are implementing quite sophisticated manufacturing solution capabilities. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin & Bill McBeath
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With so much talk about off-shoring, it's nice to see a company creating jobs and building facilities in the US. The US, overall, has seen an more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Kohl's markdown optimization technology, Merchandise and Assortment, and Customer Segmentation strategies help them achieve growth and shareholder value.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Labor Management joins the Cloud with Next View's launch of On-Demand Subscription solution.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Sourcing and procurement spend-reduction strategies are frequently a central part of business cost-cutting initiatives. Most buyers understand that the lowest price option does not always yield the lo... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Why would anyone write solutions and launch a new company in mature markets, which are undergoing significant consolidation? Turns out for a lot of good reasons.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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ANN INC.'s EVP of Ecommerce gives five great insights from his experience taking Ann Taylor and LOFT into an integrated omni-channel model.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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RFID delivers benefits to retailers who can get their stock tagged. But getting this done cost-effectively is easier for some retailers than others. If industry groups can find ways to level the playi... (more information)
by Scot Stelter
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Here we discuss applications of Trade DaaS including ERP/GTM integration, supply chain risk management, sourcing optimization, supplier discovery, price discovery, total landed cost, compliant duty op... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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At Infor's Innovation Summit for Analysts, we heard about their new data lake, investments in artificial intelligence, retail, manufacturing, and distribution. Here we cover some of the highlights.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Among the many announcements and sessions at PTC's LiveWorx conference were three bold moves: 1) becoming a platform company, 2) providing agile development for complex physical things, and 3) creatin... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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For years, pundits have predicted that the market for Location-Based Services is about to take off. So far that has been mostly wishful thinking. But there are many signs that now the time really is r... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Logility's acquisition of Optiant 'streamlines' the optimization market. With Ilog and its acquisition of Logictools, JDA's acquisition of i2, and others, the market is looking leaner. But this could ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Item level intelligence requirements spur the growth of RFID across sectors such as industrial, manufacturing, retail, transportation, security, healthcare and consumer applications...
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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There were so many interesting developments in 2018 and more to come this year. Here we take a look at what's happening in autonomous supply chains, omni-channel delivery, AI/machine learning, blockch... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Technology is enabling ever more rapid formation of multi-entity project teams, distribution of finely-grained tasks, and a growing set of resources for rapidly starting new enterprises. The overall i... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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New types of challenges confront technology users. These challenges call for new and effective technologies to identify, authenticate, and protect people, assets and information. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Ever-active with great ideas and great companies, the supply chain market is fertile ground for mergers and acquisitions. Here are some interesting deals that have occurred in the last few weeks.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Supply Chain techniques have measurable impact on upside revenue and shareholder value, not just on cost cutting.... (more information)
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A Federated Enterprise has a Federated Global Footprint. This means that your Federated Global Footprint is a result of your supplier and sourcing network decisions, your manufacturing network decisi... (more information)
by By Laura Faught
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New SYSPRO U.S. Solution Rides Ocean Wave into Global Container Tracking.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Every item you deliver to your customer is important. But some items are critical. Modern mobile technology can help eliminate the slipups.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Both B2C and B2B companies need to focus on risk.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Learn from one company's strategy and their approaches to hedging. And a discussion of financial instruments for hedging.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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How companies ensure continuous affordable supply by measuring supplier risk and anticipating potential supplier problems. Early warning gives companies a much broader range of options to deal with po... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Global dynamics ensure that commodity prices will remain volatile, with huge price spikes, for decades to come. Good hedging strategies are increasingly critical. Cross-functional teams are a great wa... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Do your key suppliers have a working disaster recovery/business continuity plan if one of their plants or critical IT systems goes down? If you don't know, you are inviting disaster.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Suppliers are generally burdened with some extraordinary time scales when they 'own' the product. Recently, outsourcing and other procurement strategies have reduced these financial touch points. But ... (more information)
by By Paul Miller
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Lessons from American Eagle's devastating e-commerce site failure.
... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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We are at a time of profound change in the retail industry, especially the role of the physical store. Manhattan seems to be in a strong position to enable and benefit from this transition. Here are s... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Manhattan has roots as a Warehouse Management System vendor, but is increasingly providing a broader solution footprint for use in retail stores (and across the supply chain). Here are observations fr... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The central theme at Manhattan's recent annual conference, Momentum, was "Platform Thinking." It may sound boring, but actually there were some important developments announced.
... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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One of the more interesting sessions at Manhattan's 2011 conference was on their Total Cost-to-Serve offering. Organizations looking for ways to increase profitability may want to take a look.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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What true cloud-based manufacturing systems are out there, what can they do, and what types of manufacturers are they good for?... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Observations from the Manufacturing Leadership Summit.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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This article explores how RFID has matured in the last several years, and examines the fundamentals that make it a potentially high-growth opportunity. Most investors would be surprised at the change... (more information)
by Scot Stelter
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Running a supply chain network optimization may save you money on inventory or transportation costs, but does it help you make money and reduce risk? Companies need to think in terms of Market-Driven... (more information)
by By Lucy West - Contributing Author
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Marketing Automation solutions and services are already in a new generation. Solution providers have specialized and deepened their offerings, taking marketing from an art to a science, with quantifia... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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What is Marketing Automation, and who will smash the traditional market concepts of marketing and sales solutions?... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Last week I attended the MHLC in the mountains in Utah. The higher altitude must have gone to everyone's heads, since I have to say, the topics discussed were timely, on target, and often profound. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Freshness 'blindness' causes a lot of waste in produce supply chains. Here we explain the role of the Condition-based Expiration Date--a critical element to solving this problem. We look at what it ta... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Improving produce freshness and quality requires a system bringing together the end-to-end temperature history of each pallet, knowledge of the temperature response of different varieties, capabilitie... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Our latest research explores the key reasons why companies outsource their manufacturing and/or logistics, the challenges they face, and how they are overcoming those challenges.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Observations from the MercuryGate User Conference.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Competition intensifies with DiCentral entering the domain of Cleo and Ipswitch ...
to name a few ...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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There is LOTS of data in the cloud. Here are some thoughts on how Microsoft is responding.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Millennials are seeking jobs with meaning and purpose. They are more concerned about social and environmental issues. Companies that are strongly committed to sustainable and responsible supply chains... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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There were some exciting new RFID and mobile developments at this year's event.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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ECoupons on mobile phones have not taken off yet. Many people do not realize that it is largely because of the inability of most barcode readers at retailers to reliably read a barcode displayed on a ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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At the recent MIT Enterprise Forum, we heard about an open source mobile healthcare platform being used in developing countries, a personal healthcare system that includes mobile and social networking... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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In this final installment of our series on Mobile Healthcare Innovations, we look at the mechanical, electrical, and wireless innovations in a tubing-free, personal insulin pump for treating diabetes.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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We explore a personal healthcare system with mobile and social networking components. ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Highlights from Manhattan Associates' annual conference, with a description, lessons learned to-date, and expected benefits from McKesson's implementation of Manhattan's Total-Cost-to-Serve product.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Manhattan's 2013 user conference showed that supply chain is as much about commerce as it is about operations.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The summer may not have been very hot, but hot tech deals are still plentiful.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Motorola Solutions continues to innovate devices and solutions, with purpose-driven designs, that set them apart from generic device manufacturers. Here is a firsthand report on Motorola's latest deve... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How ERP enables end-users to move off of the old software and move up to new platforms.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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In Part 1 we provided an overview and some history of how the ERP market got to where it is today.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Forecasting systems are based on history. The problem is that history did not turn out the way we wanted.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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With withdrawal from the TransPacific Partnership and threats of withdrawal from NAFTA, enterprises and employees should reach out to their congress members and let them know how they feel. The stakes... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Updates on the New England Electronic Commerce Users Group.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The recent acquisition of IQity is a major addition that adds a strong pillar to NetSuite's manufacturing solution offerings.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Oracle's acquisition of NetSuite last year was big news in the enterprise solutions arena. At SuiteWorld, we got a sense of what this will mean for NetSuite and its customers.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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NetSuite's cloud-based ERP solutions are more than up to the job of handling complex business models.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath and Ann Grackin
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A fundamentally different architecture and a network of pre-connected partners are needed to suitably address processes that are inherently multi-party and inter-enterprise. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Hear how wholesale distributors are using NetSuite to grow their businesses.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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NRF brought retail solutions at all levels of the maturity spectrum. Omni-channel solutions are getting quite mature, though much work remains. Exciting new developments in Internet-of-Things and mobi... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Over-the-top headlines and estimates of the size of the IoT market create more confusion and skepticism about hype than a real understanding of how big the market really is. Here we provide a framewor... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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So much has been written about Omni, but there hasn't been too much real guidance. ChainLink has provided actionable insights to help manufacturers, brand, and retailers think more deeply about Omni a... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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We interviewed retailers around the world. Like some many other paths in life, we find we are not so different after all. But there are approaches that differ by culture and geography...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Omni is not just for Retailers. What is Omni's impact on Suppliers and Manufacturers?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Retailers want to provide a great omni-channel experience. This requires a foundation of precise, real-time inventory visibility all the way from the supplier to the end consumer and everywhere in bet... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The announcement of Amazon Go could be seen as the starting gun for a race to create checkout-less stores. However, it is also an accelerator for the broader movement towards Intelligent, Integrated s... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The competitive stakes have changed for shippers over the last few years with customer expectations mounting. Logistics is not an afterthought, but a core, essential part of the brand. Omnichannel, ou... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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One of the most important developments in supplier relationships is outcome sourcing - moving from buying things to buying results or outcomes. This two-part article describes Outcome Sourcing in actu... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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One promising e-sourcing technology to support outcome sourcing is expressive bidding™. Reverse auctions evolved to allow evaluation of a broader set of requirements beyond material price, such a... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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A few pioneering enterprise software solution providers offer pricing and business models based on achieving specific outcomes for their clients, rather than just charging for software.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Besides denigrating the Indian Culture and the American Culture, this show might be too close to home for both cultures.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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How one of the worlds largest mining companies, Anglo-American, transformed from a decentralized procurement governance model to a center-led model. Crucially, how they tackled the human, political, a... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Freshness of produce is a key competitive battleground for grocers. The common practice is to monitor the temperature of the field, cooler, trailer, and warehouse. By instead monitoring the temperatur... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Panjiva launched 'Global Search' for its existing supplier search capabilities, providing additional supplier information for millions of suppliers worldwide. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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From free shipping to high-value air courier services, parcel shipping is serious business.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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To download this collection of four great articles on Performance Management, scroll down below to Login or Register at no cost (or click the download button, if already logged in).... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath, Kate Vitasek, Sree Hameed, and Mark Jones
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A consortium of ten U.K.-based companies, led by Authentix (an authentication and brand protection firm), aims to provide secure serialization and track and trace capability for the pharmaceutical ind... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Misalignment and miscalculation of forecasts often occur due to the overlooked factor of the calendar.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The Beer Game provides supply chain planners with the opportunity to see how Flowcasting can improve supply chain performance and increase their competitiveness in consumer markets. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Revolutionaries have to pioneer and guide the way forward.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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As B2B and B2C businesses are facing new challenges, they are turning to supply chain technology to step up their game. However, they shouldn't forget about improving demand planning and achieving ite... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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If you're in the Supply Chain business, right up there with Newton's Law of Gravity stands Murphy's Other Law stipulating that Demand and Supply, if left to their own devices, will always tend to dive... (more information)
by Lonnie Childs
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Gamification for consumer pricing? Traditional and pioneering approaches that work.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Ariba's recently announced partnership with PrimeRevenue provides customers with a multi-funder supply chain finance capability, integrated into the Ariba platform.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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David Goldstone, former prosecutor for the Justice Department and now at Goodwin Procter, in a recent speech at Secure World, highlighted the threats, challenges and responsibilities that firms now ha... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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ThingWorx acquisition and Axeda by PTC. Recent acquisition of Quintiq by Dassault. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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While it is becoming a service solutions leader, PTC is also a leader in providing service and support to its own customers.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The evolution of PTC has been fascinating -- from CAD to PLM, ALM, SLM, and now the Internet-of-Things. IoT is core to PTC's strategy going forward, and was emphasized repeatedly throughout PTC Live ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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At their annual conference, PTC showed how it is making big strides to their ultimate vision of smart connected products and the end-to-end product lifecycle systems that make that vision possible. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The current transformation of manufacturing is being driven largely by the Internet of Things and smart, connected products. PTC's new PLM release, Windchill 11, marks a major step towards a full-life... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How Home Depot, Tesco, and others are using mobile technology from Motorola to address showrooming, line busting, re-engineer replenishment, enhance customer experience, and more.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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A Case for Change in Healthcare Supply Chains.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Omni-channel, which has been rising as a hot topic for several years, was a dominant theme at the big NRF show last week. It's a big topic with many dimensions. Here are some of the more interesting t... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How three intelligent cloud platforms extract value from sensors and RFID.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The record deficit in the recently proposed Federal budget has reawakened debate in China over the wisdom of holding so much U.S. debt.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Estimates on the effects of counterfeit trade exceed two hundred billion dollars (US), and inspections across the world cost billions. Yet only a very few shipments are actually inspected. This issue ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Intelleflex and The Hartford recently formed an alliance to use RFID and temperature monitoring technologies to tackle the multi-billion dollar spoilage problem in the world's food supply chains. ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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There is a perpetual battle between pro and anti-regulatory advocates. But that tug-of-war misses the point. We need efficient, effective regulation—or alternative mechanisms—that actually work, to en... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Creating cost-effective, gaming-resistant, outcome-achieving regulations is really hard to do. Outside-of-the-box approaches may be our best hope to solving many of the issues.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Procurement, supply chain, and finance professionals each have their own individual perspective on when, where, and how supply chain finance can be used. Here we take a broader perspective and approac... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How holistic supply chain finance improves margins for buyers, lowers risk for lenders, and lowers the cost of capital for suppliers.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Here we discuss how holistic supply chain finance can be used to improve supplier's health, accelerate time-to-market, and enable postponement of differentiation.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Implementing a holistic approach to supply chain finance, with a connected trading partner network, can yield operational improvements (beyond the financial benefits). These include reduction in error... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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At SAP Ariba Live, we saw big changes in product architecture, innovation speed & focus, openness, UI/UX, agile development cadence, and more.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The benefits of more responsive supply chains are understood, but creating agile processes , especially for warehouses, to improve Customer experience can be a challenge. Several new technologies have... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Updates from the National Retail Federation Big Show 2015.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Recent articles on Walmart's item-level tagging announcement dedicated a lot of print to privacy concerns. Is that the central story?... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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We frequently think of retail in terms of merchandising, but these days the supply side is just as interesting, whether it's product design or collaboration with suppliers for transportation, forecast... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The theme of the recent RVCF conference was Collaboration. The move to getting better performance from suppliers and retailers ultimately depends on it. Read on for real results.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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As trading partners move beyond one-to-one collaboration, the Platform enables catatgory, carriers and customer insights in the trading network.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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From Prada to American Eagle: from the edge of fashion to the middle, the brand, the fashion and the efficiencies come from technology investments.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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RFID demonstrates use cases beyond--and within--the store.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Companies spend millions on engineering products, but not much on thinking about the real point of it all -- the customer experience.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The past two decades have witnessed a massive shift of manufacturing from the U.S. to China. Now there are signs of a reversal. What are the implications for those responsible for managing these suppl... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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NetSuite has seen healthy growth since they were acquired by Oracle. At SuiteWorld, we heard about their strategy to continue to accelerate that growth, leveraging Oracle assets, ongoing micro-vertica... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Assortment Planning and Replenishment rely on great data. Can RFID be part of the solution?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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MIT Auto-ID Center event attendees and speakers reflect on launch of RFID and what's in store for the future.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Are we going to create another stovepipe? Or can we all just get along?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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This year's NRF Big Show illustrated how far we've come with RFID in Retail and some exciting developments in IoT.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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New companies and established players get funding.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Despite distractions like The Internet of Things and The Cloud, the RFID industry has quietly crossed the chasm. This article cites some of the signs of maturity and reasons for optimism for 2015.... (more information)
by Scot Stelter
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The discussion has moved from if to how for many major pharmaceutical manufacturers. The barriers to adoption are down and the benefits are up. So you may have a good reason to look at ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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What I learned at RFID Live 2012, Part One . . . Or how I learned to make a great cup of coffee!... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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At the recent RFID Live conference, once again we saw an enormous range of new technologies, applications, and use cases. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The RFID Journal Live! Conference demonstrated the health and maturity of the RFID market and its relevancy to so many sectors.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Industry applications were abundant at RFID LIVE, including these in retail, healthcare, aerospace, and IT asset tracking.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The RFID chip makers kept up the pace with new innovations shown at RFID LIVE.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Industry applications dominate at RFID LIVE; in manufacturing, returnable transport items, cattle tracking, paper pulp, and more.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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RFID Sourcing tagging to monitor your supply chain to monitoring your running progress.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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In spite of disillusionment about the RFID sector over the past couple of years (mostly by those who were swept up in the earlier wave of hype), the RFID Market is still receiving investments, such as... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Under the influence of development in the Internet of Things, cloud computing and data analytics, the way RFID value is delivered is evolving rapidly.... (more information)
by Scot Stelter
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Are we premature in touting Main Street for RFID?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Cyber Security, Compliance, Privacy, Supply Chain, Import Security, Anti-Counterfeiting, Critical Infrastructures and scary threats like fraud and piracy, ID theft, fraudulent checks, skimmers, phishi... (more information)
by By Grackin, West, and the ChainLink Team
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Cisco and ImpactFactor, leaders in SCRM, provide insights into risk management.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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With the current level of security concern, it is interesting that there is not more focus on applications security. Numerous articles cite chilling statistics about security breaches, with the majori... (more information)
by By Contributing Author Stephen Primost
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In this first in a series, we discuss the many potential use cases for retailers implementing RFID, criteria to select the best place to start, and which initial use case is the one overwhelmingly bei... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Retailers have many choices when it comes to RFID reader infrastructure, from handhelds, fixed, POS, overhead, and more. Here we help sort through the choices, to figure out which one might be best fo... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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As the saying goes, "never let a good crisis go to waste." Ironically, the industry's response to the recent crises of E. coli contamination of romaine lettuce may delay rather than speed up im... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The universe of SaaS/Cloud offerings just got bigger. Today's announcement of Epicor Express means a full-featured SaaS solution is available to small manufacturers who have had almost no SaaS options... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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In this second part we discuss the current pricing in the SaaS market.
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Application Service Providers (ASP), and traditional licensed models are all available today. Selecting the right software application involves evaluating not only the f... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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SAP Concur's products in Travel, Expense, and Invoice are good examples of how enterprise software is being 'consumerized' to encourage use by employees who have increasingly higher UX expectations.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Database play? I hardly think so. Sybase is a mobile innovator.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Highlights from the SAP Insider conference on interesting and innovative new developments in their procurement and supply chain capabilities. ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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New developments in SAP's procurement portfolio, an inspiring use of their technology in rural South Africa, and Services Procurement-related enhancements, and more. ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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SAP announced today the availability of Business One as an on-demand service. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin and Bill McBeath
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The Week of SAPPHIRE NOW: SAP, in many ways, not the same ole ERP.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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SAP has many products that target small and mid-size businesses. Here's how to figure it out.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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SAP's just-announced new business unit is aspiring to deliver simplicity, choice, and rapid ROI to small and mid-sized companies. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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SAP has had a reputation (especially as painted by their competitors) of being monolithic, painful to implement, difficult to use, hard to upgrade, and just not all that innovative. While some of that... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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We don't always think of SAP as an innovator. But they are doing a lot. Complex Event Processing based on real-time sensor data, social media to find the right skilled people, embedded analytics, and ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Among the many sessions from SAP's annual conference, we highlight SAP's new Supplier InfoNet and one of their customer's implementation of SRM 7.0.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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The MIT RFID and Sensor SIG had something for every generation of futurists, from "social tribing" to manufacturing locating systems.... (more information)
by By Tom Coyle
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Service management solutions have been around for at least two decades. Yet, not all the roles and processes for services had solutions. That is changing.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Service enterprises and their challenges are diverse. Their solutions will not be a one size fits all technology.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Ad placement, mobile, social, and competitive pricing all impact demand and your inventory strategy. Lessons learned from ToolsGroup User Forum.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Observations from Siemens Analyst Event in Boston. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The transportation market growth will continue to outpace the economy at large. Where will that growth occur? What can we do about it?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Sales and Operations Planning has been talked about for over two decades, yet enterprises are having their challenges. Learn from those who are mastering S&OP.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Small and midsized businesses (SMBs) have many of the same complexities as large corporations, but with a very different set of constraints. As a result, in the past SMBs did not have access to the sa... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Domain Leaders in Supply Chain may just have the edge.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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The vision of driverless intelligent vehicles on an Automated Highway System is compelling, but seems always to be decades away. However, benefits can be had today from incremental technology improvem... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Channel partner relationship management requires the best in marketing, sales, and human resources.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Architecting Serialization and Cold Chains for Food and Pharma.
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Smart Grid can help utilities gain a leaner and more effective service supply chain. These advantages are applicable in other 'smart sectors' as well. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Quite a few companies are focused on mining public social media data for consumer sentiment indicators. However, there are many other insights and information of value that can be gleaned from Tweets,... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Social networking has evolved in ways similar to the early days of the web. It will lead to a new way of working in the enterprise.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Social technology is being added to many of the major supply chain portfolios. But social will manifest differently in the supply chain sphere than in the consumer sphere.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Non-payroll jobs continue to rise (albeit slowly), manufacturing is up, auto sales are way up, and several software firms are predicting a return to reasonable growth for 2010. Many of our clients hav... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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The recent hacking into Dropbox emphasizes the need for corporate-weight MFT solutions.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Sourcing and procurement professionals are used to dealing with large swings in demand and supply. But the highs and lows created by the recent bubble and recession were difficult for even the most ad... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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IoT development platforms and applications span the spectrum from toolkits to domain-specific environments to fully turnkey applications. Here we look at that spectrum and drill down on one example to... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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A tug of war exists between the market requirements for speed and what the logistics network can deliver. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Companies that are good at spend analytics realize a sizeable competitive advantage. But it is not easy to do. In this first article in our series, we look at how spend analytics has evolved.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The most common application of spend analysis is to identify potential cost savings. However, spend analytic systems can be and are used for much more than that. We explore here some of the common and... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Spend analytics can go way beyond just analyzing spend or managing suppliers. We look at some of the more novel uses of these systems.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Attaining value from spend analytic projects requires setting explicit goals, a good foundation of data hygiene, the right level of classification, great analyst skills, and last but not least - decis... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The architectural characteristics of spend analytics solutions can have a big impact on the types of analysis that can be done, the time and effort it takes to implement the system, ease-of-use, and o... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The procure-to-pay process (P2P) for direct materials resists standardization and automation. As the critical execution phase of source and procurement, it is where the rubber meets the road for inbou... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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In recent years, passive UHF RFID has experienced high volumes and strong growth for the first time. Here we present a summary of our UHF market report, as well as discussion on possible impacts for H... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The raging battle over the channels -- etail vs. on-premise shopping -- is masking the real issue -- the customer experience.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Free two-day shipping, enormous selections, quick and easy shopping, painless returns, and many other factors have propelled online shopping to become the main driver of growth in retail. So, where do... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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My tour of a cross-dock revealed some of the reasons for the chronic labor shortages in the transportation sector and why they will get worse. As well, how advanced technology is meshed with tried an... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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At this year's SuiteWorld, NetSuite announced key architectural changes, their version of an omni-channel strategy, many new capabilities by vertical industry, and a new IDE for their SuiteCloud platf... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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One of the main themes at SuiteWorld 2013 was NetSuite's commitment to building out its capabilities for manufacturers beyond what they have already done. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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NetSuite's annual conference was big and bold (as always) with some really significant announcements and an abundance of interesting and illuminating customer stories and presentations.
... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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NetSuite's success can be traced in no small part to the customizability of their solution. Here are some short customer stories, mostly in Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution, highlighting their... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How some hot new innovative manufacturers and retailers are making NetSuite's cloud ERP and ecommerce work for them. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Summer vacations are a great time to get renewed physically, mentally and spiritually, and watch some baseball.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Like a summer reading list, this is a summer technology list. Spend some time contemplating and learning about the future...... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Modern networked technology platforms are quietly revolutionizing the way businesses work with their suppliers. By allowing companies to rapidly find, assess, validate and integrate with suppliers, th... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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How two top performing companies rate their suppliers, initiate and manage corrective action, and manage supplier performance across divisional boundaries.... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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A mini-case study on one manufacturer that integrates supplier scorecard data with operational and planning data from across their business units. They have not only been able to improve supplier perf... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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The ability to manage supplier risk and compliance has become a critical competence for organizations. Our research shows why and how to manage and reduce supplier risk--what actually works in practic... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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We look at supplier risk standards, monitoring, and how to do supplier risk and compliance under tight budget constraints.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Some authors have suggested that strategic sourcing is often done in a win-lose style, without true collaboration between buyer and seller. Nothing could be further from the truth, as a win-lose relat... (more information)
by Thomas W. Bower
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Inventory Management - is it really an old story? Not to Macy's, Wal-Mart, Hilfiger, Martha Stewart and Delmonte! Do you want to capture the top shelf space? And have your channel love your brand and ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Beyond the definitions, context and references for these terms.... (more information)
by ChainLink Research
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Various forms of supply chain financing have been around for centuries. The use of networked platforms is a much more recent trend that enables dramatic reductions in the cost of capital compared with... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Network platforms that integrate trading partners, logistics processes, and visibility have enabled bold new approaches to payments and financing for participants in the supply chain. ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Network platforms that integrate transportation carriers, shippers, consignees, and 3PLs can do more than provide transportation and logistics services. The connectivity and end-to-end visibility they... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Descartes, Airclic, Siemens, Camstar. Bigger deals reflect stronger economy in the US market.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Supply Chain Network: technology provider or business partner?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Supply Chain inter-enterprise platforms support end-to-end transactions and collaboration.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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In their definitive research, Kevin B. Hendricks, Professor of Operations and Information Technology in the School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Vinod R. Singhal, DuPree... (more information)
by By Kevin Hendricks and Vinod Singhal
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The supply chain business community now includes Risk Management as a business priority and cites it as a key area in need of improvement. Are solution providers ready?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Highlights of what we learned at NRF's annual conference from providers of supply chain planning and optimization, IoT and RFID, omnichannel and order management, global logistics, PLM, and Geographic... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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This document is designed to provide an across-supply-chain 'checklist' of practices and actionable suggestions to tune your supply chain for better performance, to deal with volatile and seasonal cha... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The Clean Energy Sector's supply chain is green - as in greenhorns - with young entrepreneurial startups that are focused on significant product innovation and market entry issues. Numerous Presidents... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Grape Escape features SYSPRO customers such as 1000Bulbs.com, Rochester Electronics and more...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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SYSPRO continues to defy their small company ERP profile with leading technology innovation.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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2016 will be the year of reckoning for many retailers and manufacturers who do 'fulfillment at any cost.' Here are some insights on key elements required to fulfill profitability in today's increasing... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Finally, an airline got smart with Customer Experience by using RFID for easy check-in and bag tracking, boarding passes and more . . .... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Social Networks, Mobility, Traceability and Supplier Collaboration are all supported by a cloud foundation.
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Salesforce is no longer about sales, in case you didn't notice . . .... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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ChainLink's Technology Adoption Model offers fresh perspectives on how technology matures and why some solutions are adopted, while others languish. Existing models generally focus on the point of vie... (more information)
by Ann Grackin and Bill McBeath
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Better care, patient safety at lower cost. Sounds like a goal we have been hearing for decades. Yet so far the US healthcare industry has been going in the opposite direction. Greater cost, more paper... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Warehouse Management Strategies need to be looked at in order to prepare for new retail realities.
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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When Aptean was formed two years ago, many wondered whether they would survive. Now, not only does their survival seem relatively secure, but they have a shot at meaningful growth. Their recent annual... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Life Science's transformation is being driven by price pressures, healthcare reform, emerging markets, and other factors, disrupting the traditional value chain relationships and business models. We d... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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A major component of Life Science's transformation is the move to sell more into emerging markets. These have tremendous challenges around logistics, counterfeits, and (above all) extremely low price ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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RFID's potential use cases are limited only by the imagination. We explore some of the possibilities, starting with how RFID is being embedded and used in various product designs.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Boeing has a huge order book that promises ten Dreamliners per month. Can they do more?... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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New regulations across the globe are coming into effect, requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, dispensers, and others up and down the chain to build serialization, verification, and tr... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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What are the real costs and impacts of delays in technology decision-making? Companies take a long time evaluating software. They brood about ROI. But they rarely think about what it is costing them w... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Probably the most enjoyable, but clearly the most perishable, job is Chief Marketing Officer. Sifting through hundreds of briefings a year, I can tell quickly who knows what their company does, what v... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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We continue to provide perspective on supply chain risks and their impact on shareholder value in this third report by Professors Singhal and Hendricks, who are the leaders in this aspect of supply ch... (more information)
by By Kevin Hendricks and Vinod Singhal
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Supply chain practitioners and executives are in a unique position to help change the world for the better by their influence over global supply chains' labor conditions, environmental footprint, and ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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A look at how to ensure that suppliers are treating their workers fairly, paying living wages, not using forced labor, providing a safe working environment, allowing collective bargaining, have non-di... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Retailers that have rolled out RFID have traditionally used handheld readers. However, some are starting to use exit-monitoring or even whole-store illumination approaches. Smart shelves have yet to t... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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More than a pretty face: ICE, ION, and Engage.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The future of RFID may be radically different than it is today.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Omni-channel strategy and execution continue to be central to retailers' success as the holiday season is upon us. Here we look at the major challenges retailers are facing and how they are dealing wi... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Today's customer is 24/7, so Omni-channel has to be responsive to this new reality. Solving the challenges of Omni-channel will require an always-on supply chain with new skills, talent and technology... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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We are moving from the era of silos to integration of functions and systems within the retail store. ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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lululemon, DSW, b8ta, and Zebra technologies presented on a panel at MIT about the intelligent integrated storetheir visions and current progress towards integrating the various functions, sensors, a... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The Internet of Things is often misunderstood and overhyped. However, a lot of enablers are falling into place now, and are accelerating its growth and adoption.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The Internet-of-Things (IoT) phenomena have a profound impact on logistics, with an enormous variety of current and potential applications. Here we scratch the surface, examining where IoT fits in log... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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We look at 10 critical questions posed in the Harvard Business Review article "How Smart, Connected Products Are Transforming Competition." Here in Part One of this series, we focus on what IoT means ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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With the current state of IoT security, we might call it the Internet-of-Vulnerable-Things. It's all the more alarming because of the types of physical machines/systems that are increasingly ne... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Control over physical devices is what makes IoT different, and more dangerous, than traditional IT software. Here we look at device-level security requirements for makers of IoT-enabled products and s... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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IoT platforms, outside of the devices themselves, comprise the bulk of the intellectual property, infrastructure, and complexity in IoT. We examine requirements that are needed to ensure security in t... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Technology market landscape report on visibility solutions.
Control Tower is a Myth, but we can achieve greater visibility, responsiveness and resiliance. This report compares major supply ch... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Merged Channel is a hot topic, catapulted by the suddenness of mobile popularity. Beyond the buzz, companies need to provide the right mix of services, messages, and pricing.
To create some ... (more information)
by The editors of StorefrontBacktalk and ChainLink
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The merger of Airclic and AirVersent, two leaders in vertical industry/process-specific mobile supply chain applications, is a sign of the maturing of mobile platforms and the beginning of a strong gr... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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How will the formal withdrawal from the Paris Agreement affect our growth industries?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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New methods for accurate and dynamic pricing?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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New networked technology platforms are co-evolving with new networked business models, together enabling companies to rapidly find, assess, and integrate with trading partners in order to swiftly crea... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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When Manhattan announced their win with QVC on February 22nd, the headline in the press release was " QVC® Selects Ma... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Stealing trade secrets, patent infringements, piracy, counterfeiting and product tampering damage companies, make people ill, and deflate honest competition. And if financial and trade hacks are not e... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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TMS solutions can be created through assembling modules or a single platform. What is a TMS single platform? ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Are we all embracing trading partner collaboration to the degree that we all say? What opportunities are we missing?
... (more information)
by Robert Bruce
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What It Is, Why We Have It, and Some Simple Ideas to Fill the Gap.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Recent developments in technology have enabled the integration of e-paper with RFID tags to create dynamic visual tags. This is a powerful combination, especially for cyclic processes.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The supply chain market continues to grow, but is changing in the types of technology that users are interested in and the value they require...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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At Connections 2015--The Voice of Supply Chain Success, we heard from Logility executives about new directions, a younger workforce, and a new generation of technologies.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The topic of integration has been considered more of a hindrance, necessary evil, or afterthought in supply chain. Enterprise software companies who once pitched that you would "never need anything el... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Integration is an evolving field, blending data, things and people across systems, mobile devices and the web. Over thirty systems and some important innovations are included in this article.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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In The World of Integration--Part Two we revise and define the integration market with an orientation towards supply chain applications. Business processes are becoming more click and connected betwee... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Understanding International vs. Domestic TMS.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Results from ChainLink's EDI Professionals survey.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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GS1 and VICS' announcement of an item-level RFID initiative might appear to be the formation of "just another technical working group." But it is actually one more indicator that we are finally at the... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Demand-driven supply chains, new customer service models, and Omni-channel/free delivery are all driving up the cost of transportation. So what does last mile really cost?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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When PTC acquired Vuforia (augmented reality tools provider) last October, it seemed like a natural incremental next step in PTC's strategy. After attending ThingEvent on January 28th, I now think wha... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Today's business executives understand that their competitive advantage depends on their supply chains. Yet often they do not have adequate views or the technology to properly tune the chain, missing ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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We explore various strategies for obtaining supply chain resilience, including mapping and monitoring the multi-tier supply chain, the use of supply chain finance, and building adaptability into physi... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Building a sustainable business with a green supply chain requires both new practices and new technologies. But deciding which green technologies are ready and right for your company is not always eas... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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The 2012 Transportation Management Systems (TMS) market will continue to grow at a rate of 20% or more.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Managing product portfolios to avoid SKU proliferation and gain profits.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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With the Dodd-Frank Act's conflict minerals legislation coming into effect, many companies are working hard to create ethical frameworks in their supply chains. Supply Chain Brain recently highlighted... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Transportation Management Platforms: the high growth segment of the Supply Chain Market.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Understanding pricing in the transportation market is difficult for buyers. But the more sobering question is: will the TM market follow other sectors with giveaways and freeware? ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Supply chain executives have been craving for multi-platform, cross-functional views to bring transportation into the mainstream business processes. Now it's here.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Deciding what is the next stage in the journey for transportation solution providers takes some calculus...... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The transportation technology market has an array of offerings, but they are not the same.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Free software is taking over the market, but at a price . . .
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Introducing contributing writer Jonathan Lampe, founder of File Transfer Consulting.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The question is not, "Are we going mobile?" The question is, "How are we going to leverage it?"
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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ACA and HIPAA standards mean big changes in electronic commerce in healthcare.
With healthcare costs soaring, administrative costs comprising a whopping 7% of healthcare expenses, and incre... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Recent workplace disasters shine the spotlight on worker safety and supply chain risk.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The US is behind in mobile payment, not that the demand is not there!
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Tyco opens its Retail Performance Briefing Center in Boca Raton. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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After July 1, 2010, the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) will start issuing significant financial penalties and increasing holds and inspections on shipments not complying with ISF (10+2). This article... (more information)
by By Matt Gersper, contributing author
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We wanted to find out exactly what is driving the recent growth in RFID in retail. ChainLink surveyed over 120 retailers to find out which use cases are being implemented and which are actually delive... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Achieving Lower Costs and Higher Service via Dynamic, Omni-Mode Integration of Private Fleet with For Hire Operations.
The perennial challenge... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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UNIT4 has a great growth story to tell for their customers.
... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Multi-tenant, hosting, on premise, plus the ability to share work processes among tenants make UNIT4 a unique player in the ERP market.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The holy grail of consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies (or any manufacturer, for that matter) is to become more responsive to customer demand while reducing inventory. Learn how new solutions such ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Smart phones, clean energy, energy independence, disruptive technologies, emerging markets, and the economic restructuring of the world - who will be the players in all that?
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Once in a while a business book cuts through all the noise and really has something important to say. After decades of 'greed is good' and downsizing and outsourcing, Kate Vitasek and Vested Outsourci... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Walmart Supply Chain performance looked like artwork from The Little Prince, thus their Supplier Reliability program initiative...... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Walmart plans to increasingly take over inbound freight from their suppliers. How will this impact suppliers' cost of doing business and freight management? Will other retailers follow suit?... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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In its relentless pursuit for additional cost advantage, Walmart is looking to combine its own spend with that of its suppliers. It raises questions of how much control Walmart can exert over their su... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Shoppers can scan the barcode of makeup in the store, take a picture of themselves, and see how the makeup they selected looks on them in a digital mockup rendition. Increased sales, reduced shrink, a... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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In today's twittering world, short is beautiful. Thus was born the brief: concise articles on best practices, technology, and new takes on business topics across a variety of industries ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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What is driving the surge of RFID adoption in retail, especially in the apparel sector? And what is next? You can help find out.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Just who can solve its mystery...? Though many people may be getting tired of hearing the phrase 'Internet of Things,' it doesn't mean that they really understand the phenomena. Here we shed ... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Certainty principles can be leveraged to significantly improve your inventory optimization and customer service levels: A simple approach to isolating uncertainty.... (more information)
by By Lucy West
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Paying homage to the geeky and practical world of web developers and designers.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Articles about the recent major item-level RFID tagging initiatives in retail (Macy's, JCP, M&S, et al) have focused on what it means for the retailer. Here we examine some impacts for suppliers.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Passive RFID sales are being dominated by apparel. 2014 will see more apparel items tagged. But for a sustaining market, RFID will have to make the case in other categories and other industries. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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In the quest for ever bigger companies and broader footprints that integrate more processes, we're seeing mega M&A deals in supply chain and retail solutions this year, enabling investors to cash in. ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin and Bill McBeath
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The service management solutions marketplace may be up for grabs. Who is the natural owner of this market? And who can make it finally take off?... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Why does Google know more about your inventory than you do?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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With the recent acquisitions of Plex and CDC's merger with Consona to create the new Aptean, the question becomes, who is driving the ERP strategy of the future?
more information)
by Ann Grackin
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M&As, recent funding, and outright acquisitions make the supply chain market an interesting place to be. But unlike ERP, there are more public companies and still plenty of startups in supply chain. T... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Google's VP of Search Product has shifted roles to take charge of their location services. This is just one more sign of the growing battle over services for locating people and things, with wireless ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Google, Salesforce.com, MaaS Platforms, Marketing Automation, Relationship Management domain leaders... Who's got the edge in Marketing and Relationship Apps?
... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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Wholesale Distribution continues to grow a bit faster than the US economy. Why? And what Supply Chain capablities should they master in order to continue?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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About 30% of harvested produce is wasted. The profitability of each player in the food chain is impacted by this inconsistent quality and control. There are tremendous opportunities to improve. Here w... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Selectica (a contract management/configuration solution provider) recently announced their acquisition of Iasta (a sourcing solution provider). Here we discuss the fit and some of the reasoning behind... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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AI has the potential to make society better, but history has shown us the potential for these kinds of major economic transformations to cause society-wide upheaval and disruption as well. A lot will ... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Release of final 2014 numbers and 2015 forecasts of world economic numbers shows a changing picture of national economies. What will the impact be on supply chain strategy?... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Close watchers of the Yuan have differing opinions on whether it will start rising again soon or remain strictly pegged to the dollar. It matters a lot to the U.S. and the rest of the world, not only ... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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Descartes and GT Nexus announcements, along with E2open and Amber Road strategies, lead to an interesting hypothesis.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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Home delivery is the new battlefront in retail. In this report we uncover the myths and the best practices across the globe.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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How end-to-end temperature monitoring improves produce quality, reduces waste, and increases customer satisfaction and profitability.... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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Service and Maintenance as part of warehouse operations is not just warehouse management software features, but RFID, Voice, and of course, Service Parts Planning. ... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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3PL warehouses have unique challenges that should drive their purchase of WMS software.... (more information)
by By Ann Grackin
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With the maturing of global trade relationships, Open Accounts are replacing Letters of Credit as the dominant approach to enabling financial transactions between importers and exporters. We explore s... (more information)
by By Bill McBeath
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OpenText, Descartes -- It's Canada, but it's Hot up there.... (more information)
by Ann Grackin
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The announcement that Inditex will roll out Tyco's RFID solution across all of their Zara stores and eventually across all of Inditex's other chains is a major validation of Tyco's RFID strategy and d... (more information)
by Bill McBeath
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