General SCM > Business Strategy Alignment | SupplyChainBrain

Business Strategy Alignment: Page 522

Importers, Manufacturers Highly Confident About Spring, Summer Retail Sales, Survey Says

Importers who sell to America's major retailers are preparing for a significant uptick in consumer spending this spring and summer, according to a recent survey conducted by Capital Business Credit (CBC), a non-bank lender that services the retail sector.

Global Transportation Solutions Help Companies Reduce Cost and Pay Invoices Quicker

Although organizations must connect suppliers and customers around the globe, managing worldwide supply chains can cause cost increases and operational challenges, However, Aberdeen Group's latest research, entitled 2012 Best Practices for Closing the Loop on Multinational Transportation Procure to Pay, identifies best-in-class behaviors that enable the top 20 percent of performers to reduce invoice cost, yet process and pay faster than competitors.

Analysis Pinpoints Risk Hot Spots for Freight Forwarders and Logistics Operators

Despite key factors that cause disruption throughout the global supply chain, there are opportunities for operators to save costs by tightening procedures to minimise accidents, breakdowns, delays and other risks, according to Laurence Jones, TT Club's director of global risk assessment.

Global Supply Chain Forum Looks Back Over 20 Years

Initiatives such as the Global Supply Chain Forum, which resides at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, give the business world access to academic expertise and valuable research, says forum director Douglas M. Lambert. Such efforts are becoming more common, he says, adding that "the business community ought to be our laboratory."

In Wake of Japanese Earthquake, Companies Ask if Supply Chains Can Be Too Lean, Study Finds

A year after the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami, supply chain managers are reconsidering just-in-time strategies, according to a survey released by the Business Continuity Institute.

The Retail Industry's Supply Chain Continues Its Transformation

Analyst Insight: Over the last three years the retail industry has seen a great many changes, helping to streamline retail supply chains and create more cost savings for retailers. This efficiency-driven approach was in large part a response to the "great recession," and it has sustained the industry through these challenging times, putting them in a greater position for success as we look ahead to the future. So where do we go from here? - Casey Chroust, executive vice president, Retail Industry Leaders Association

01 12 cover 30

Juggling Priorities for CIOs in Retail

Analyst Insight: Retailers in 2012 will continue to implement analytic engines. The last two years have seen retailers and CPG companies streamline and rethink their multichannel and merchandising strategies. Improved performance is a reflection of this analytics focus. In 2012, retailers will learn through direct customer engagement through mobile, social and web (omni-channel information) to create products, and market to customers based on shopper insights. - Ann Grackin, CEO, ChainLink Research

01 12 cover 31

Sustainability Execs Fear Shortages of Natural Resources Will Affect Their Supply Chains in Near Future

Ernst & Young reports that 83 percent of respondents to a recent survey say they are engaging their supply chain in sustainability. In addition to this, 76 percent anticipate natural resource shortages, including water, will affect their core business objectives over the next three to five years, according to the canvass of "corporate sustainability leaders."

Three New Free-Trade Agreements Highlight Benefits, Complexities of FTA Management

Analyst Insight: The Congressional bills to implement the U.S. free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama and to renew the Generalized System of Preferences and Andean Trade Preferences Act have gained congressional approval and President Obama's signature, thus paving the way for the long awaited realization of the agreements and their inherent trade benefits and opportunities. Simultaneous approval highlights the challenges of managing global supply chains to take advantage of the benefits provided. - William M. Methenitis, partner, global director, and Kristine L. Price, partner, both of Ernst & Young LLP, Customs and International Trade

01 12 cover 26

Oracle Debuts JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Mobile Expense Management

Oracle Corp. has developed a mobile expense-management software application, under the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne brand.

Horizontal Collaboration - Sharing Supply Chain Assets with Your Competitors

With ever-changing business challenges such as transportation costs, volatile demand and an evolving customer base, supply management organizations are exploring new and unique ways to use collaboration in their supply chains. One such effort is turning traditional vertical collaboration strategies on their side and may change the way organizations view their supply chain - and their competitors.

Procurement and Sourcing Has Talent! Or Does It?

Analyst Insight: Procurement and sourcing is a continuously evolving profession. A global Gartner Supply Chain study of 453 companies finds 51 percent of procurement and sourcing talent hired in the last three years was to satisfy short-term needs, with a focus on basic, intermediate and advanced procurement and sourcing skill sets. Procurement and sourcing hiring strategies for 2012 shifts to long-term needs and advanced skills requirements in the areas of SRM, supplier collaboration, performance management and analytics, and financial procurement. - Mickey North Rizza, Gartner Supply Chain Research

01 12 cover 24

Page 522 of 764

Featured Product

Photo: iStock/Anastasiia Yanishevska

How a Leading U.S. Floral Distribution Company Reduced Warehouse Labor Costs by 45% with RFID

Recycled Tagging Fasteners: Small Changes Make a Big Impact

Mobile geolocation service for track delivery, cargo shipment and freight transportation. Logistic Import Export business (Elements of this image furnished by NASA)

Enhancing High-Value Electronics Shipment Security with Tive's Real-Time Tracking

Franchise business e-commerce online e-marketplace or digital marketing branch expansion for growth or use technology to analyze product consumer data website management plan for sale service concept.

Moving Robots Site-to-Site