Coupa acquires travel startup Yapta to boost spend management platform

Software vendors use acquisitions to make their suites more comprehensive and encompass numerous procurement functions.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 9, 2020

Trade tensions drag manufacturing to lowest level since 2009

December 2019 was the fifth straight month in which the ISM manufacturing index contracted. Phase one of a U.S.-China trade deal could bolster several industries. 

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 6, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Blockchain-backed app puts coffee supply chain map in consumer hands

The plan is to use farmer IDs to track growing conditions, record transactions and follow yields and sales prices. 

By Cathy Siegner • Jan. 6, 2020

China to lower tariffs on hundreds of products Jan. 1

Products set for lower tariffs include imported frozen pork, frozen avocados, non-frozen orange juice, wood and paper products and some components for high-tech electronics.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 23, 2019

2020: Will procurement risk intensify?

The complicated economic, political and technological issues of 2019 are unsolved and will roll into the new year, so procurement managers need to look behind the headlines to stay ahead.

By Rich Weissman • Dec. 19, 2019

Fiat, PSA merger could create $1.6B in procurement savings

The deal comes as automakers invest billions to secure the supply and partnerships needed for electric and autonomous vehicles.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 19, 2019

Trump administration lays out plans to import drugs from abroad

Drug importation as a policy has a long history, but has been rejected in the past over concerns about supply chain security and regulatory resources. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 18, 2019

How a spirits company reduced stranded inventory with rolling forecasts

The company lost sales when its popular products were out of stock, so it stopped using static forecasts to anticipate demand.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 15, 2019

Trump to sign phase 1 of China trade deal Jan. 15

The president said he would travel to Beijing "at a later date" to begin discussions on the second phase of the deal. No new details were released by Trump nor the U.S. Trade Representative on what was in the first phase of the deal.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 13, 2019

Supply challenges could delay McDonald's chicken sandwich launch, analysts predict

McDonald's supply chain offers a bit of insulation. A research firm noted McDonald's uses chickens that are between 5 and 7 pounds, while Chick-fil-A and Popeyes use 5-pound birds.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 12, 2019

How to assess risks in a globalized supply chain

While it can expand reach and profitability, globalization can be a stumbling block for businesses, exposing firms to interruptions in supply, stock-outs, quality problems and supplier management issues.

By Jon Kirchoff, PhD • Dec. 12, 2019

Walgreens, Kroger form group purchasing organization

Despite sparse precedent, it's not too difficult to imagine that either Kroger or Walgreens would want more buying power since their combined revenue is still dwarfed by giants like Walmart and CVS Health. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 12, 2019

US House votes 'yes' on revised USMCA

The business community supports USMCA, touting the potential for smoother customs processing and streamlined shipments, while economists estimate the overall impact on the economy will be middling.

By Morgan Forde • Updated Dec. 20, 2019

Ahold Delhaize to invest $480M in US supply chain integration

The move toward self-distribution will encompass warehousing, transportation and procurement, resulting in $100 million in annual savings and better product availability for customers, Ahold Delhaize USA CEO Kevin Holt said.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 11, 2019

Sustainability Plan of the Year: Target's full-scope emissions goals

This year, Target set ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals and committed to bringing suppliers along for the ride, increasing the impact of its work toward a more sustainable supply chain.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2019

Resilience Plan of the Year: Williams-Sonoma's trade war strategy

At the beginning of 2019, retailers either waited to see what would happen with the increasingly sunny U.S.-China trade negotiations, or they prepared for the worst. Williams-Sonoma prepared and it paid off. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2019

Climate and change: Decarbonizing procurement contracts

215 of the world's biggest companies see climate change as a threat to their bottom line within the next five years.

By Ashley Norton • Dec. 5, 2019

When it comes to demand forecasts, sharing is caring

Procurement professionals who do not share their forecasts with key suppliers are creating a layer of risk in the supply chain that could result in supply interruptions and even higher prices.

By Rich Weissman • Dec. 5, 2019

To reduce risk and boost ROI, procurement needs to be at the executive table: A.T. Kearney

Firms that embrace strategic alignment with their procurement functions see two to three times greater supply chain ROI than average companies.

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 5, 2019

Ikea, Carrefour, Ahold Delhaize urge Brazil to maintain soy deforestation ban

Deforestation in Brazil has nuances that make it more difficult to identify in supply chains — potentially protecting the practice from the usual pressures raw materials buyers can exert to prevent it. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 5, 2019

Survey says one third of businesses taking no action to mitigate tariffs

With 68% of survey respondents reporting businesses affected by tariffs, but 33.5% taking no action to mitigate them, it's clear a small percentage of the business community is choosing the ostrich's strategy on tariff mitigation. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 3, 2019

Seasonal hiring is the most stressful recruiting period, survey says

Experts say the onboarding process should start before a new hire's first day​ to guarantee success and efficiency.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • Dec. 2, 2019

Why the vaping crisis is a supply chain failure

Numerous websites sell cheap, unauthorized pods designed to fit vaping devices from major manufacturers.

By Ron Volpe • Dec. 2, 2019

Breaking procurement's glass ceiling is not just about gender diversity

Removing gender bias is not just an HR initiative. It needs to become part of an organization’s culture.

By Allison Ford-Langstaff • Nov. 21, 2019

How to coach a supplier

When one-size-fits-all supplier development activities fall short, it may be time to take a more personal approach. 

By Rich Weissman • Nov. 21, 2019