Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

In April 2004, IT giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) was one of just eight consumer goods giants that began shipping Electronic Product Code (EPC)-products to Wal-Mart's Dallas/Fort Worth distribution center.

How to drive value from integration, forecasting and new product development

The past year was one of struggle and experimentation in consumer goods companies' use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), with lingering standards, product immaturity, cost and return on investment issues clouding the ability to reach Wal-Mart's January 2005 mandate.

Consumer goods firms are only as sharp as the products they release.

Usually, discussion and analysis of a particular subject is a matter of bringing in a number of viewpoints, weighing them and making a case for the most likely futures.

There is no doubt that 2004 proved to be a more than challenging year for consumer goods (CG) companies.

Last month, AMR Research humbly pointed out that its prediction in RFID spending for Wal-Mart's Top 100 suppliers was off its mark.

Supply chain execution software has re-entered the investment spotlight as supply chain partners face heightened pressures.