When it comes to the digital transformation, where should a company start? Gartner’s Mike Burkett highlighted that question as he kicked off the firm’s annual supply chain conference in Barcelona in June. “We lack a digital roadmap. But nowadays we’ve become accustomed to changing from masters of Excel spreadsheets to digital processes.” Burkett referred to … Read More
Slimstock’s intuitive performance app provides easy and real-time insight into supply chain performance for both top-level management and other professionals. This app is one way Slimstock is responding to the data-driven and knowledge-driven trend in which organizations need to provide faster access to information for a growing number of stakeholders. By Marysa Vos Slimstock is … Read More
Although blockchain remains a popular topic, leading companies are not yet managing to find suitable use cases according to research and consulting firm Gartner. Therefore, the firm predicts that 90% of the supply chain initiatives based on the much-discussed technology will show signs of ‘blockchain fatigue’ by 2023. Gartner’s research into user wants and needs … Read More
BluJay’s Global Trade Network (GTN) streamlines processes, creates new opportunities and improves the performance of companies, adapted in line with their unique supply chain requirements. Connecting all supply chain partners to the network increases transparency. The Global Trade Network is a collective name for integrated software solutions that improve the efficiency of the entire supply … Read More
This week, after ten years, I am test-driving cars. I have not owned a car for a decade. City living has come to an end and it is time for me to get some wheels. Buying a car is overwhelming. I just want one that works. I find the process of negotiation, and comparison shopping tiring. … Read More
This morning I landed in Frankfurt. Keeping with my normal Sunday night ritual, I poured myself a cup of tea to pen my weekly post for the Supply Chain Shaman. I have been writing weekly posts for this blog for eight years. The length of time is hard to believe. I thank you for your … Read More
This week, E2open announced a definitive agreement to acquire Zyme. For readers of this blog that do not know Zyme, the company focuses on the management of channel data in the high-tech industry. The company is a CRM solution. The Zyme solution improves revenue management, warranty, and rebate processes. This source of channel data is … Read More
This morning E2open announced the acquisition of Steelwedge for an undisclosed sum of money. Founded in 2000, Steelwedge was an innovator in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and was an early provider of cloud solutions for supply chain. I estimate that the company had annual sales of 30M$. Clients include Canon, Pfizer, HP Inc, Jaguar Land … Read More
As an analyst in the supply chain market for 15 years, I have written many articles on best-of-breed technology companies purchased by a larger company. Today I am writing my take on the acquisition of Terra Technology by E2open. In the market announcement yesterday the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. I have followed both of … Read More
Today LLamasoft announced the acquisition of the Barloworld CAST and Optimiza assets for an undisclosed sum of money. This announcement closely follows the September 29th press release about $50 million Series B financing with affiliates of Goldman Sachs & Co. This is LLamasoft’s second acquisition within a year. (LLamasoft acquired the LogicTools assets from IBM in the … Read More
As an analyst, when technology providers acquire and divest companies, I get invited to pre-announcement conferences. In these sessions the technology providers share their rationale for the investment and invite questions. Thursday morning it was the acquisition of GT Nexus by Infor. The transaction closes in 45 days. Infor, a market consolidator of enterprise software, currently has revenues of $2.8 … Read More
I am writing this blog post in the air, sitting in seat 4c, somewhere over the Midwest en route to Philadelphia. As I look below, I see field after field of United States farmland. The land looks like a giant puzzle. After a busy week with high-tech and electronics clients, my fingers are itching to … Read More