ec-bp has been participating in social media for nearly as long as the platforms have existed... that is, I've been participating in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google + since each of them became available as beta experiments. Most of the content from ec-bp.com has been posted to these sites under my personal accounts. That's changing.

Read more...

Most business owners have at least a basic way of collecting data from their companies, and at least some basic form of data analytics. The thing is, many business owners don't know what they should really be doing with that analytical data. A lot of times it is glanced at, and then pushed aside, without really having any effect on business one way or the other. However, there is actually a lot that you, as a retailer, can be doing to leverage those analytics to help you in the day to day running of your business.  Read more...

Business owners have been using analytics to analyze their business data for many years. The real question is, what do we do with that data? Up until recently, there really hasn't been much guidance when it comes to interpreting and utilizing that data to meet your business needs. However, in today's highly competitive supply chain it is more important than ever to know how to utilize those analytics to solve problems in your supply chain. Think about it: If you can't use that analytical data to solve real world problems for your business, what is the point of the analytics in the first place? Read more...

When it comes to electronic documents supporting the supply chain, the Advance Ship Notice or 856 is just as important to the order to delivery process as the purchase order itself. While it is a robust document, its main purpose is to communicate back to the buying party what is shipping and when, as well as where it is going.

Read more...