Perspective: Supply Chain Leader Goes Interactive ---

This issue of Supply Chain Leader marks our transition to a more efficient, timely— some would say modern-method for bringing you the thought leadership you've come to expect from i2. Going forward, we're decreasing our printing and expanding our web presence with a goal of reaching more of our increasingly global audience in a faster, more interactive way.

This shift is prompted by the fact that a growing number of people worldwide are more consistently turning to the Internet for their information. The explosion of online media such as blogs, reader forums, podcasts and networking sites has changed the way we live and do business. As a result, we are now bringing Supply Chain Leader content to the web in a way that is easier to access, provides the opportunity for dialogue and debate, and most important, enables us to use the power of the Internet to tap into the wisdom of you, the reader.

With a renewed focus on our online presence, we've worked hard to enhance the content, making it easier to start— and to continue— a conversation with you, our readers. For example, by accessing Supply Chain Leader online you can:

Listen to the audio version of the articles. Don't have time to read everything you'd like? Now you can download an audio file podcast of each story and listen to it at the gym, on a plane, or wherever and whenever it's convenient for you.
Express an opinion. With reader comment sections included with each article, you can post an opinion, ask a question or engage in a dialog with other readers— and sometimes even the authors themselves.
Provide feedback. You can rate each story. Was it useful? Did it offer ideas and insights that can help you better run your business? Did we miss the mark? If so, why?
Access related materials. If you like what you read, or want to know more information about a particular solution, learn about a best practice for solving a business challenge, or are interested in attending an event to gain additional knowledge, our improved web presence can help. When applicable, we'll provide links to related content such as customer case studies, web seminars, data sheets or event information so that you can continue to gather information on the topics that interest you most.
Suggest a story topic. If you have a story idea, we'd like to hear it. No idea is too big or too small, and while we may not write a story that exactly matches your idea, it may mesh with ideas from others to form a collectively developed article that more accurately reflects the many-faceted challenges and successes experienced by companies today.

Throughout our 20 year history, i2 has been committed to engaging with its customers, seeking input, exchanging ideas, showcasing successes, and building relationships with events, web seminars, case studies, special interest groups, surveys and the i2 User Group. We believe the more interactive version Supply Chain Leader on i2.com provides yet another forum for information sharing and community building, and we look forward to your feedback as you experience Supply Chain Leader in this new way.

And finally, while Supply Chain Leader's increased web presence was not developed explicitly as a "green" initiative, we are mindful of the fact that we're using less paper and ink for printing, and less fuel for transporting the thousands of copies of magazines that have made their way around the world since our debut in April 2006. We do support the efforts of companies who have taken that path, and offer four interesting perspectives on green supply chains in this issue's Opinion Section. We urge you to check it out and visit us on the web to share your perspective on the green phenomenon that continues to change the face of business.

— by Beth Elkin