Companies with an integrated company-wide enterprise resource planning (ERP) system are likely to have more and more accurate information readily accessible to them. Companies that have already implemented well-managed processes to deal with inventory, receivables, payables, and managing the supply chain are more likely to be in a relatively strong cash position.

This paper examines some of the requirements for collaboration in the context of three major strategic initiatives:

• Customer focus to thoroughly understand the needs and execute to deliver products and services that will keep customers happy
• Innovation to differentiate what the company offers to fend off competitors, even in the fast-changing market conditions
• And supply chain excellence to reliably deliver perfect orders in a timely fashion at a reasonable cost, while leveraging the best trading partners around the world.