ABSTRACT
Perhaps the most strategic area of business in the next decade will be channels of distribution: the complex commercial arrangements involving the array of different parties bringing products and services to consumers or other end users. As firms vie for competitive advantage, traditional channels of distribution are coming under increasing scrutiny, driven in many cases by new options presented by e-commerce, increasing inter-firm collaboration, and the development of true supply chain networks. Similarly, the consolidation of legacy or newly acquired manufacturing and distribution facilities remains important because of its potential impact on capital expenditure. Determining the optimal channels of distribution, product logistics flow paths and supporting network infrastructure are important ingredients to configuring a supply chain to deliver business objectives.
