Intel Corp., the undisputed king of computer chip making, has tapped the broad shoulders of a few heavyweights in its bid to take its wireless broadband dreams to various cities around the globe. According to one report, Intel has started a Digital Communities initiative that involves rolling out wireless broadband technology in thirteen communities in a way to make high-speed Internet access more accessible to more people. The effort, said Intel, includes help from companies such as IBM Corp., SAP AG and Dell Inc. And the plan also involves equipping governments with tools to enable mobile workers such as meter readers to more efficiently do their jobs. Philadelphia, one of the participating communities, has already announced plans to deploy Wi-Fi technology across a 135-sq-mile area, an effort to increase accessibility to high-speed Internet access. San Francisco has also committed to deploying Wi-Fi technology. A Yankee Group analyst quoted in one report noted that municipalities are very much interested in rolling out wireless broadband technology in an effort to lessen the so-called digital divide.
Retailers are forging ahead in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to master the increasingly complex world of supply chain management. According to the latest ABI Research market study, more than 90 percent of global retailers are deploying AI to bolster decision-making and optimize operations. This movement underscores a pivotal transformation: retail supply chains evolve from static cost centers into intelligent systems capable of real-time adaptation. Driven by pressures from fulfillment complexity, labor challenges, and rising customer expectations, AI now sits at the heart of next-generation retail strategy. Retail Supply Chain Market Development Traditionally, retailers have struggled to balance speed, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Now, the combined forces of e-commerce growth and ongoing geopolitical disruptions have amplified this challenge. Warehouse congestion, longer lead times, and volatile demand forecasts have underscored the need for predictive and...