The Swissôtel Düsseldorf, Germany played host to the Supply Chain Distinction Awards on the evening of 9^th June as over 350 of the globe’s supply chain and logistics community gathered to hear which companies are excelling in a variety of specialist categories connected to this essential enterprise tool.

The CIO is pulled in two directions: should he rather assume the role of technology provider, or that of a strategic business designer? Should he provide all the IT in-house, or act as the head of a network of specialists who each play their part in the added value chain by controlling the outsourced IT?

On-demand represents an attractive alternative for the CIO, especially in times where IT budgets are tight. It is not without reason, that SAP recently launched its own on-demand solution – SAP Business-by-Design – onto the market. But is an on-demand supplier model the best possible solution for every company and every organisation?

From the roof of their nearly completed new office building in central Stockholm, production manager Anders Leander and project manager Martin Landerby take in the view. Theirs is a fairly typical Skanska construction project.