"Clearly there are mutual interests in terms of large energy suppliers and consumers, but there will be stress points, of course, " said Ben Simpfendorfer, co-founder of Silk Road Associates, an investment advisory firm specializing on trade between the Middle East and Far East Asia.
They'll be the companies themselves, their software suppliers and the consumers to whom much of the savings will eventually flow.
Or what if a shipment of counterfeit drugs was located in a particular town or region, and consumers and suppliers could tag such incidents to put others on watch?
FORBES: The Crisis of Counterfeits and Transparency in Developing World Medicine
Rogers helped found Natural Gas Clearinghouse, now known as Dynegy, to strike contracts among suppliers, consumers and pipelines and get the gas flowing again.
Rogers helped found Natural Gas Clearinghouse, now known as Dynegy (nyse: DYN - news - people ), to strike contracts among suppliers, consumers and pipelines and get the gas flowing again.
And I think it is imperative for American foreign policy looking forward to engage both energy suppliers and rising energy consumers like China in a way that is going to reduce the incentives for these countries to play this game.
It said the benefits resulting from such disclosure were enjoyed both by consumers and suppliers and hence by the economy and the community generally.
"The government must guarantee that any subsidies for new power generation and any rate of return to suppliers are fair, and not overly generous at consumers' expense, " said the group's director of energy Audrey Gallacher.
Dell became a market leader in computers through early use of the internet to sell goods and services direct to consumers, and to buy components from suppliers.
Business leaders must actively care for a broader set of priorities, understanding that we are creating our own ecosystems of suppliers, consumers, employees, and so many other stakeholders.
FORBES: Throw Out Your Plans for 2013. Business Is a Journey.
The writing is on the PC screen: Suppliers can wise up and sell what consumers want to buy on the Web--or they can be fraidy-cats and watch someone else run off with their business.
In every market--and at every step from suppliers of raw materials to consumers of finished goods--faster, cheaper communication lowers the cost of producing and consuming.
In the new economy, firms cannot simply raise their prices: if they do, they will quickly lose out in a global market where firms and consumers can choose their suppliers at will.
And the energy suppliers say the statements will make consumers better equipped in any case.
"We need commitments from suppliers and the government to put an end to practices that harm consumers and action to create a competitive energy market that works for everyone, " said executive director Richard Lloyd.
With a wide assortment of product offerings to its target group of low-to-middle class U.S. consumers and by maintaining its pricing power over suppliers, we believe Wal-Mart will be able to sustain its leadership in the retail industry.
FORBES: Sales Are Soft But Wal-Mart Stock Should Be $65 Or Higher
Auto-parts suppliers have done relatively well during the recession and prolonged economic downturn, as many consumers have held on to their cars longer and sought out repairs instead of purchasing new cars.
Standardized DNA checks with meat suppliers and more stringent labeling rules will add costs that producers will most likely hand down to consumers, making food more expensive.
However, the regulator of all these pills and potions says the aim is to protect consumers, not to pick off small suppliers.
This could significantly broaden the entire informal ecosystem because consumers would have an international reach and merchants would have vast new choices in selecting suppliers.
Consumers and business purchasing agents can now easily compare prices of products and services proffered by merchants and suppliers and apply pressure for more efficiency and lower costs.
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