DC VELOCITY is introducing a new blog written by Richard Sharpe, president of Competitive Insights (CI), an Atlanta-based consultancy. Sharpe will write about the phenomena of "big data" and how it will shape decision making within supply chain management.

In his blog, tiled "Big Data, Big Deal," Sharpe will focus on how companies can harness and master the overwhelming flow of information to build profits and gain sustainable competitive advantage. "We often hear the argument that, 'Our company has a long way to go to even manage the data we have today,'" he said. "But taking advantage of advances in technology and methodologies to gain actionable insights from big data will drive significant competitive advantage."

Mitch Mac Donald, group editorial director of DC VELOCITY and president and CEO of the magazine's parent company Agile Business Media, said that Sharpe's blog is a welcome addition to the media brand's online content. "Data flow is only increasing, and our industry, and business in general, is just starting to grasp the relevance of leveraging that information to strengthen a company's value proposition," he said. "We are excited to have a seasoned pro like Richard provide our readers with a road map on how to proceed."

Sharpe is a founding officer of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), a nonprofit group that aids rescue and recovery efforts following natural disasters by connecting relief agencies and individuals with companies providing logistics resources and expertise. He has also been named one of DC VELOCITY's "Rainmakers," a designation offered to those who've made extraordinary contributions to the logistics profession.

Sharpe's current focus is to support CI's mission to help customers gain sustainable competitive advantage through integrated business planning (IBP) solutions. IBP solutions transform large volumes of disparate data into fact-based operational insights.