Over the past few years, there's been a closer link developing between supply chain management in the electronics industry and online advertising, especially to the ad networks that serve up content. Last week, for example, Google unveiled a platform that would enable consumers to leave their plastic credit cards at home and pay for goods and services with an Android smartphone.

Google Wallet will roll out in beta form this summer in Manhattan, Portland and San Francisco. This application can also support personalized marketing and ad campaigns, as well as a network of hardware and software developers that will build on the standards. The next step is likely to be supporting backend enterprise systems. It's easy to imagine Google partnering with SAP and Oracle to develop auto-replenishment inventory platforms, for example.