With 2024 drawing to a close, we reached out to some of the industry’s leading experts to get their predictions on what the next year might hold for the global supply chain sector.
The responses we received covered a wide range of topics, from warehousing to AI and cybersecurity. One thing remained constant, however: 2025 will be a year that poses significant challenges for supply chain professionals around the world, and it will take a combination of technology adoption, strategic planning, and collaboration to rise to them.
Understanding the supply chain to manage risk has never been more important
Sue Williams, Managing Director at Hexagon Consultants
“More in depth risk assessments will become increasingly essential. It’s crucial for businesses to have a deep understanding of their supply chain, conducting thorough risk assessments and scenario planning in order to foresee and mitigate risks before they become major problems.
Organisations need to ensure that they are mapping their supply chain network, ideally collaborating with suppliers to get as far down the supply chain as possible: consistently providing updates and regularly communicating to avoid any disruptions.”
Visibility, technology, and risk mitigation will separate 2025’s winners and losers
Phil Reuben, executive director at SCALA
“We’ve experienced a series of turbulent years for global supply chains. With ongoing geopolitical changes and technological progress, 2025 is set to be another crucial year for building supply chain resilience.
“Trade tariffs proposed by the Trump administration on major manufacturers like China will have major implications for businesses with global supply chains. Very soon, businesses will have critical decisions to make about how they continue to source raw materials, manufacture, and ship products.
“Furthermore, ongoing global conflict could threaten supply and distribution in certain global territories, necessitating more resilient and adaptable supply chain strategies. Nearshoring is emerging as a strategic response to disruption, with companies opting to bring production closer to key markets, thereby reducing transportation costs and mitigating risks.
“One area that could be increasingly key in creating resilience is effectively deploying emerging technologies. Those businesses choosing to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) across supply chain operations may reap the benefits of improved demand forecasting, inventory management, and general efficiency, for example.
“Ultimately, understanding your operations, making the most of technology, and mitigating risks in the supply chain will be critical in 2025.”
2025 will be the year of smart, strategic warehousing
Ben Segelman, Head of Portfolio Management – European Logistics, at Brookfield
“Throughout the latter part of 2024, we saw a return of confidence to the European logistics market as inflation began to turn and interest rates cooled off. As a result, we are seeing a number of large asset portfolios come to the market, as well as occupancy rates within our own portfolio growing – largely driven by built-to-suit projects with large corporates. As we look ahead to 2025, the European logistics market is poised for significant activity and transformation as tenants demand high-quality spaces.
“The primary themes driving the logistics landscape in 2025 will be automation, digitisation, and sustainability. Companies across the entire supply chain, from sourcing to fulfilment, will prioritise these elements, even as they navigate the challenges of rapidly evolving trends.
“This is why the role of the landlord will become ever more important in 2025. Businesses will increasingly turn to warehouse and logistics partners who can leverage the power of ‘connected networks’ to achieve maximum optionality from their space, such as unlocking access to land banks and the grid.
“There will be a particular focus on premises in strategic, best-in-town locations that offer excellent transport links, as well as spaces which attract talent. A move to campus locations, such as multi-functional logistics parks, is therefore an emerging trend that I believe we will see more of as we progress through 2025.”
The next generation of supply chain leaders will accelerate tech disruption
Tom Perrone, SVP Global Professional Services at project44
“2025 will be a transformative year for the supply chain – not just through the implementation of disruptive technologies, but also through new business models driven by a new generation of supply chain leaders.
“Data shows that today, millennials represent most of the global workforce. Over the next few years, leadership teams are set to become a millennial territory.
“This will undoubtedly cause a shift in processes and technological adoption across the supply chain, with millennials open to innovation based on their ability to quickly adapt and learn to use new platforms.
“Here, we can expect the next generation of supply chain leaders to increasingly harness automation and AI to streamline workflows without sacrificing productivity.
“At the same time, millennial employees prioritise sustainability and ethical practices in the companies they work for. With more millennials stepping into leadership roles, we can expect this shift to push more organisations to adopt new processes and technologies that enable more sustainable supply chain operations, as well as enhanced traceability to ensure socially responsible sourcing. Ultimately, this unique perspective and new set of leadership skills will help to drive innovation and enhance the resilience of supply chain operations.”
Progress on sustainability starts with data
Jarrod McAdoo, Director of Product at Ivalua
“In 2025, data will be as important as ever as organisations face increasing regulatory pressure and growing consumer demand and expectations for sustainable practices. Organisations’ ability to collect, manage, and utilise data will be key to ensuring they don’t fall behind the competition.
In addition to the need to comply with regulations such as CSRD and CS3D, initiatives like Digital Product Passports (DPPs) will gain traction, particularly in sectors like retail and battery production, to respond to growing consumer demand for transparency. Added pressure for circular initiatives will come from the EU’s forthcoming introduction of DPPs in 2027 which aims to tackle unsustainability by providing detailed digital records on product origins, materials, and recyclability. Forward-thinking brands, like Tesco’s F&F clothing range, and fashion brand Nobody’s Child have already taken steps toward this change, and more will follow suit next year.
“The real challenge and opportunity we’ll face in the coming year lies in identifying which solution providers will effectively address the comprehensive data management challenges presented. The technology must enable companies to facilitate data collection from different sources to track metrics, monitor progress, and identify areas for improvement, as well as report. We’re likely to see a phased approach, with the key focus being on balancing regulatory requirements with practical implementation. This will require significant investment in both technology and process transformation, but sustainability should be seen as an investment, not a cost.”
Cybersecurity problems in the supply chain aren’t going away
Dominik Birgelen, CEO of oneclick AG Group
“In 2025, cybersecurity is likely to remain a priority for supply chain businesses. As supply chain companies leverage innovative solutions and digitise their operations, the risk of cyberattacks can also increase.”
“According to Statista, approximately 183,000 customers were affected by supply chain cyberattacks worldwide in 2024. This makes cybersecurity a critical issue to address for supply chain businesses. Cyberattacks can easily disrupt supply chain operations, resulting in delays, lost revenue, and a damaged reputation. This, in turn, can hinder the long-term growth of supply chain businesses.”
“By deploying advanced solutions based on the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), supply chain operators can ensure that suppliers, warehouses, and logistics systems operate securely without interruption.”
In 2025, organisations will struggle to juggle cost reduction with managing supply chain risks
Alex Saric, Smart Procurement Expert at Ivalua
“In 2025, as investment into peak procurement staff has stalled, organisations will need to juggle a stubborn focus on cost reduction against demand to re-architect supply chains so they are more flexible than ever before. This comes as geopolitical tensions mount, a shortage of critical materials remains, and more extreme weather events loom – all making the risk of supply chain disruption even more unpredictable.
“Procurement teams will face a tough balancing act next year, so understanding how to optimise suppliers and spend in these complex times will be critical. Organisations will need to focus on diversifying supply chains to reduce risk of disruption and reliance on China. This means making sure they can build strong relationships with their strategic suppliers, and that they can identify alternative sources of supply in case of unexpected disruptions.”
Geopolitics, economic pressure, and AI will shape the post-pandemic supply chain landscape
Nick Rakovsky, CEO of DataDocks
The post-pandemic supply chain transformation is about to hit its stride. 2025 will mark the end of reactive digitalisation and the beginning of truly intelligent operations.
Three forces will define the year.
First, geopolitical tensions will intensify supply chain scrutiny. Border checks will become more stringent, documentation requirements more complex, and origin verification more demanding.
Second, the economic climate will force a bifurcation in the industry. Companies that have invested in automation and AI will pull decisively ahead of those still relying on manual processes and disconnected systems. The performance gap between digital leaders and laggards will become too wide to ignore, particularly in warehouse operations and logistics coordination.
The third and most interesting force is the maturation of AI-powered compliance tools. These systems will transform how organisations handle regulatory requirements, turning what was once a burden into a competitive advantage. Supply chains will become simultaneously more compliant and more agile – a combination that would have seemed paradoxical just a few years ago.
These changes won’t happen all at once. Most companies will take a “wait and see” approach in the first half of the year. But those waiting for perfect certainty before acting will find themselves scrambling to catch up when the market accelerates.
The supply chain industry has received its lessons about preparedness – 2025 will show which companies took those lessons to heart.
The future of supply chain innovation lies with emerging technologies
Adam Spurdle, COO, at Communisis Brand Deployment
“Emerging technologies like Gen AI, blockchain, and IoT are revolutionising supply chain operations, with AI taking centre stage in marketing procurement categories, including in-store marketing materials, printed communications, and marketing incentives such as in-store purchase-linked redemption programs and couponing for large brands.
As businesses in this sector aim to streamline complex processes, the granular insights provided by AI are proving indispensable. AI enables real-time monitoring and analysis, offering the visibility needed to optimise workflows and make data-driven decisions that directly impact efficiency and outcomes.
For marketing procurement, advanced AI models are set to transform demand forecasting, particularly in areas like production scheduling for printed communications and inventory management for in-store marketing materials. AI-driven insights can also anticipate fluctuations in redemption program participation or coupon usage by analysing historical and IoT data patterns. These capabilities help prevent overproduction, reduce waste, and align procurement strategies with actual consumer demand, ultimately improving sustainability outcomes.
Moreover, AI’s ability to automate routine tasks—such as processing procurement documents, analysing supplier data, or tracking marketing asset delivery—through intelligent automation and robotic process automation (RPA) will allow teams to focus on higher-value activities. This means marketers and procurement professionals can dedicate more energy to creativity and strategic decision-making, ensuring campaigns are innovative, impactful, and aligned with brand objectives as we move into 2025.
In short, AI is not just a trend but a transformative force for marketing procurement, enabling smarter, faster, and more sustainable operations across categories. As these technologies evolve, their role in shaping efficient and creative supply chains for brands will only grow.
- AI in Supply Chain
- Digital Supply Chain
- Risk & Resilience
