The late Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote, “We welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” Certainly, that is true. It is also true that we still have to reckon with existing things. As we welcome a new year, the combination of known and unknown things continues to complicate supply chain operations. So, let’s take a look at what we know and how to plan for things that have never been. Tara Buchler, Principal of Strategy with JBF Consulting, insists, “The future belongs to organizations that move beyond one-off projects, adopt innovative technologies and ways of working, and embrace adaptability.”[1] Agility and adaptability will continue to be important during the coming year.

What We Know

Below are a few of the things that will remain the same over the coming year.

• The Complex Global Landscape. We know that complexity defines the global landscape. From climate change to geopolitics, everything changes rapidly on the global landscape. Daniel Sokolovsky, Co-Founder and CEO at WARP, writes, “The pandemic and geopolitical chaos have exposed the fragility of global supply chains, and the old model of chasing the lowest labor rates overseas is no longer viable.”[2] The MHI staff adds, “Geopolitical tensions, trade wars and shifting alliances are adding complexity to supply chains. Higher costs, uncertainty and delays are pushing companies towards diversification strategies and contingency planning to mitigate risk. Some firms are adopting multi-sourcing strategies and reshoring operations to the U.S. to mitigate geopolitical risks.”[3]

• Artificial Intelligence Implementation. We know that companies will continue to implement AI solutions, even if the pace of implementation is uneven. KPMG analysts, Brian Higgins and Lenny LaRocca, predict, “The future of supply chain management is inextricably linked with AI.”[4] They add, “After nearly two decades of discussion of global supply chains, the next generation of supply chains will center on AI. While the mantra of ‘AI first’ looks truer with each passing day, the practical application within supply chains follows a more measured and strategic path.” Writer and speaker Bernard Marr adds, “Thanks to AI, digital twins and edge computing, supply chains in 2026 are no longer passive processes; they are proactive, autonomous and adaptive. These intelligent supply chains dynamically change in real time, in response to sensor data, supplier availability or even global disruption.”[5]

• Need to Upskill the Workforce. The MHI staff observes, “As AI and automation scales, the demand for tech-savvy supply chain professionals is surging. Leading companies are investing in talent development, reskilling and working to foster a workplace culture that embraces innovation and collaboration.” Higgins and LaRocca agree that upskilling is an imperative. They also note that companies must address “concerns over job loss due to intelligent automation.”

• Cybersecurity and Other Risks. The MHI staff notes, “As supply chains become more automated and interconnected, they face increasing cyber threats. Securing procurement platforms and supplier data is critical. Additionally, geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions are becoming more frequent. Proactive risk management including a strong data and cybersecurity plan, strong relationships with suppliers and diversified sourcing strategies are essential for risk mitigation.”

What May Lie Ahead

Predicting the long-term future can be a perilous, if not foolish, effort. Nevertheless, real-time data can help companies leverage AI to best their competitors. To help companies understand what may lie ahead, Enterra Solutions® has developed the Enterra System of Intelligence®. This System ushers in a new era of AI-enabled management science by merging cutting-edge analytical techniques with a business’ data and knowledge to Sense, Think, Act, and Learn® on enterprise data to meet the changing needs of the market. One element of the Enterra System of Intelligence is Enterra Business WarGaming™. Business WarGaming enables organizations to leverage their data to make strategic decisions by anticipating the moves of their competitors and taking direct action to beat the competition, mitigate risk, navigate uncertainty, and maximize market opportunity. Part of Enterra Business WarGaming is the Enterra Global Insights and Decision Superiority System™ (EGIDS™) — powered by the Enterra Autonomous Decision Science™ platform — which can help business leaders rapidly explore a multitude of options and scenarios. Even if you don’t know exactly what lies ahead, exploring “what if” scenarios helps ensure your company is ready for whatever comes. Below are a few predictions of what may lie ahead.

• Industry 5.0. Marr writes, “Industry 5.0 refers to the fast-emerging concept of reframing innovation and automation around human work, following the focus on machine intelligence of recent years. It’s an umbrella term covering everything from ensuring human workforces are equipped with the skills to work alongside AI and robots on the shop floor, to developing human-centric interfaces like wearables to amplify, rather than replace, human capabilities, to using technology sustainably so as not to harm the environment that supports human society. Balancing automation with human safety and avoiding developing an over-reliance on AI systems all play a part in Industry 5.0 strategy, which will become integral to industrial progress and innovation in 2026. The manufacturing revolution of 2026 marks a fundamental shift in how we balance human expertise with machine capability.” Sokolovsky adds, “Speed wins. Consumers don’t care where something is made — they care if it’s in their hands tomorrow.”

• True Integrated Business Planning. The promise of IBP has been around for a long time, Buchler believes it will soon become a reality. She explains, “By 2030, the integration of planning and execution will become reality. Vendors are already moving toward unified platforms, and agentic AI will act as an orchestration layer, dynamically closing the loop between planning and execution. Crucially, this is about collaborative planning — it’s about building plans with execution constraints in mind. For example, a merchandise promotion must consider whether transportation capacity, lead times and warehouse throughput can realistically support it.”

• Sustainability Efforts. Buchler notes, “By 2030, U.S. shippers will still lag Europe in sustainability adoption. Despite emissions calculators and optimization tools, cost will remain the dominant decision factor in the U.S., while regulation and customer pressure push Europe ahead.” The MHI staff adds, “Circular supply chains are a competitive advantage and require that sustainability efforts are integrated across the entire value chain. Innovations in electric vehicles, route optimization, and urban micro-fulfillment centers are helping companies reduce emissions while cutting costs. Sustainability requires close collaboration and data sharing with partners, the right technologies, and a commitment to long-term change. Additionally, as AI grows, it’s consumption of large amounts of energy and water is becoming a new sustainability challenge.”

There are myriad topics I could write about; however, the point I am trying to make is that the new year will see a continuation of many trends as well as offer a few surprises. Buchler concludes, “The next five years will be defined less by revolutionary new technologies and more by how those technologies are applied. Agentic AI and autonomous agents will reshape how logistics systems are designed, integrated and used. The winners will be those who invest in data, design and adaptability, turning predictions into long-term competitive advantage.” She echoes the sentiments expressed by the late American journalist Hal Borland, who once stated, “Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” I wish you all the happiest new year.

Footnotes

[1] Tara Buchler, “10 Predictions That Will Redefine Logistics Technology by 2030,” Material Handling & Logistics, 1 December 2025.

[2] Daniel Sokolovsky, “The American Supply Chain Renaissance: Speed, Proximity, and Digital Intelligence Are Rewiring How We Make and Move Goods,” Global Trade, 1 December 2025.

[3] Staff, “MHI Announces Top Supply Chain Trends of 2026,” MHI, 18 November 2025.

[4] Brian Higgins and Lenny LaRocca, “2026: The age of the AI supply chain,” Supply Chain Management Review, 13 November 2025.

[5] Bernard Marr, “6 Defining Manufacturing Trends Of 2026,” Forbes, 12 November 2025.