ASCM’s top 10 supply chain trends highlight a year of intelligent transformation

When ASCM previewed its Top 10 Supply Chain Trends earlier this year, the themes were familiar: artificial intelligence, tariffs, workforce shifts, sustainability, and the rising need for resilience. But the final report—Top 10 Supply Chain Trends 2026: Real-World Applications and Proven Strategies for Industry Professionals—goes well beyond signaling what matters. It offers a roadmap for how supply chain organizations should prepare.

Across all 10 trends, a few themes dominate: AI, resilience, workforce strategy.

ASCM’s 2026 report offers leaders a clear blueprint: those who lean into digitization, diversify supply networks, secure their data, and invest in talent will be the ones who thrive in a year defined by complexity.

1. Artificial intelligence: From experiments to enterprise backbone

AI is no longer an add-on, it’s the connective tissue of modern supply chains. ASCM highlights AI’s influence across planning, logistics, forecasting, and automation, giving companies precision, visibility, and speed unavailable just a few years ago. Real-world use cases include multi-variable demand forecasting, dynamic freight routing, e-commerce fulfillment optimization, and predictive maintenance.

In fast-moving consumer goods, Generative AI is already shortening product-development cycles and helping brands manage volatile demand, ASCM noted.

ASCM’s advice: Build a harmonized data foundation, conduct value audits to identify high-error processes, and prioritize AI literacy across teams.

2. Trade policies & global dynamics: A permanent state of realignment

Global supply chains are undergoing geopolitical rewiring. ASCM notes a strong shift from “China + 1” toward “Anywhere-but-China,” with new hubs emerging in Mexico, Africa, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe. Companies are pursuing deeper vertical integration and long-term contracts to hedge against volatility. This includes building regional ecosystems to reduce exposure to geopolitical friction, creating digital product passports and utilizing blockchain to improve transparency, and implementing scenario-based planning for tariff, security, and regulatory risk.

ASCM’s advice: Blend human expertise with AI monitoring, diversify aggressively, and establish contingency teams for policy-driven disruptions.

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