IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Supply Chain 2025 Predictions
This IDC study provides the 2025 top 10 predictions for supply chain.According to Travis Eide, research director, Transportation, Logistics, and Global Trade at IDC, "Supply chains continue to experience the ebb and flow of supply chain continuity. The breadth and depth of disruptions that pose a risk to business cannot be ignored, and leadership teams need to prioritize advancing digital capabilities that enable holistic decisions to be made within organizations and among supply chain partners. We see this evolution as a requirement for supply chains to remain competitive in a global environment that is evolving a greater speed, one in which supply chain preparedness and responsiveness are critical enablers supported by the establishment of critical digital infrastructure that serves as the foundation for meeting challenges and taking advantage of opportunities."
IDC FutureScape Figure
Executive Summary
IDC FutureScape Predictions
Summary of External Drivers
Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
Prediction 1: By 2028, Increased Data Visibility Between PLM and Supply Chain Will Drive a 20% Increase in FOB Sourcing in Apparel, Resulting in a 15% Decrease in Logistics and Transportation Costs
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 2: By 2028, 70% of Global Supply Chain Organizations Will Deploy LLM-Powered Platforms to Simulate and Predict Risks Related to Geopolitics, Regulatory Frameworks, and Weather Impacts to Increase Resiliency
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 3: By 2027, 60% of Global Supply Chain Participants Will Deploy AI to Comply with Circularity Regulations, Achieving Adherence to Environmental Regulations and 20% Efficiency Gains
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 4: By 2027, 50% of Global Organizations Will Deploy a GenAI-Powered Platform That Combines Disparate Data Sources to Simulate, Assess, and Predict Supply Chain Risks
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 5: By 2028, 80% of Global Supply Chain Organizations Will Have Migrated to Cloud Solutions, Improving Inventory Velocity by 5% and Making Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Competitive with Larger Players
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 6: By 2027, 80% of Supply Chains Will Utilize AI/ML for Dynamic Shipment Planning and Network Optimization, Reducing Disruption Response Time by 75% and Delivering 5% Reduction in Transportation Spend
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 7: Unable to Meet Global Repair SLAs, by 2028, 60% of G2000 Manufacturers Will Expand Their Spare Parts Ecosystem Partners Across the Supply Chain to Confidently Deliver Resolution and Customer Outcomes
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 8: By 2026, 60% of G1000 Supply Chain Participants Will Have Integrated Their Major IoT Systems into Their Supply Chain Digital Twins and See a 15% Improvement Across Efficiency, Utilization, and Safety
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 9: By 2027, 35% of All Warehouses Will Utilize Computer Vision in the Form of Motion Object Tracking to Increase Productivity by 15% and Reduce Safety Incidents by at Least 10%
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Prediction 10: By 2028, 40% of Global Manufacturers Will Utilize AI and Generative AI for Compliance Automation, Providing a 90% Reduction in Manual Compliance Tasks and Cutting Operational Costs by 15%
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Guidance
Advice for Technology Buyers
External Drivers: Detail
AI-Driven Business Models — Moving from AI Experimentation to Monetization
The Drive to Automate — Toward a Data-Driven Future
Future Proofing Against Environmental Risks — ESG Operationalization and Risk Management
Regulatory Flux — Navigating Compliance Challenges in a Shifting Policy Landscape
Expanding Digital Security Frontiers — Fortification Against Multiplying Threats
Geoeconomic Reordering — Rethinking Globalization, Supply Chains, and Macroeconomic Challenges
Customer Experience Squared — Consumer and Citizen Expectations for Digital Services
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