The tariffs introduced by the U.S. government are just one example of the many uncertainties shaping today’s global economy and interconnected supply chains. This growing uncertainty and market volatility are clearly reflected in the responses across industries: Business agility and adaptability, Innovation and business Model Evolution, and Cost Optimization and profitability were identified as the top three commercial priorities for 2025.

To navigate growing uncertainty in supply chain management, respondents consistently pointed to five key strategies. At the top of the list is the diversification of suppliers and sourcing channels to reduce dependency and increase resilience. This is closely followed by stronger collaboration with stakeholders and suppliers, enabling more transparent, agile decision-making. Organizations are also embracing agile and adaptive practices to stay responsive in volatile conditions. In parallel, they are investing in enhanced risk and demand management, supported by analytics and forecasting. While digitalization and AI remain important enablers, respondents made it clear that they are not the primary focus—rather, they serve as supporting tools ithin a broader transformation strategy.

Inside the numbers

This year’s results show continued strong alignment, with 90% of respondents agreeing that adopting Agile in commercial functions—on both the supplier and buyer side—is strategically important to their business. While there is broad consensus on the potential benefits of AI in procurement and supply, actual application remains limited: only 15% have actively implemented AI in their supply chain operations. At the same time, 96% of respondents across industries recognize the need to adjust their ways of working, organizational structures, and roles due to AI. Notably, 85% also agree that Agile principles and practices are essential enablers for effectively leveraging AI—positioning agility as a key foundation for future-ready supply chains.