Supply Chain Signals: What We’re Watching in 2026

By [ Jess Dankert ]
01/20/2026

After a year (or five) defined by disruption, retail supply chains are undoubtedly battle-tested and ready for whatever challenge – or opportunity – is around the corner. Supply chain leaders have mastered the art of preparedness and have honed their ability to respond in real-time to unexpected external shifts. Time will tell what shifts will capture our attention and which trends will ultimately define supply chains in 2026. These are the ones we’re keeping an eye on:

Innovation
Supply chains have always been fertile testing grounds for cutting-edge technology with the potential to boost efficiencies and propel operational goals into reality. Artificial intelligence (AI) will, of course, likely be a huge piece of the puzzle to that end in 2026. We’re already seeing supply chains enter a new era defined by next-level data analysis in network optimization, inventory strategy, transportation planning and more—with the opportunity for AI to accelerate these efforts. How leading retailers continue to harness AI and optimize technology partnerships to make their supply chains smarter will be a major storyline to watch.

Geopolitics
Last year events abroad had a huge impact on U.S. supply chains. Tariffs and shifting trade relationships, military conflicts, shipping disruptions and more kept supply chain pros on their toes for most of the year. Uncertainty has become a baseline expectation—and often the source of additional costs—for supply chain operations, and there are few signs that that will change with the turning of the calendar. Tariffs will likely continue to weigh heavily on sourcing, inventory flow, and budgets, and ongoing geopolitical shifts will continue to make transportation planning a challenge. There remains a huge question mark regarding if and how ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East will resolve, and whether potential conflicts in the Western Hemisphere and elsewhere will further complicate the picture. Resiliency and adaptability will continue to be the name of the game, and we’ll be watching how supply chain leaders further evolve their supply chain contingency planning with this in mind.

Consumer expectations
Persistent inflation—and resulting consumer behavior—was a major headline in 2025. Differing outlooks for different demographics of shoppers are expected to become more pronounced in 2026, affecting the retail landscape. For supply chain leaders, it will remain a challenge to answer the call and deliver logistics strategies that help the broader business meet consumer expectations on everything from pricing to inventory to shipping. We’ll be looking at how supply chain teams get creative amidst disruption and ongoing market volatility to position the enterprise for success in these areas. Again, agility and adaptability will set supply chains apart.

We’ll have the year’s first opportunity to dive into these themes and more at LINK2026: The Retail Supply Chain Conference coming up in just a few weeks, February 1-4 in Orlando. With an agenda shaped by and for leading retail supply chain executives, LINK is the premier hub to explore today’s supply chain trends, discover the latest industry innovations, and prepare for whatever comes next.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with peers across the industry and position your supply chain for success in 2026—no matter what comes next. Register here.