Survey Reveals Supply Chain Resilience as the Top Priority for Business Leaders
According to research, 83% of executives now consider supply chain resiliency to be as vital as cybersecurity.
A new report from Cleo, the 2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Report, highlights key trends shaping the future of supply chain management. The study reveals that rising customer expectations are driving major strategic shifts across all surveyed companies.
Top Customer Expectations in 2025
Businesses are prioritising these key areas to enhance customer satisfaction:
Higher product quality (79%)
Faster delivery (75%)
Improved customer service (66%)
Geopolitical and Economic Concerns Impacting Supply Chains
With 75% of executives worried about global disruptions, businesses are closely monitoring these economic challenges:
Inflation (60%)
Regulatory changes (35%)
Tariffs (33%)
“As customer expectations rise and global challenges evolve, businesses can no longer afford to react—they must proactively anticipate and adapt,” said Tushar Patel, CMO at Cleo. “Building supply chain agility and resilience is vital for companies that want to keep operations running seamlessly, profitably, and competitively, especially in an increasingly unpredictable environment.”
Executives are making bold moves to future-proof their supply chains with cutting-edge technology. Automation leads the charge, with 93% already using or planning to adopt it within the next two years to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Real-time data analytics is another game-changer, enabling 63% of leaders to make smarter decisions and enhance customer service. Meanwhile, 55% are exploring artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the customer experience and maintain a competitive edge.
“By leveraging automation, real-time data integrations, and artificial intelligence, businesses can create a competitive advantage,” added Patel. “Companies can proactively pivot to market changes, strengthen customer and supplier relationships through real-time insights, and prove they are a reliable, trustworthy supply chain partner that gets the job done on-time in-full, leading to repeat business that boosts revenue.”
Sustainability is becoming a top priority, with nearly half of customers demanding greener practices. In response, 97% of companies have implemented sustainability programmes. Their main motivations? Establishing themselves as responsible leaders and reducing costs.
