Data munging. Although it exists today in more closed-door, engineering and product discussions, data munging will be all the hype in 2030. When companies are held back by poor data standards and quality, after 20 years of talk, the cleanup will be real. GLENN KOEPKE , VP, Industry & Solution Strategy, Vector Freight optimization. As cargo space becomes harder to secure and capacity tightens across key lanes, logistics teams will rely more heavily on data and real-time visibility to maximize every routing decision. The push for smarter planning, earlier space commitments, and more ecient freight movements will make optimization a central theme of how shipments are managed in a faster and more automated environment. JOSEPH PACHECO , Managing Director, Freight Minds
BUCKLE UP FOR 2026
Major Turns Permanent geopolitical and trade fragmentation reshaping global supply networks Policy-driven volatility, including taris, industrial policy, and USMCA changes AI’s shift from experimentation to decision-making, forcing new operating models A labor market reset, driven by demographics, immigration tightening, and automation Logistics and financial stress, from shipping chokepoints to rising global debt 2026 is a turning point for supply chains as they navigate these converging forces, says Per Hong, global lead of Kearney Foresight. Supply Chain Hazards Continuation of tari-driven supplier price negotiations Sourcing paralysis Sourcing reconfigurations (as the paralysis eases) These risks are likely to cause operational problems, aecting the quality and delivery of products and services, according to Moody’s.
Autonomous planning is the next major leap in supply chain management, where AI continuously orchestrates demand, supply, capacity, and inventory decisions without relying on traditional calendar- based planning cycles. Instead of humans creating forecasts, adjusting POs, or recalculating
safety stock, autonomous planning systems learn from real-time data, model thousands of scenarios, and automatically recommend or execute the optimal actions across the network. DAVE TU , President, DCL Logistics
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January 2026 • Inbound Logistics 93
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