As we welcome 2026, the forces that reshaped global trade in 2025 will continue to define supply chain strategies well into the new year. In its November paper, Supply Chains Must Adjust Now to Global Factors, the Digital Supply Chain Institute (DSCI) examines how geopolitics, policy shifts, and technological change have created a fragmented and highly volatile trade environment.
The paper highlights four key forces that converged in 2025 to roil supply chains worldwide: fluctuating tariffs and rising protectionism, accelerating deglobalization, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, and expanding climate change commitments. Together, these pressures forced companies to rethink risk management and supply chain strategies as trade became more regionalized and increasingly shaped by political considerations.
At the same time, AI emerged as a critical tool for creating competitive advantage by improving decision-making and increasing supply chain visibility. For many organizations, however, the expanded use of AI tools also led to higher energy consumption, making it imperative to balance innovation with progress toward sustainability goals.
These structural shifts—and their impacts—will extend well beyond the new year. The DSCI Constellation of Value, a modern supply chain framework, prioritizes collaboration, data sharing, and flexibility. Applied effectively, it can help organizations navigate an evolving global trade environment while improving resilience and efficiency in 2026 and beyond.
