Supply chain executives are doubling down on technology, speed and resilience, confident in their ability to weather disruption. Consumers, however, prioritize quality, trust and transparency. This misalignment creates both a risk and an opportunity: companies that close the perception gap can build stronger loyalty and competitive advantage.

The data in this Infios industry report reveals the underlying tensions shaping the state of supply chains in 2025. From trade confidence gaps to the misunderstood role of AI, from sustainability’s shifting relevance to workforce realities, the insights point to a single truth: companies that focus on resilience without relevance risk becoming obsolete.

Across every domain—trade, technology, sustainability, labor and loyalty—a consistent pattern emerges. Supply chain executives are confident in their systems, but consumers are skeptical of their promises. The resulting “trust gap” is quietly redefining what success means in modern supply chain strategy.

Infios’s analysis of this gap suggests that performance alone is no longer enough. The winners of 2026 will be those who translate operational excellence into emotional reassurance: brands that use transparency, clear communication and authentic value delivery to turn efficiency into trust. Companies that align internal investments with external expectations, bridging the divide between what supply chain executives build and what customers believe, will define the next generation of supply chain excellence.