TREND 5
New-generation
supply chain

Agile, greener, and AI-assisted

GENERATIVE AI | CYBERSECURITY | ROBOTICS | NUCLEAR ENERGY | SUPPLY CHAIN

TREND 5

New-generation supply chain

Agile, greener, and AI-assisted

In recent years, businesses have had to navigate increasingly complex, unpredictable market conditions. Technologies including AI, data, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and connectivity with terrestrial-satellite networks, play a strategic role in enhancing cost efficiency, resilience, agility, circularity, and sustainability of supply chains. Unsurprisingly then, 37% of top executives see these new-generation supply chains as the top tech trend in industry and engineering in 2025. Additional regulatory and environmental constraints will make this shift critical to ensuring competitiveness, agility, and resilience.

New-generation supply chain at a glance

of the sectors surveyed ranked new-generation supply chain as the top trend for 2025.

of executives put new-generation supply chain among the top three trends for 2025 within the industry and engineering domain.

of CTOs, heads of innovation/CIOs, and heads of R&D, engineering, and product agree that ‘new-generation supply chain’ is among the top three technology trends for 2025.

of executives say their organization is at PoC/PoV stage with new-generation supply chains, with limited use cases.

More efficiency, less waste, more sustainable:
New generation- supply chain will be a top tech trend in 2025

Sustainable supply chains and product passports enable transparency and accountability in sourcing and production. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as digital twin and AI-powered algorithms, businesses can simulate various scenarios to optimize operations for agility and resilience. AI technology is redefining supply chain management. New generation supply chains integrate AI and IoT to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and support sustainability goals.

Data and AI enhance supply chain visibility by enabling real-time tracking and predictive analytics, leading to improved decision-making, reduced costs, and increased responsiveness to market changes. This transformation drives efficiency and resilience in new-generation supply chains. We expect a supply chain revolution that’s not just smart but spectacular, harmonizing speed, transparency, and resilience across industrial landscapes.

How is your organization planning to leverage next-generation supply chain technologies in the near future?

Strategic: We are already adopting advanced technologies like AI and automation to optimize our supply chain.
High: We are exploring next-gen solutions and looking for guidance on how to implement them.
Exploration: We are considering upgrading our supply chain but have not yet defined a roadmap.
None: We haven't started looking into next-gen supply chain technologies.

Expected adoption for 2025

Tech giants are intent on transforming AI-driven supply chains. Their groundbreaking, multi-year, multi-billion-dollar partnership to develop custom AI chips should enhance the performance of AI applications while strengthening the domestic AI supply chain. Currently, 49% of organizations are at the POC stage, exploring limited AI use cases to enhance supply chain responsiveness. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to forecast demand and optimize inventory, and 26% of organizations are partially scaling these technologies, reflecting a shift to data-driven decisions. In 2025, about 20% of investment in the industry and engineering domain will go exclusively to new-generation supply chains, representing a projected increase of 9% from 2024.

New-generation supply chain will be a top trend in 2025 - share of executives who agree, by sector

Download the full report to check:

• What organizations and investors are saying • Key barriers to adoption at scale

Download the full report

Spotlight on digital product passports

In 2027, batteries will become the first product group for which digital product passports (DPPs) are mandatory. Batteries play a central role in sustainable transport and energy transition, powering electric vehicles (EVs), as well as storing energy from renewable sources. More broadly across many other industries, DPPs have the potential to enhance transparency, traceability, and sustainability, ensuring efficient resource management and compliance with regulations.

Mandatory starting Feb. 2027

A battery passport

A digital document that stores battery data throughout the entire battery lifecycle and provides a record of the battery's history.

It stores battery production, testing, usage, maintenance, performance and recycling data, and makes them accessible to the public and authorities through a QR code on the battery.

Data required in Battery Passport

General information on the battery
Due diligence information
Battery performance information
Carbon footprint
Battery recovered content
Waste battery treatment information