Amid volatility, business leaders prioritize supply chain resilience to meet growing customer demands

Cleo research finds 83% of executives have elevated supply chain resiliency to be as important as cybersecurity, explaining why businesses are aggressively ramping up supply chain technology investments

Cleo, the pioneer and global leader of the Ecosystem Integration software category and provider of the Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) platform for supply chain orchestration, today released its 2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Report, revealing that rising customer expectations are driving supply chain strategy shifts for every company surveyed. Top customer expectations include:

*Higher product quality (79%)

*Faster delivery (75%)

*Improved customer service (66%)

At the same time, 75% of executives are concerned about geopolitical issues impacting global supply chain operations over the next two years. Economic concerns cited include:

*Inflation (60%)

*Regulatory changes (35%)

*Tariffs (33%)

The report, titled “Expect More from Your Supply Chain: How Business Leaders are Reinventing Supply Chains to Meet Rising Demands,” also finds that 83% of executives rank supply chain resilience as critical as cybersecurity, and many are turning to technology to strengthen their operations. To bolster resilience, 47% are considering artificial intelligence (AI), recognizing its potential to automate processes, predict disruptions, and enhance decision-making.

“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.”

Other technological investments that executives are prioritizing include:

*Automation: 93% use or plan to use automation within two years to increase efficiencies in areas like supply chain operations and customer service

*Real-Time Data: 66% say real-time data improves decision-making and customer service

*Artificial Intelligence (AI): 55% are considering artificial intelligence to enhance the customer experience

“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.”

Beyond operational efficiencies, businesses are also focusing on environmental initiatives, as 47% of customers have rising sustainability standards. The report found that 97% of companies have a sustainability program, driven by goals such as positioning themselves as conscientious industry leaders (55%) and reducing costs (35%).

As organizations work to lower energy consumption, minimize waste, and implement environmentally friendly logistics solutions, green practices are becoming a key pillar of long-term supply chain strategy by aligning environmental responsibility with financial goals and customer satisfaction.