What is the most valuable source of knowledge for supply chain and logistics executives — one that delivers practical insights, applicable guidance, and unbiased advice?
Before reading on, take a moment to think about it.
I’ll give you a hint: in a survey we conducted several years ago, industry associations (like CSCMP and ASCM) and conferences ranked second and third, respectively.
What topped the list?
The number one source of valuable knowledge, according to the executives we surveyed, was “direct conversations with other executives and peers” — in other words, peer-to-peer learning and networking.
And today, as I continue to have these conversations with executives, what I hear consistently reinforces these findings: “Who better to give me practical knowledge and advice about a problem or opportunity I’m working on than other executives who have already been down that road.”
Simply put, peer-to-peer learning and networking matters more than ever.
In their book A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown argue the following:
“The major pitfall of the 21st century’s teaching model is the belief that most of what we know will remain relatively unchanged for a long enough period of time to be worth the effort of transferring it…The old ways of learning are unable to keep up with our rapidly changing world [emphasis mine].”
This is particularly true in supply chain management, where new technologies, business models, competitors, regulations, and economic forces are constantly emerging, requiring companies to continuously evolve their thinking, processes, and networks.
Just look at trends such as AI and tariffs — topics that likely weren’t included in supply chain textbooks or courses developed just a few years ago. Thomas and Brown position peer-to-peer learning as a more effective learning model in rapidly-changing fields like supply chain management.
Bill Taylor, cofounder of Fast Company magazine, makes a similar point in an HBR blog post titled Are You Learning as Fast as the World is Changing?:
These days, the most powerful insights often come from the most unexpected places – the hidden genius locked inside your company, the collective genius of customers, suppliers, and other smart people who would be eager to teach you what they know if you simply asked for their insights…Nobody alone learns as quickly as everybody together [emphasis mine].
Learning together is exactly what our Indago supply chain research community is designed to support.
Last year alone, we conducted 26 surveys with our members — supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies — to obtain their insights and advice on a wide variety of industry topics. Here’s a sampling of the surveys/reports we produced in 2025:
- Is Your Forecast Process Really Adding Value?: This survey explored how supply chain and logistics professionals view FVA today: how familiar they are with it, whether and how they use it, and what benefits or challenges they have experienced when applying it in practice.
- The Supreme Court and Trump Tariffs: This survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the potential impacts, risks, and opportunities related to this Supreme Court case.
- How Big is the “Zombie Inventory” Problem?: This survey sought to understand how big this problem is across the industry.
- AI Agents in Transportation Management: This survey asked about: (1) which logistics activities are best suited for agent-led autonomy, (2) the benefits you expect, (3) the level of autonomy you’re comfortable with, and (4) how you prefer to interact with an AI-enabled transportation management system (TMS).
- Using Robots to Load/Unload Trucks: This survey sought to understand industry readiness, key challenges, and opportunities associated with using robots to load or unload trucks.
- How Ready Is Your Supply Chain for ESG Regulations?: This survey explored how companies are prioritizing ESG compliance, the progress they’ve made, and the obstacles they still face.
- When Your Software Vendor Gets Acquired: This survey was designed to understand how supply chain and logistics professionals feel and respond when a software vendor they use is acquired.
- Supply Chain & Logistics Labor Shortage: How challenging is it to find and hire qualified people to fill your open supply chain and logistics positions? What do you believe are the primary causes of the labor shortages? What strategies is your organization using to address this problem?
(Check out joinindago.com/research for a full list of the research we have conducted since 2019).
As 2026 begins — another year likely defined by new challenges, change, and uncertainty — will you try to figure things out on your own, or will you seek insights and advice from other supply chain and logistics leaders?
If you choose to go it alone, I wish you luck. But if you believe that learning is better — and faster — when shared with peers who understand your challenges, I invite you to join Indago. It is confidential, there is no cost to join and the time commitment is minimal (2-4 minutes per week) — plus your participation will help support charitable causes like Breakthrough T1D, American Logistics Aid Network, American Cancer Society, Feeding America, and Make-A-Wish.
In 2026, the real advantage won’t come from having more information — it will come from learning faster, together.
