This past January, we asked members of our Indago supply chain research community, “How would you describe the level of uncertainty facing your supply chain today compared to three years ago?”
Most respondents (57%) said uncertainty is either slightly or significantly higher than it was three years ago. If we were to repeat the survey today, I’d bet the percentage would be even higher, considering what has transpired in just the past few weeks — including the U.S. Supreme Court invalidating the IEEPA tariffs, war breaking out in the Middle East (triggering a significant increase in diesel fuel prices), and the ongoing innovations, debates, and concerns surrounding AI.
Will the rest of the year bring more uncertainty or less?
Time will tell, but the safe bet is more. Case in point: talks to renew the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement have begun — at least between the U.S. and Mexico — and there is considerable uncertainty about what will happen in the weeks ahead leading up to July 1, 2026, when the three governments must decide whether to extend the agreement for another 16 years (see “While Everyone Watches Oil and Tariffs, USMCA Looms”).
Looking at the top Talking Logistics posts this quarter, a clear narrative emerges: supply chain leaders are operating in a world of constant, multi-dimensional uncertainty — driven by tariffs, cost volatility, regulatory pressures, and rising cyber risks. Execution excellence, therefore, is no longer sufficient on its own; leaders also need stronger decision intelligence, enabled by connected data — aggregated from disparate sources and put into context — along with the metrics and tools required to make faster, smarter decisions.
Where are you on the decision intelligence maturity curve?
A question worth discussing with your team at your next meeting.
And with that, here are some Talking Logistics and Indago highlights for Q1 2026.
The Quarter in Review
In case you missed them the first time around or want to read/view them again, check out the top posts and new episodes from the first quarter of 2026. After reading/watching them, share this post with your colleagues and social media followers, then post a comment and share your perspective on these topics!
Top Posts
- Diesel Prices Are Rising Again. Are Your Fuel Surcharges Ready?
- Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority In The U.S.
- Should You Really Vibe Code A TMS?
- Are We Measuring The Right Things In Supply Chain?
- About Growth And Differentiation In The 3PL Market
- PepsiCo Demonstrates How Digital Twins Deliver Quantifiable Benefits
- The Humanoid Robot Bubble Is Getting Hard To Ignore
- How Ready Is Your Supply Chain For ESG Regulations?
- Is Your Supply Chain Ready For A Cyberattack?
- Technology Emerges As Key Differentiator Amid Trade Uncertainty
New Episodes
- Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority In The U.S.
- Leading Through The 5 Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management
Indago Research Reports
This quarter we completed six research surveys and donated a total of $825 to Breakthrough T1D, American Logistics Aid Network, American Cancer Society, Feeding America, and Make-A-Wish.
- Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding? (March 2026): If elevated diesel prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond? This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.
- Will You Vibe Code Your Next Supply Chain Application? (March 2026): This survey explored whether supply chain leaders are likely to vibe code applications in the next 1-3 years, what would drive that decision, what barriers stand in the way, and what they would build if they could.
- The Role of 3PLs in Shipper Decision-Making (February 2026): In a previous Indago survey, we explored how supply chain leaders are strengthening decision-making amid ongoing uncertainty. In this follow-up survey, we turned the lens outward to examine the role Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs) play in supporting — or limiting — better decision-making within shipper organizations.
- Transportation Management in 2026: Priorities, Constraints, and the Role of AI (February 2026): Transportation organizations face growing pressure to improve cost, service, and resiliency amid ongoing volatility. This survey explored the changes shippers plan to make, the constraints holding them back, and the outcomes they value most — and how organizations are thinking about technology and AI as part of the solution over the next year.
- Leadership in Age of Uncertainty (January 2026): This survey explored how supply chain leaders are navigating this new reality, with a specific focus on how decisions are made, what has changed, and where leaders see the greatest challenges ahead.
- Digital Twins in Supply Chain Operations (January 2026): This survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the strategic importance, readiness, and potential value of AI-enabled digital twins within their own organizations.
If you’re a supply chain or logistics practitioner from a manufacturing, retail, or distribution company, I encourage you to learn more about Indago and join our research community. 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 that need our help today more than ever.
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