Running Different: The Supply Chain Imperative

Guest commentary by Heidi Benko (Infor) on how connected networks, smarter collaboration, and AI are redefining how supply chains operate.

May 21, 2026

Supply chain leaders are navigating a moment unlike any before. Geopolitical volatility is redrawing trade corridors. Disruption has become the operating condition, not the exception. Transparency mandates are reaching deep into supplier networks. The cost of materials, transportation, and tariffs are all rising. And AI is advancing so rapidly that the gap between early movers and the rest is widening.

All of this must be navigated while simultaneously meeting corporate mandates to support growth and reduce costs, and an industry facing a talent shortage that makes executing this transformation harder still. The response cannot be incremental. It demands a fundamental rethink of how supply chains are designed and operated. Four shifts are defining what that rethink looks like in practice, each centered on a different dimension of collaboration, and each now achievable through advances in supply chain technology: multi-enterprise networks, multi-tier supplier transparency, enterprise alignment, and people working alongside AI.

Amazon as a 3PL: Opportunity or Risk?

Amazon recently launched Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS), opening its freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and parcel shipping capabilities to businesses beyond Amazon sellers. The offering positions Amazon as a broader third-party logistics (3PL) and supply chain services provider across industries including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive.

This survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives view this development, including potential benefits, concerns, and whether they would consider Amazon as a logistics partner.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter