If your supply chain team has been quietly hoping for a calm decade, a new survey from DHL reveals that supply chain leaders expect multiple disruptive forces through 2030. Mark Kunar, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America, says that the pace of change may be accelerating, not easing.
As reported by Material Handling & Logistics, the top concerns from the survey respondents read like a greatest-hits album of modern operations risk: cybersecurity tied to operations, demand shifts hitting service levels, and a long tail of tech gaps, outdated systems, slow market response, and weak adaptability. With 99% of executives stating that they view the supply chain as critical to business success (really, who was in that 1%?), they expect disruptions to increase amid growing reliance on AI, rising cybersecurity threats, higher labor costs, labor shortages, natural disasters, and international tensions. The threat landscape spans digital, physical, and geopolitical realities.
Even with recent tech investments — nine in 10 respondents said they're using management systems that were either installed or upgraded in the last five years — about half said they still worry about inadequate solutions and outdated systems. Meanwhile, their reliance on automation is rising: 68% expect greater reliance on robotics, while 44% have already deployed warehouse robotics. However, satisfaction is uneven, with only 34% of VPs and directors saying they're fully satisfied with their use of technology, highlighting the hard truth that buying tools is not the same as building capability (especially if training and upskilling your workforce aren't part of the plan).
Even if your company isn't moving freight, you're running a supply chain somewhere — data, talent, vendors, customer fulfillment, or critical infrastructure. Resilience through 2030 won't come from a single transformation program, but by treating disruption as the baseline, investing in AI and automation with clear operational ownership, and prioritizing cybersecurity.
About the Author
Abby White
Vice President, Content Studio
Abby White is a content strategist, newsroom-trained writer, and brand storyteller. As Vice President of EndeavorB2B’s Content Studio, she leads client-driven custom content programs across 90+ brands and the content strategy for topic and role-based newsletters serving executive audiences. An award-winning journalist with a marketer’s mindset, Abby brings 25 years of experience leading editorial, communications, marketing, and audience-building efforts across industries.
Abby launched her first magazine, Abby’s Top 40, in 1988 and made everyone in her family read it. While attending the University of Illinois, she paid her rent as a professional notetaker, which might explain why she still gets asked to take notes in meetings. Since then, she has held editorial leadership roles at an alt weekly, a newspaper, a luxury lifestyle magazine, a business journal, a music magazine, and regional women’s magazines, developing a sharp writing edge and a conversational tone that resonates with professional audiences.
She expanded into marketing while leading communications for an entertainment industry nonprofit and later drove rebranding and audience-building efforts for an NPR music station. At EndeavorB2B, she has been instrumental in driving editorial excellence, developing scalable content strategies across multiple verticals, and building the foundation for EDGE, the company’s portfolio of executive newsletters.
And if you’re a writer interested in contributing to ExecutiveEDGE, she’s the person you need to (politely) bug.
Resources
Quiz
Your Competitive Edge, DeliveredMake smart decisions faster with ExecutiveEDGE’s weekly newsletter. It delivers leadership insights, economic trends, and forward-thinking strategies. Gain perspectives from today’s top business minds and stay informed on innovations shaping tomorrow’s business landscape.
