The 2026 Demand Report
Four trends are reshaping how goods move from creation to consumption, bringing
new demands to
manufacturers, retailers and everyone in between. But having the
right tools at your fingertips
can turn existential challenges into golden opportunities.
That’s why we created the 2026 Demand Report: to share the details and data
behind these trends
and how we’re equipping SPS customers with forward-facing
features to meet their accompanying
supply chain demands head-on.
RELATIONSHIP CENTER
The Relationship Center manages relationship details, organizes
and shares partner
requirements. It also supports vendor onboarding and ongoing
updates so trading relationships stay clear
and compliant, with the SPS team
doing the heavy lifting. Eliminate the chaos of managing supplier
relationships
using multiple tools and email chains.
Performance Dashboard
Our new Performance Dashboard gives retailers and suppliers a clear, shared view of
performance against
expectations. Scorecards track compliance, fulfillment and
partner metrics so both parties can quickly spot
issues, measure improvement and
strengthen their working relationship. Real-time visibility into business
impact
helps teams make data-driven decisions that protect revenue and improve performance.
- Burlington Stores
Fulfillment Full-Service AI Enhancements
Near-instant delivery is the new baseline, forcing a complete overhaul of cost models,
partnerships and fulfillment models.
SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition
Our SAP solution seamlessly integrates with S/4HANA. We currently offer our public
cloud edition, but our
private cloud connector is coming soon to support complex
ERP environments with custom code, flexible
integrations and non-standard
processes. Other benefits include full-service implementation led by our
team of
SAP experts and 24/7 access to support. Plus, our scalable solution enables you to
meet growing
business demands while maintaining a clean core.
– SVP of Information Technology, TopGolf Callaway Brands Corp.
PDF Order Automation for suppliers and 3PLs
Suppliers:
Capture purchase orders you still receive by email as PDFs and automatically turn
them into electronic orders in your ERP system. PDF Order Automation removes the
need for manual re-keying, cuts down on errors and makes it easier to stay compliant
with retailer requirements.
Logistics:
Turn emailed PDF purchase orders into error-free WMS orders without manual keying.
Automated processing eliminates data entry mistakes, speeds up order flow and helps
warehouses capture more revenue while meeting SLA requirements. Handle more order
volume without adding staff.
Revenue Recovery
SPS Revenue Recovery helps suppliers get paid by reclaiming lost revenue from
invalid deductions,
chargebacks and retailer fines—and get better by uncovering
root causes, preventing future losses and
improving how they work with their
retail partners. Because when suppliers are better equipped, they come
to the
table with fewer disputes, cleaner data and stronger performance.
–Rebecca K., Mid-Market Supplier
Invoicing for Walmart Billable Overages
Revenue Recovery now harnesses the same order and invoice data already flowing
through SPS Fulfillment
to help Walmart suppliers generate and send invoices for
billable overages with one click—an upgrade that
turns missed revenue into
recovered revenue with less effort and more success.
Manufacturing Supply Chain
Manufacturing Supply Chain offers manufacturers a comprehensive suite of
capabilities to help you work
more cohesively and confidently with your
manufacturing partners and suppliers, including seamless data
exchange between
all your business systems and performance management tools that measure supply
chain effectiveness. Our integrated approach empowers your team through
transparency, proactive
information sharing and the technology to finally get
everyone speaking the same language so you can
move products through your supply
chain without costly delays.
System Automation for Shopify
Completing orders, tracking inventory and shipping products on time and in full have never been easier. Now you can cut back on administrative tasks and eliminate switching between systems and portals by consolidating order and fulfillment management for all your sales channels in a single platform. Position yourself for expansion with new trading partners and sales channels while minimizing errors and chargebacks from retailers.
Andy Nalla
Founder & CEO, Ghost Golf
AI orchestration
The speed gap between manual supply chain processes and market demands
is forcing rapid transformation.
53% of operations and supply chain leaders say they're
using AI in supply chain in either "a few areas" or
"widely" to anticipate and
mitigate supply chain disruptions.[1] But 41% of operations and supply chain leaders
cite poor
data quality and system integration as top barriers to successful AI implementation.
Supply chain partners need real-time coordination to respond to disruptions, demand
shifts
and capacity constraints. The speed gap between what businesses need and what
manual
processes can deliver is becoming insurmountable. AI orchestration promises
to close this
gap by coordinating decisions across the supply chain at machine
speed.
The new playbook
AI orchestration demands clean supplier data and flexible systems. New SPS
products help you move from manual
processes to machine-speed coordination. See how
these solutions prepare your supply chain get the most from AI.
OMNICHANNEL PRECISION
AT-SCALE
Consumers expect every channel to deliver at the same speed and accuracy, forcing suppliers to maintain precision across all channels simultaneously.
55% of shoppers prefer to return online purchases in store and 40% often make extra purchases when picking up or returning, as retailers navigate forward and reverse omnichannel supply chains. [2]
Customers should get the same fast, accurate service whether they order online for store pickup, through a marketplace or via traditional channels. But delivering on that promise requires suppliers to keep information precise and synchronized across an expanding web of systems and order types. A single missed update can cascade into stockouts, order cancellations and damaged relationships. Many suppliers still process PDF orders manually while managing EDI connections and API integrations with the same retailer across different channels.
The core shift
The retail supply chain is transitioning from linear, single-channel fulfillment to a networked, multi-path ecosystem where every supplier must function as a precision node. Suppliers who can't maintain accuracy across multiple channels, systems and fulfillment methods become friction points, and friction points get removed from the network.
What we're seeing
Suppliers are moving from channel-specific operations teams to unified fulfillment approaches. Leading suppliers now treat "an order is an order" as their operating principle, investing in systems that provide single-pane visibility across all channels rather than managing each channel separately. Precision omnichannel operations will separate leading suppliers from those struggling to maintain partnerships.
What's coming next
Suppliers are moving from channel-specific operations teams to unified fulfillment approaches. Leading suppliers now treat "an order is an order" as their operating principle, investing in systems that provide single-pane visibility across all channels rather than managing each channel separately. Precision omnichannel operations will separate leading suppliers from those struggling to maintain partnerships.
The new playbook
Automated order ingestion and real-time inventory visibility become baseline requirements. Suppliers relying on PDF processing and manual data entry will lose partnerships as retailers consolidate around partners who can maintain precision at scale.
Trade rewiring
Tariffs, geopolitics and risk mitigation are fundamentally restructuring global supply networks. This isn't trade adjustment. It's the end of optimization-first logistics.
According to the 2025 Capgemini Survey, 56% of executives plan to nearshore or combine reshoring and nearshoring strategies this year.[3] However, 54% of chief supply chain officers report that shifting even 25% of supply to regional sources takes more than 12 months.[4]
Disruptions—from pandemics to geopolitical conflict—are forcing companies to redesign
trade flows around
proximity and multi-sourcing. The transition is expensive and
slow. Smaller firms struggle to deploy the capital
needed to fund the shift.
The core shift
For nearly 30 years, supply chains were optimized for cost efficiency through just-in-time manufacturing, single-source suppliers and complex global networks. That model is breaking. Today, companies are prioritizing resilience over cost, sourcing from regional hubs, diversifying suppliers and maintaining buffer inventory to withstand volatility.
What we're seeing
A survey of SPS customers revealed that 44% of respondents struggle with complex trading partner requirements as geopolitical, regulatory and partner-specific demands force costly system rewiring. Meanwhile, 46% face security and compliance risks as regulation and partner standards fundamentally reshape supply networks. Inventory rebalancing remains a challenge, with only 40% of companies reporting optimal inventory levels while 45% say inventory is too high.
What's coming next
Many companies are testing production in new geographies while maintaining manufacturing in China. By 2028, regional hubs in Mexico, India, Vietnam and Mediterranean countries are expected to mature into reliable alternatives for category-specific manufacturing. By 2030, multi-regional networks will become standard. Companies will source from three to five regions for key products, with AI determining optimal sourcing by quarter based on costs, risks and proximity.
The new playbook
Supply chains are shifting from single-source efficiency to multi-region
networks, adding complexity and
cost. New SPS products help retailers track supplier
performance across regions and help suppliers
reclaim lost revenue from fees and
chargebacks.
THE ADAPTIVE COMMERCE ERA
Traditional planning cycles can't keep pace with demand volatility. Promotions, regional preferences and supply constraints create constant changes
that invalidate forecasts within days of creation.
Poor trading partner connections cost businesses an estimated $158 billion annually through inefficiencies, missed opportunities and excess inventory costs.[5]
As demand patterns shift and new disruptions emerge, companies that succeed aren't necessarily better at predicting the future. They're better at sensing what's happening now and adjusting quickly before small problems become major disruptions. This requires collaboration, including shared visibility, automated alerting and the ability to coordinate responses across trading partners in real time.
The core shift
Commerce is shifting from plan-and-execute models to sense-and-respond systems. Today, businesses need operating models that detect emerging patterns quickly, identify where supply and demand are falling out of sync, and coordinate responses before issues cascade into stockouts or excess inventory.
What we're seeing
Leading retailers and suppliers are abandoning quarterly business reviews as their primary coordination mechanism. Instead, they're implementing continuous monitoring of sell-through performance, fill rates and inventory positions. Weekly or even daily check-ins replace monthly planning meetings for categories with high volatility.
What's coming next
Adaptive operating models will be the standard for maintaining retailer-supplier partnerships. Real-time performance visibility will become the foundation of trust. Retailers will expect suppliers to demonstrate awareness of actual sell-through and service levels before problems escalate. The supplier base will consolidate around partners who can operate adaptively through rapid demand changes.
The new playbook
Continuous performance monitoring replaces periodic planning. Successful trading partners share daily visibility into demand patterns, fill rates and inventory positions. Automated alerts identify supply-demand misalignment before stockouts or revenue leakage occur.