Impinj, Inc. recently announced key findings. This new data came from their 2026 Supply Chain Integrity Outlook research report. It reveals major tensions globally. Consumer expectations now pose a significant challenge to global supply chains. Faster delivery is a huge demand. Consumers want more flexible pickup options, too. Over half of leaders feel rising pressure to provide these choices. Over 50% of consumers will switch brands for better convenience.
Furthermore, viral commerce creates volatility in demand. Social media trends drove 42% of purchases this year. These rapid shifts make demand highly unpredictable. Half of supply chain leaders struggle to keep up. They cite rapid demand shifts as a major threat. This concern is now the biggest risk to the Supply Chain Integrity Outlook. Rising tariffs and trade changes also introduce great uncertainty. More than half of supply chain leaders must adjust sourcing.
Navigating Regulations and Counterfeit Risks
Retailers face many serious operational threats. They must comply with the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP). Nearly two-thirds of leaders worry about meeting these deadlines. Counterfeit products also remain a major issue. Most retailers report damage to revenue or brand reputation. Consumers show very low tolerance. Over half would stop buying from a brand after one counterfeit incident.
Food sector leaders face pressure on multiple fronts. This includes safety, compliance, and waste.
George Dyche, Vice President of Endpoint IC Product Management at Impinj, commented on this widening gap in sector confidence.
“Food and grocery leaders are navigating multiple challenges at once, rising food waste, food safety issues, and looming FDA compliance deadlines. Leaders say they feel confident in their recall capabilities, but with manual processes still the norm, there’s a widening gap between confidence and reality, and that’s where real risk lives. Item-level visibility is the bridge to close that gap, empowering brands to protect consumers, meet compliance requirements, and turn transparency into a competitive advantage.”
Gagan Luthra, VP of Product Management at Impinj, said:
“Supply-chain leaders are doubling down on AI and automation to build predictive models that tame today’s operational complexity. But even the most advanced models are only as intelligent as the data they’re trained on. Reliable, item-level data is the foundation for effective AI. RAIN RFID delivers that item-level data, and the earlier you tag and identify items in the supply chain, the more complete your dataset becomes – and the smarter and more accurate your decisions are. Increasingly, true supply chain visibility will come from building the data infrastructure that underpins AI and automated systems. Technologies like RAIN RFID that allow item-level product identification will be a critical underpinning layer.”
Companies need real-time data now. They need this data for resilient operations. AI and automation are key areas for investment. Two-thirds of leaders plan to invest this coming year. However, data quality poses a significant threat. Over half cite accuracy as their largest barrier to effective AI. Impinj shows that item-level data is key. This robust data foundation supports all modern systems. RAIN RFID delivers that critical item-level data. It provides the visibility needed to sustain growth. This technology is essential for the future Supply Chain Integrity Outlook.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
