EFESO survey shows supply chain resilience not translating into performance

EFESO says almost 30 per cent of companies in its 2026 Global Supply Chain Survey have strong resilience practices but still show weaker business performance, according to the report. The survey of more than 250 supply chain executives finds that many organizations have invested in supplier diversification, extra inventory, visibility tools and digital technology.

The report says planning often does not lead to real preparedness. It says 52 per cent of companies have a formal continuity plan, but only 20 per cent run monthly risk checks and only 14 per cent carry out stress tests or crisis simulations. Visibility across supply networks is also limited. Only 31 per cent of companies have full visibility and 43 per cent have partial visibility. Companies with wider visibility, including beyond Tier‑1 suppliers, can detect disruptions earlier, improve forecasts and escalate risks sooner.

Digital maturity is another major difference. EFESO says 48 per cent of high‑performing companies have mature digital supply chain tools, compared with 10 per cent of lower‑performing companies. These tools include real‑time visibility, analytics and decision‑support systems.

The report also says flexibility matters more than relying on inventory buffers alone. Stronger companies use multiple suppliers, alternative sourcing, faster capacity changes, cross‑functional response processes and real‑time decision support.

EFESO says no single investment creates resilience. Companies that perform better connect visibility, digital tools, risk management, supplier diversification and governance routines into one system that helps them spot risks, make decisions quickly, respond effectively and keep adapting. The survey includes responses from executives in Europe and the United States across food and beverage, automotive, chemicals and consumer goods.

“Supply chain resilience has become a board-level priority, but resilience alone does not guarantee stronger business performance,” said Kerry Rosenhagen, Expert Director and Supply Chain Design Practice Lead of EFESO. “The next challenge is turning resilience into an operating capability that allows organizations to anticipate disruption, make faster decisions, respond effectively, and continuously adapt.”