Supply chain executives are most concerned by a need for data accuracy to bolster supply chain integrity and the use of AI, new research from Impinj, RAIN RFID provider and Internet of Things pioneer has shown.

Impinj’s research is based on a survey of 1,000 US supply chain managers, and the report reveals a data accuracy gap that leaves many struggling to find the level of insights, visibility, and accuracy required to drive confidence in their supply chain and respond quickly to market changes.

The report demonstrates how the supply chain data accuracy gap hinders supply chain managers’ ability to address key challenges including counterfeit goods, shrink and theft, misload and delivery errors, meeting sustainability requirements, and effectively implementing AI within their organisation’s supply chain.

Key findings from Impinj’s report

The majority (91%) of supply chain managers believe they are equipped to drive accurate supply chain visibility but only a third (33%) consistently obtain accurate, real-time inventory data.

Over half (52%) of supply chain managers face challenges responding to rapid peaks in customer demand driven by social media- and influencer-driven trends.

Nearly half (47%) of supply chain managers also report that changes in customer demand due to growth in social media storefronts (49%) and the rise of the thrift movement (47%) are among the top challenges for their organisation’s supply chain.

What’s concerning supply chain executives in 2025?

Supply chain managers prioritise tackling counterfeits, preventing shrink and loss, and reducing misloads and delivery errors: The report highlights the most significant supply chain integrity challenges and priorities for supply chain leaders within various sectors, including:

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• Counterfeit goods in retail: 65% agree it’s a challenge for their organisation to reduce the amount of counterfeit goods entering the supply chain. Almost all (98%) of retail supply managers are taking measures to combat counterfeiting. Implementing new technologies for authentication of goods in transit (44%), for general goods verification (42%), and introducing more authentication checkpoints throughout the supply chain (40%) are the key actions retailers are taking to combat counterfeiting.
• Shrink and theft in retail: 60% of retail supply chain managers surveyed also agree that reducing rates of shrink and theft is a challenge for their organisation, with an overwhelming majority (99%) investing in measures to mitigate these concerns. Increasing security checkpoints during transit and delivery (48%) and implementing new technologies for tracking goods (41%) are the top measures retailers are taking to minimise the impact of shrink and theft.
• Reducing misloads and delivery errors in transportation and logistics: Almost three-quarters (74%) of surveyed supply chain managers within transportation and logistics firms are concerned about growing volumes of load planning problems (LPPs), misloads, and delivery errors impacting their organisation. Survey respondents revealed that the largest volume of errors is most likely to occur as a result of delivery and last-mile misloads (24%) and label inaccuracies (22%). Almost half (48%) of transportation and logistics firms plan to invest in improving shipment accuracy and reducing delivery errors as a critical part of their sustainability efforts.

Data inaccuracy fuels challenges implementing AI effectively in the supply chain: The barriers supply chain leaders face in achieving real-time inventory insights, visibility, and accuracy are also impacting their ability to effectively implement AI within the supply chain.

Effective AI strategies are built on accurate data, yet the report reveals that data accuracy is the top challenge supply chain managers face (43%) in effectively implementing AI to improve their organisation’s supply chain, alongside data availability (39%) and access to real-time data (36%). Overcoming these challenges will be essential for unlocking the full potential of AI across supply chain networks.

“Supply chain managers continue to face data blind spots that prevent them from ensuring secure, reliable, and adaptable supply chains,” said Impinj chief revenue officer Jeff Dossett. “It’s essential that organisations address the data accuracy gap by putting technology in place to surface accurate data that fuels the real-time, actionable insights and visibility needed to ensure supply chain resilience.”

Implementing effective strategies to improve supply chain sustainability is both a focus and a challenge: The pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their operations continues to be one of the biggest challenges faced by supply chain managers.

Over a quarter (27%) report continued issues reducing the environmental impact of their organisation’s supply chain, and 25% cite challenges in meeting more stringent ESG regulations, such as the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Across sectors, supply chain managers report the top ways their organisations are implementing strategies to improve sustainability include:

• Improving the measurement of their sustainability efforts (52%)
• Improving last-mile delivery efficiency (44%)
• Reducing waste (41%)
• Implementing recycling initiatives (40%).
  
  By Just Style