Nearly 42% of respondents to JBF Consulting’s survey reported being either “not very confident” or “not at all confident” in their organization’s ability to independently evaluate complex logistics technology options.
“This survey underscores the importance of taking an independent, strategy-first approach to supply chain transformation,” says Brad Forester, CEO of JBF Consulting. “Organizations today are investing in powerful technology capabilities. Ensuring those investments are grounded in clear strategic priorities, rigorous business case development that evaluates build, buy, and enhancement alternatives, disciplined evaluation free from vendor bias, and cross-functional alignment can significantly improve long-term outcomes.”
Key takeaways:
· While companies continue making significant investments in logistics and supply chain technology, many would benefit from a more clearly defined strategic roadmap to guide those decisions.
· An additional 32% of respondents selected a neutral response when asked about their evaluation confidence, suggesting that many organizations recognize the complexity of these decisions and see opportunity to further strengthen internal expertise.
· More than one-quarter of respondents (27%) reported that their organizations frequently define supply chain problems in terms of tools, and another 22% said they often move toward identifying a system solution early in the process.
· Only 4% of respondents strongly agreed that their organization clearly distinguishes between a technology business case and a broader supply chain strategy.
· Strategic reviews themselves vary in frequency. While 25% of organizations review logistics or supply chain strategy annually and 36% conduct structured reviews every 2-3 years, 13% report reviewing strategy only in response to major disruptions such as mergers, acquisitions, or regulatory shifts.
· Nearly four in 10 respondents (38%) described their business case process as primarily focused on confirming a direction that had already gained alignment. While 39% said business cases are developed internally, many characterized the process as time-intensive and evolving rather than standardized. Only 13% reported applying highly structured financial methodologies when evaluating major logistics technology investments, pointing to an opportunity for more formalized evaluation frameworks.
· When asked about potential missteps in new logistics technology investments, 28% cited over-investing in capabilities that may go underutilized, while 27% expressed concern about integration complexity. Vendor flexibility was another consideration, with 23% noting the importance of selecting partners that can scale and evolve alongside business growth.
· Despite the operational nature of these tools, internal IT or technology teams most frequently lead strategy and requirements definition work (27%), followed by cross-functional teams (23%), highlighting the importance of collaboration across business and technology functions.
