5 Tough Questions CPG Supply Chain Leaders Will Start Asking in 2026

We’re deep into 2025, and for most CPG supply chain teams, the pressure hasn’t let up. Freight markets remain unpredictable. Regulatory shifts are in motion. Labor costs are climbing again. And yet, planning for 2026 needs to begin—quietly, intentionally, and often in the background of day-to-day firefighting.

For teams navigating the annual mid-year slowdown in projects and budgets, now is the time to start asking the questions that will shape next year’s strategy. These aren’t forecasting exercises. They’re reality checks.

Here are five questions the most forward-looking supply chain leaders are already exploring.

Question 1: Do we have clear visibility across transportation, warehouse, and trade?

Current Reality: Gaps between systems and functions continue to slow decision-making and increase costs. It’s one of the most cited frustrations in logistics right now.

Why it matters: Without shared visibility across your supply chain, teams spend more time chasing information than making decisions.

What to look at: How quickly can your transportation, warehouse, and finance teams align around a disruption or cost change?

How Redwood supports: We help unify data across your ecosystem so teams can make smarter moves in real time.

Question 2: Are our systems holding us back, or are we underutilizing what we already have?

Current Reality: Many CPG teams continue to rely on manual processes and disconnected tools. In some cases, entire workflows operate outside their core system.

Why it matters: Technology is not always the issue. Friction often stems from misalignment between tools and processes.

What to look at: Are your systems supporting growth, or are teams working around them just to stay afloat?

How Redwood supports: We help companies activate unused capabilities within Oracle TMS, WMS, and GTM to create momentum without a full system overhaul.

Question 3: Have we revisited our operational cost breakdown, and can we trust it?

Current Reality: Freight rates are shifting. Tariff changes and labor dynamics have made older cost assumptions unreliable.

Why it matters: Outdated cost models lead to poor trade-offs and missed margin opportunities.

What to look at: Do you have a clear view of product and customer-level costs based on current conditions?

How Redwood supports: We identify where margin is being lost and guide teams toward decisions that improve financial performance over time.

Question 4: Where are delays and breakdowns happening—internally or with external partners?

Current Reality: Miscommunication and disconnected systems still drive late-stage disruptions across the CPG supply chain.

Why it matters: Many disruptions begin long before a missed delivery. They start with unclear roles, siloed information, and a lack of shared context.

What to look at: Where do handoffs stall—during planning, execution, or coordination with suppliers?

How Redwood supports: We bring structure, including plug and play apps, with our RedwoodConnect™ solution. This provides a solution for complex workflows, allowing teams and partners to move in sync and avoid costly missteps.

Question 5: What would make your supply chain easier to manage?

Current Reality: The highest-performing teams are not chasing more complexity. They’re tightening coordination and reducing distractions.

Why it matters: Simpler operations are often more resilient and easier to scale. Adding tools does not always add value.

What to look at: What adds unnecessary effort or confusion today? What can be removed or restructured for greater impact?

How Redwood supports: We help CPG teams simplify their operations and build sustainable control and confidence.

Looking Ahead to 2026

This part of the year is not always about launching new projects. But it is the right time to step back and ask what needs to change. What’s working? What’s not? And how will your team enter 2026—still reacting, or ready to lead?

If these questions sound familiar, Redwood can help. We work with CPG supply chain leaders to simplify what’s complex and unlock the full value of their Oracle investments.

Every supply chain has blind spots. If you’re seeing some of these too, let’s talk through what could be next.