Supply Chain Resilience in 2025 – How Deep Do You Go?
Even before the pandemic, supply chain disruptions were on the radar of most risk managers. Fast forward to 2026, and the challenges are bigger, faster, and more unpredictable. Global chip shortages, climate-related supply shocks, cyberattacks, and geopolitical tensions mean that resilience is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Most organisations talk to their Tier 1 suppliers and include continuity clauses in contracts. Some even run joint simulations to validate those arrangements. But what about Tier 2, 3, and beyond? Recent years have shown that hidden vulnerabilities often lurk deeper in the chain, waiting to cause ripple effects.
Take something as simple as a credit card. You tap a few buttons in your bank app, request a replacement, and a few days later it arrives. Easy, right? But behind the scenes, that card passes through a web of suppliers: the card manufacturer, chip provider, embossing and fulfilment houses, printers, and logistics operators. One disruption—a chip shortage, a cyberattack, or a shipping delay—can prevent that card from ever reaching a customer.
In 2025, supply chains are more complex than ever. Critical components like EMV chips, previously overlooked, are now global bottlenecks. Climate events and geopolitical conflicts increasingly threaten suppliers in concentrated regions. Cybersecurity is also part of the equation—attacks on logistics platforms or customs systems can halt deliveries instantly.
So, how do you protect your operations? Here are practical steps to strengthen resilience:
Focus on visibility, testing, and flexibility:
Map your supply chain: Track suppliers at every tier, all the way to raw materials.
Identify critical components: Single-source items are your biggest risks.
Diversify strategically: Dual-source and spread geographically where possible.
Leverage AI & digital platforms: Monitor risk in real time and predict potential disruptions.
Stress-test your system: Simulate cyberattacks, climate events, and supply failures.
Review contracts: Ensure step-in rights and continuity clauses are enforceable, not just legalese.
Stockpiling inventory can help, but it’s not a silver bullet. Holding a year’s worth of cards or components doesn’t protect against fire, insolvency, or cyberattacks. True resilience comes from flexibility, foresight, and a culture of risk awareness across every supplier tier.
In 2026, supply chain resilience is as much about people and processes as it is about contracts and stock. Organisations that actively monitor, test, and adapt their supply chains are the ones that can keep serving customers, even when disruptions hit.
At Tigertail, we help organisations map risk, test resilience, and implement strategies to manage disruptions effectively. With decades of combined experience, our team equips clients to protect people, operations, assets, and reputation—so they can confidently navigate an increasingly uncertain world.
Bottom line: Look deeper, plan wider, and test relentlessly. Resilience isn’t a checkbox—it’s an ongoing journey.
