______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Predictions
■ Invest in AI-native infrastructure that automates repetitive tasks and boosts accuracy
■ Empower procurement, compliance, and sustainability teams with tools to interpret data insights and manage supplier relationships
■ Strengthen supplier education programs to ensure data is complete, timely, and verifiable
■ Adopt integrated platforms to manage compliance, supply chain sustainability, and risk reduction in one ecosystem
■ Design workflows for continuous, proactive data collection, not just in response to periodic requests Manufacturers that act now will be best positioned to meet the transparency demands of customers, regulators, and investors alike.
The path to 2026: a future built on trust and intelligence
As the global manufacturing landscape evolves, the organizations that thrive will be those that embrace AI responsibly, empower their teams, and build resilient systems. Transparency is no longer optional; it will be the foundation of competitive advantage. It’ s the most straightforward path toward stronger supplier relationships, reduced risk, and long-term sustainable growth. ■
Catherine
Cormier www. assent. com
Catherine Cormier is the Chief Product Officer at Assent, where she leads product strategy to enhance supply chain sustainability and transparency. Assent is the leading AI-native platform for supply chain sustainability and compliance. It brings together expertise, a powerful supplier network, and solutions built to keep up with changing global regulations. With Assent, manufacturers and distributors can use their data to meet requirements, earn customer trust, and grow worldwide.
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