What 2025 Has in Store for Suppliers and Retailers

TMX Transform CEO Travis Erridge outlines his predictions for what this year will mean for our industry.

Travis Erridge, CEO, TMX Transform

2025 will be the year of generational, transformative change, with most retailers and suppliers moving from short-to-longer term strategic shifts.

We can expect to see, and are already seeing, shifts in supply chain strategy, with an increased focus on network planning, distribution centre and freight optimisation. Long-term property strategies will also gain traction as normalised trading, consumer buying shifts, and capital cost pressures ease.

In terms of property market trends, increased vacancy rates globally plus reduced construction costs will encourage medium-to-long-term investments in custom developments.

Inflation control and declining capital costs are driving future-focused planning. Modern retailing and the growth of unified commerce will continue, however underperforming supply chains will become increasingly critical challenges for businesses. The focus on unified commerce will drive further automation and digital transformation of distribution centres.

Talent scarcity will remerge as a challenge for businesses as the need to retain expertise increases.

Dynamic modelling and simulation technology will drive investment decisions, as ‘what if’ scenario testing and digital optimisation becomes more urgent for businesses to adopt.

Agile and medium-term planning strategies will become critical as potential tariff changes and other geopolitical circumstances will necessitate planning for uncertainty.

Overall, from our point of view, the three key takeaways retailers and suppliers should focus on are supply chain strategy and planning, having key expertise in place to advise your business, and to implement ‘what if?’ scenario testing.