How to Know If a Supply Chain Trend Is Worth Paying Attention To

We all know how much I hate hype when it comes to new businesses in logistics, unfortunately it can feel like there’s a shiny new “must-have” trend every week.

AI-powered TMS. Drones in warehouses. Blockchain for pallets. Digital freight marketplaces promising to “Uber-ize” trucking. Not to mention every LinkedIn guru yelling about “resilience,” “visibility,” or “hyper-automation” (whatever the F that means).

The FOMO is real, and so is the fatigue. Because when you're running a brokerage, managing a fleet, or trying to keep products moving smoothly through a supply chain, you don’t have time (or budget) to chase every trend that pops up.

So how do you know if a trend is worth your attention, or if it’s just a bunch of smoke and mirrors with an excellent PR team?

Here’s your filter.

 Does it solve a real pain point you’re experiencing?

Before jumping on a trend, ask: Does this fix a problem I actually have? Not a hypothetical one. Not a problem some tech bro thinks you may have.

If your biggest issue is driver turnover, don’t let a warehouse robotics demo distract you. If you’re bleeding time to manual paperwork, maybe AI document processing is actually worth a look.

If it doesn't fix a real issue you are currently dealing with, it’s just noise.

Are your peers adopting it and seeing results?

Forget gatekeeping, exchanging information about trends will only improve the offerings.

If you’re hearing from brokers or warehouse operators you trust that a trend is actually improving their processes or cutting costs, it’s worth paying attention.

If many adopters are finding bugs or gaps, the product may not be fully developed. Which is a red flag. Early adopters tend to be the testers of the product, learn from their mistakes.

Can it integrate with what you’re already doing?

In supply chain and transportation, your tech stack is like a Jenga tower, one bad block and everything crashes.

If a trend requires blowing up your whole system to implement it? That’s a red flag. The best innovations work with your existing systems..

Compatibility matters more than trendiness.

 Who’s actually behind the hype?

When a trend is getting major media love, take a look at who’s pushing it. Is it a legacy player with deep industry roots, or a tech startup with more VC money than freight knowledge?

Not every new idea is bad, and not every old-school player is innovative. But knowing who’s talking helps you decide how much weight to give it.

Tip: If they can’t explain their product without buzzwords and jargon, they probably can’t explain how it helps you either. “If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself” - Albert Einstein

What’s the risk of waiting 6–12 months?

You don’t need to be first. You need to be right.

Unless a new regulation is forcing your hand, most trends won’t punish you for sitting back and watching for a few quarters. Wait for version 2.0. Let others be the guinea pigs.

Jumping in too early can cost you time, cash, and even clients. And once those things are gone? They’re hard to get back.

TL;DR: Not every shiny thing is gold

The logistics and supply chain world runs on tight margins and even tighter timelines. You don’t have the luxury of chasing hype.

So next time someone tells you a new trend is “the future,” run it through this filter:

• Does it solve my problem?

• Are trusted peers using it?

• Will it work with what I already have?

• Who’s pushing it, and why?

• Can I afford to wait?

Smart supply chains don’t chase trends. They build systems that work and stay curious enough to evolve when it makes sense.