Geopolitics remains a wild card, but resilience is teachable. Map critical lanes and single-point-of-failure nodes across your network. Identify alternates for air, ocean, and road routes before you need them. When disruption strikes, prepared playbooks beat ad-hoc scrambling. Diversify carriers and ports where feasible. Even a modest split across partners reduces exposure to strikes or sudden policy shifts. Balance that variety with enough volume to keep good rates. Relationships matter when priority access gets tight. Stock positioning is a strategic lever. Push buffer inventory to regional hubs for fast local injection. For slow-moving items, centralize to preserve working capital. The right blend keeps service levels high while cash remains healthy. Scenario planning is not just for annual retreats. Run quarterly stress tests on top lanes and products. Simulate sudden capacity drops or customs slowdowns and document responses. Teams perform better when the script has been rehearsed. Finally, communicate candidly with customers during disruptions. Provide realistic timelines and options, not vague reassurances. Transparency preserves trust even when news is bad. Resilience is as much about communication as it is about routing.
Building a Resilient Network Amid Geopolitical Risk
