Research report: Operations Outlook 2026
A clear perspective of global operations challenges and the steps leaders must take to build resilience.
Argon & Co surveyed over 800 C-suite leaders globally, spanning procurement, logistics, supply chain, and manufacturing to uncover how rising costs, technological acceleration, and workforce strain are shaping their priorities, challenges, and resilience strategies for 2026 and beyond.
Across regions and industries, the findings point to an underlying issue. Resilience is not being tested by a single factor, but an accumulation of workforce strain, cost pressure, and technological complexity. The organisations that confront these pressures today will be better positioned to withstand future disruption and remain competitive.
In a year shaped by accelerating volatility, leaders are dealing with rapid technological change, rising operating costs, escalating cyber risks, and workforce fatigue, while being expected to strengthen resilience and deliver strong performance. With nearly half (46%) of C‑suite leaders citing technological changes like AI and automation as their biggest challenge and (43%) grappling with rising costs, the strain on organisations is clear, making proactive resilience‑building more important than ever.
Key operational pressures
Rapid technological change (46%), rising operating costs (43%), and workforce pressures (30%) are the biggest challenges faced by C-suite leaders the past year
Remaining resilient
C‑suite leaders see the biggest opportunities to build long‑term resilience in AI, predictive analytics, and digital twins, cited by 49% of respondents
