How can aerospace and defense organizations modernize legacy systems without disrupting operations?

Legacy IT infrastructure is one of the industry’s most pressing challenges, limiting data accessibility, slowing AI‑driven analytics and creating operational and security gaps. With 36% of A&D leaders prioritizing infrastructure modernization, organizations are seeking ways to improve performance while supporting emerging technologies. Protiviti supports A&D organizations in modernizing technology foundations so they can reduce risk, improve reliability and accelerate innovation.

What AI adoption challenges are slowing progress for A&D organizations?

A&D executives cite the inability to deploy AI at a competitive pace (29%), uncertain ROI (29%), and increased third-party risk (27%) as their top hurdles. Many organizations also struggle with integration and workforce readiness, making it difficult to scale AI beyond early pilots. Protiviti helps organizations implement responsible AI frameworks and operational strategies so AI delivers sustained, enterprise-wide value.

What cybersecurity risks should A&D leaders prepare for in 2026?

Cyber threats are the #1 near-term risk for the A&D sector, driven by CMMC requirements and rapidly advancing, state-sponsored attack tactics. These attacks increasingly target intellectual property, supply chains and critical systems using methods such as zero-day exploits and AI-enabled reconnaissance. Protiviti helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience, improve third-party oversight and meet evolving regulatory expectations.

Where are aerospace and defense executives planning to invest most in the next two to three years?

The top investment areas include data privacy (48%), cybersecurity (42%) and infrastructure modernization (36%), reflecting the sector’s focus on safeguarding sensitive information and enabling advanced technology. These priorities support improved resilience, readiness for AI and compliance with expanding global regulations. Protiviti helps A&D organizations turn these investment areas into measurable improvements in performance, security and operational agility.

What long-term risks should A&D executives prepare for as they plan the next decade?

The top 10-year challenges include long-term security and privacy concerns (58%), evolving AI deployment risks (41%) and increasing sustainability requirements (38%). These areas reflect expanding regulatory expectations and the growing complexity of autonomous systems and digital platforms.

Top Risks 2027: CPG & Retail Insights

5 min read

2027 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks and Opportunities

CPG and retail industry leaders expect growth in 2027, but the path to it is getting harder to predict. Protiviti's 2027 findings show consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail leaders navigating supply chain instability, pressure from new market entrants and private labels, economic uncertainty and shifting trade policy, all while working to keep customers loyal. Spotting changes in demand early and adjusting production, inventory and distribution quickly is now critical to growth. AI can accelerate those decisions, but only when people, processes and accountability keep pace. Read the CPG and retail brief to see how leaders are connecting data, AI, workforce and processes to execute faster.

Explore the 2027 CPG and retail insights

Watch the 2027 cross-industry webinar on-demand

Where consumer goods and retail leaders see the greatest growth opportunities over the next two to three years

CPG and retail leaders are looking for growth closer to home. The findings show revenue expectations rising while appetite for new geographies and partnerships pulled back, shifting the focus to reading changing consumer preferences and aligning products, channels and experiences quickly.

73 %

see revenue potential as an opportunity

55 %

see opportunity in geographic expansion

53 %

see opportunity in ecosystem development

Explore featured solutions and industries

Closing the gap between growth ambition and execution depends on supply chain visibility, customer experience and AI that people actually use. These capabilities and industry teams help consumer goods and retail leaders turn demand signals into faster, be

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Prioritize, build and embed AI in real workflows, with governance, security and change enablement that help teams adopt it and deliver measurable value.

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Supply Chain Management

Design and run agile supply chain networks, from integrated planning and inventory to intelligent distribution, so products reach customers when demand shifts.

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Consumer Experience

Design and connect experiences across channels that build loyalty and drive revenue growth, from journey mapping to personalization at scale.

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Consumer Goods

Build supply chain resilience, turn data into actionable insights with analytics and AI, and modernize operations through digital transformation.

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Retail

Strengthen supply chain resilience, use data analytics for market intelligence and adopt the digital technologies behind a seamless omnichannel experience.

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Discover our full catalog of insight briefs for additional research findings and expert commentary related to the 2027 report on Top Risks and Opportunities.

Insights by industry
Insights by organizational role

Insights by industry

Aerospace & Defense

Energy & Utilities

Financial Services

Healthcare

Higher Education

Manufacturing & Distribution

Private Equity

Non Profit

Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Insights by organizational role

Finance Teams

Information Security Teams

Internal Audit Teams

Operations Teams

Technology & Data Teams

FAQs

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What are the top risks for CPG and retail companies in 2027?

According to Protiviti's 2027 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks and Opportunities survey, the top near-term risks for consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail companies are uncertainty surrounding the core supply chain ecosystem (3.48), threats from new market entrants and substitute products (3.38), economic conditions, including inflation (3.34), sustaining customer loyalty and retention (3.32), and changes in global markets and trade policies (3.28). All five scored higher than in 2026. Together, they point to concerns about maintaining product flow, protecting market share and keeping customers.

Why are private labels a bigger threat to CPG brands?

Private labels now compete on product features and differentiation, not just price, and consumers find it easier than ever to switch. Threats from new entrants and substitutes rose to 3.38 from 3.13, and customer loyalty concerns rose to 3.32 from 3.12. Established brands can no longer count on past loyalty to hold share. Differentiation will depend on product innovation, deeper customer insight and forecasting demand shifts ahead of competitors.

How can CPG and retail organizations get more value from AI?

Start with people. 55% of CPG and retail leaders rank equipping the workforce as a top AI priority, ahead of integrating AI into existing systems (45%). Faster tools don't help if processes stay slow, so companies need to define which decisions AI can make, what limits apply and who is accountable. AI is changing the consumer side too, as shoppers begin using AI tools to discover and compare products.

Where are CPG and retail companies investing in 2027?

CPG and retail companies rank supply chain management (53%, down from 61%) and customer experience (52%, up from 42%) as their top investment priorities. The largest gains came in advanced data analytics, which rose to 37% from 14%, and business process improvements, which rose to 37% from 23%. These investments focus on more accurate demand forecasting, inventory management, personalized customer experiences and faster pricing and merchandising decisions that protect margins and product availability.

How is trade policy affecting CPG and retail?

Trade policy is now an operational issue, not just an economic one. Changes in global markets and trade policies rose to 3.28 from 3.12 and now rank among the industry's top five near-term risks. Tariffs, taxes, regulations and product-compliance pressures are pushing retailers to rethink fulfillment strategies, including positioning more inventory closer to demand so they can protect margins and product availability.