From Chains to Webs: Why Transportation Networks Are Going Polycentric

Thought leadership mini-series – Episode 1

By Lumentra Consulting

Published: 2025-06-27

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Freight Forward, Lumentra Consulting’s weekly insight series on the future of freight. This week, we’re exploring a fundamental transformation: how supply chains are evolving from centralized lines to flexible webs—and what it means for your transportation network.

For decades, global supply chains operated like well-oiled machines—linear, centralized, and optimized for cost. Raw materials flowed to a handful of production centers, products moved to major distribution hubs and then fanned out to customers. It was efficient. It was predictable. And it’s no longer enough.

In 2025, the “supply chain” is rapidly morphing into something more organic—more like a web than a chain. Welcome to the era of polycentric supply networks, where resilience, flexibility, and responsiveness matter more than pure efficiency.

Why the Shift?

Several forces are converging to drive this transformation:

• Geopolitical instability is prompting companies to diversify sourcing and avoid over-reliance on single trade lanes.

• Nearshoring and regional manufacturing are on the rise—especially in North America and Europe—driven by tariff risk and lead time reduction.

• E-commerce and omni-channel models demand shorter delivery windows and local fulfillment.

• Climate risk and disruptions (floods, wildfires, drought) are making single-node dependency too risky.

• Customer expectations have changed—real-time updates, flexibility, and delivery precision are table stakes.

The result? Supply networks with multiple manufacturing points, regional distribution centers, and parallel flows of goods—instead of just “A to B to C.”

From Hub-and-Spoke to Polycentric Networks

Traditional hub-and-spoke models consolidate flows into one or two central hubs. They work well when demand is steady, and cost is king.

Polycentric networks, by contrast, are multi-hub, multi-modal, and dynamically routed. Picture a company with three DCs in different parts of the country, each capable of fulfilling any order. Or one that shifts sourcing between Southeast Asia, Mexico, and the U.S. depending on demand, cost, or port congestion.

This new structure introduces massive complexity—especially in transportation.

What It Means for Transportation

Here’s the transportation reality behind polycentric networks:

• More nodes = more shipment legs, handoffs, and routing permutations

• Greater variability = more exceptions, carrier options, and tendering scenarios

• Dynamic fulfillment = orders may originate from different points day-to-day

• High expectations = customers still expect 2-day delivery and 98% OTIF

Without the right strategy, what was once a simple shipment becomes a logistical maze.

Why It Matters Now

Many companies are already in a polycentric reality—they just haven’t named it or redesigned for it. They’re managing exceptions, plugging gaps, and scrambling to reroute freight across an increasingly messy network.

But the companies that intentionally design for this shift—and align their transportation strategy accordingly—will see gains in:

• Resilience to shocks and delays

• Flexibility to shift volume or mode

• Speed in responding to market changes

• Customer service with fewer missed windows

What’s Next?

This evolution isn’t just about where your supply nodes are. It’s about how your transportation network is built to support them.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the operational and strategic challenges of polycentric logistics—and how smart transportation design (and planning tools) help solve them.

Stay tuned.

About Lumentra Consulting

We help organizations rethink transportation in a world that demands resilience, speed, and precision. Whether you're navigating decentralization or scaling with confidence, we combine industry insight with Oracle-powered execution.