[ INSIGHT ] ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE
by Richard Stewart EVP of Product and Industry Strategy, Infios info@infios.com
Why Intelligent Supply Chain Execution is the Next Big Advantage
We’re standing at the edge of a new era, where intelligent supply chain execution isn’t just a buzzword but the key to resilience, growth, and competitive advantage.
and improved demand predictability, but heavy reliance on manual processes, unclear ROI, and difficulty scaling beyond pilots are slowing progress. AI delivers value only when it’s embedded in connected, real-time execution environments, not as an afterthought or isolated experiment. It’s time to move to solutions that act and coordinate execution from end to end, embedding intelligence at every step. Supply chain leaders should focus on three practical steps to achieve this shift: 1. Prioritize modular, interoperable architectures. Don’t rip and replace everything. Look for solutions designed to integrate with existing OMS, WMS, and TMS, and scale as you grow. 2. Apply AI within execution workflows. Don’t wait for perfectly clean data. Start embedding AI where it can make a difference, learn, and adapt over time. 3. Partner with providers focused on real-world execution. Choose partners who deliver AI with proven use cases in operational environments, not just in theory or experimentation. Intelligent supply chain execution is the foundation for supply chain advantage. Execution is no longer just where work happens. It’s where intelligence delivers the greatest impact.
must move beyond patchwork solutions and start thinking about execution as a connected, intelligent whole. The biggest barrier isn’t budget or willingness to change but outdated technology. Data quality issues, integration headaches, and legacy systems hold us back. Leaders want solutions that integrate, scale, and deliver real- time visibility. When evaluating new technology, decision-makers prioritize architectural strength, scalability, and ease of integration. The message is clear: we need execution environments that can connect data, workflows, and decisions end to end. AI is the hot topic in every boardroom,
Nearly 80% of supply chain leaders responding to Infios’ recent Supply Chain Execution Readiness Report agree the real edge comes from fast, dynamic execution, not from planning or visibility alone. In today’s volatile world, it’s not about who has the best plan on paper, but who can sense, decide, and act the fastest when things change. Budgets are following suit. 59% of organizations plan to increase spending on supply chain execution solutions over the next 12 months, even as economic headwinds persist. Operational efficiency, cost reduction, and business growth all depend on how well you execute across all elements of the supply chain. Despite this focus on intelligent execution and improved technology, many supply chains still stumble. Manual workflows, fragmented data, and systems that don’t talk to each other remain the biggest obstacles. The problem is that most execution systems were built in silos. A late truck or a warehouse bottleneck can ripple through the entire chain, forcing teams into last-minute firefighting. The industry
but research shows a gap between ambition and reality. Only 23% of
organizations have implemented AI in select workflows and 41% report they are still in the proof-of-concept or pilot stage. Only 6% use analytics or AI for automated responses when disruptions strike, and the majority react to events as they occur. The potential of leveraging AI automation is huge for cost reduction, efficiency gains, better labor productivity,
58 Inbound Logistics • July 2026
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