< Back to Blogs
Share:

AI and the Future of Supply Chains: How Leaders Move from Hype to Real Impact

Special Guest Blog Post written by Karin Bursa, Founder and CEO of NIRAKIO and Supply Chain Now Host 

 

Artificial intelligence is no longer a “what if” in supply chain — it is here. In fact, Gartner predicts that 50% of cross-functional supply chain management solutions will use intelligent agents to autonomously execute decisions in the ecosystem by 2030. But how do leaders move from hype to real impact? During our recent Supply Chain Now Power Panel, I asked five senior executives to share where they see AI making the biggest impact. Their answers revealed not just excitement, but a roadmap for how supply chains can evolve.

Here is how they responded, in their own words.

Q: Where do you see AI making the greatest impact in your supply chain?

Eliza Simeonova – VP Global Supply, Mars Pet Nutrition

“AI forces operational discipline. Clean data is no longer optional. The system itself demands it. I also see AI shaping supply chain synchronization — aligning suppliers, factories, warehouses, and customers in new ways.”

Whitney Shlesinger – VP Global Planning & Logistics, McCormick

“For me, it’s about people. Employees want to move beyond non-value-added work. AI allows us to free them up for strategic thinking, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.”

Sylvia Wilks – CSCO, Lamb Weston

“AI is an enabler for better forecasting, inventory optimization, and cash flow management. It’s about using analytics not just to see the future, but to improve working capital today.”

Stephanie Beal – CSCO, Hasbro

“We’ve rolled out tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to every employee, and adoption has been phenomenal. We’re also applying AI to demand planning and strategy reviews. It is already a game-changer for decision-making.”

Tamera Fenske – CSCO, Kimberly-Clark

“The next stage is Agentic AI — not just seeing insights but offering recommendations. One use case we love is knowledge management: decades of tissue manufacturing expertise now searchable in seconds.”

Closing Thoughts

What I found remarkable is how each leader sees AI not as a replacement, but as an accelerator: of discipline, of creativity, of financial impact, and of decision-making.

Their perspectives highlight a bigger truth: AI won’t transform supply chains on its own. Leaders will. And as these executives showed, the future is not about replacing people — it is about empowering them.

Check out the full conversation in this on-demand link and let us know how you think AI will impact your supply chain. And join us for the next “Never Normal” Power Panel on January 7th- register here!

More Blogs

MODEX 2026
Blogs
May 14, 2026

Planning for Growth in an Era of Constant Change

At MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Scott Luton sat down with Christian Lieberoth-Leden, Principal and Global Senior Expert, and Florian Salamon, Director of Consulting at 4flow, to unpack a complex warehouse transformation project that highlights the realities of modern supply chain growth. The discussion offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to design, implement, and scale a next-generation operation while keeping business moving uninterrupted. When Growth Forces Reinvention The project began with a clear challenge: a rapidly growing customer had outgrown its existing U.S. warehouse network. According to Christian Lieberoth-Leden, the company anticipated “doubling volume” over the next decade while simultaneously managing a major operational shift from B2B to B2C fulfillment. The existing facility simply could not support the future business requirements. A new warehouse was inevitable – – but this wasn’t just about adding capacity. It was about rethinking the operation entirely. At the same time, the stakes were extremely high. The warehouse would become a mission-critical hub for the company’s U.S. business, meaning there was little room for error. Start with Requirements, Not Tech One of the most important themes from the conversation is that successful transformation projects begin long before automation decisions are made. Christian emphasizes…
global supply chain
Blogs
January 29, 2026

Constant Supply Chain Disruption Promises to Keep Logistics Entertaining, Exciting, & Challenging

Special Guest Blog Post written by Brittany Caskey, Chief Commercial Officer – Logistics with DP World Americas   I was recently invited to speak with students in the Supply Chain and Logistics Organization at Georgia Tech, and it reminded me why I still find this industry so energizing. I walked them through my own path — starting in logistics right out of college, building my foundation at UPS in sales and sales management, and eventually stepping into my role today as Chief Operating Officer at DP World in the Americas. What I shared with them is something I still believe deeply: logistics keeps life interesting, because no two days are ever the same. Customer expectations change. Geopolitical realities shift. Trade lanes evolve. Weather, labor, technology — everything is in constant motion. That constant change is what keeps logistics professionals sharp and solutions focused. It’s also why customer experience has become the true differentiator in today’s supply chains. Because while disruption is unavoidable, how you manage it is a choice.   Customers Don’t Care Why — They Care That It Works One message I emphasized with the students is the same one I reinforce with customers and teams every day: customers…