Supply chain performance is still being measured by outdated assumptions. Lora Cecere argues that optimizing individual functions for lower cost does not necessarily improve the business. In fact, it can throw the entire supply chain out of balance. Better performance starts with understanding what is actually feasible within an industry, focusing on the metrics that drive value, and recognizing that supply chains are complex systems that cannot be improved one function at a time. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton speaks with Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, and Wael Abdelmalek, CEO at Uthereal, about the research behind Supply Chains to Admire and how that work is being brought into Ask Lora, an AI-enabled benchmarking and advisory platform. They explore why traditional supply chain rankings and generic AI tools can reinforce conventional thinking, how verified research and industry-specific data can create better benchmarks, and why leaders need a more balanced view of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and return on capital employed when evaluating performance. Lora and Wael also explain how Ask Lora combines 10 years of research and benchmarking data with a private large language model designed specifically for supply chain decision-making. Rather than serving…

Supply chain is evolving rapidly and AI is changing how decisions are made. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton, Karin Bursa, and Jake Barr talk with Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, about the key insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium. They explore how supply chain leaders can leverage AI to improve operational efficiency, redesign workflows, and enhance decision-making to remain competitive in the coming years. They discuss the importance of cross-functional initiatives, storytelling for CSCOs, and understanding where technology fits as an enabler rather than the solution. The episode breaks down strategies for shifting supply chain operations toward autonomy, including optimizing decision velocity, redesigning critical workflows, and applying AI thoughtfully to reduce manual handoffs and eliminate inefficiencies. Listeners gain insight into how to balance growth, cost, risk, and talent, and why CSCOs need to communicate their strategic value effectively within the C-suite. The conversation also highlights real-world examples of organizations leveraging technology to enable their workforce, not replace it, and emphasizes the potential of agentic AI in planning and disruption management. Together, the panel explores why focusing on decision stacks and workflow design is critical for AI readiness, how to prioritize high-impact areas for…