Supply Chain Leaders Say AI Cut Planning Time from Weeks to Hours
Eight industry executives report that AI automates data entry and forecasting, though they note internal confusion remains about specific definitions.
Key points
- AI tools reduce data processing time from hours to seconds by automatically standardizing varied customer inputs.
- Eight supply chain leaders reported that worker resistance was lower than expected, with new hires actively driving adoption.
- Complex planning tasks, such as analyzing tariff impacts, now take hours instead of weeks due to AI-driven analysis.
Supply chain leaders report that artificial intelligence is moving beyond theoretical hype to deliver tangible operational speed. In a series of interviews conducted by Business Insider, eight executives from logistics, manufacturing, and retail described how AI tools are reshaping their daily workflows. The consensus is that the technology is most effective when it handles the messy, unstructured data that previously required manual intervention.
The primary benefit cited is the reduction of friction in administrative processes. Instead of staff manually reformatting documents from emails or spreadsheets, AI now standardizes this data instantly. This shift allows systems to act on information in seconds rather than hours, removing a significant bottleneck in the supply chain.
Automation removes manual data entry friction
J-Ann Tio Toles, chief strategy officer at Arrive Logistics, highlighted the challenge of accepting customer data in whatever format is sent. Previously, converting an email tender into usable pricing data took hours. Now, AI reshapes the input so the platform can process it directly. This eliminates the need for customers to change their habits while drastically reducing internal processing time.
Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics, pointed to a practical application in security. By using computer vision at facility gates, his company helped a grocery retailer recover $60,000 in a cargo theft case. The AI provided indisputable video evidence of the driver and carrier, turning a situation that would have been written off into a successful financial recovery.
Workers adapt faster than anticipated
Contrary to fears of widespread resistance, leaders found that adoption in supply chain sectors progressed quickly. Mantej Singh Randhawa of Genpact noted a lack of shared understanding regarding specific terms like agentic AI, but this did not hinder implementation. Toles observed that the conversation skipped the debate over whether to adopt AI, moving straight to how to deploy it.
A new generation of employees is also driving this shift. Toles noted that recent hires, who used AI tools throughout their college education, act as early adopters. More importantly, they ask probing questions about how to leverage these tools, creating a culture of curiosity that accelerates internal learning and application.
Complex planning becomes faster and broader
Ben Massie of Lenovo emphasized the speed and breadth of analysis AI provides for complex decisions. For instance, analyzing a tariff change involves tracking manufacturing locations, capacity, and compliance. Tasks that historically took weeks to evaluate can now be completed in hours, allowing companies to react to market changes with greater agility.
Demand forecasting is another area seeing rapid adoption. Gartner data indicates that 82% of retailers have implemented or are implementing AI solutions for this purpose. These tools help companies predict what customers will want and when, leading to smarter inventory decisions and reduced waste.
