ChatGPT is no longer just something supply chain teams are testing on the side. Many are already using it at work to prep for meetings, think through risks, explain data, and get everyday tasks done faster.
What’s Related
The teams getting the most value all have one thing in common: they know what to ask.
Below are 40 real ChatGPT prompts supply chain professionals are using across planning, logistics, operations, and more.
Before you start: Three things to remember
Don’t just toss questions into ChatGPT and hope for magic. The teams getting real value usually do three simple things:
Give context, not just a question: Instead of just saying: “help with inventory,” try saying: “We’re holding 45 days of safety stock, lead times just jumped from 8 to 12 weeks. What should I be worried about?”
Ask for the format you need: If you want bullet points, a table, or a short summary, say that upfront.
Treat it like a first draft: ChatGPT is a thinking partner, not a final answer. Use it to organize ideas, then apply your own judgment.
That’s it. Now let’s get into the prompts.
Demand planning and forecasting
Demand planning teams are using ChatGPT to test assumptions and think through scenarios without spinning up a full forecasting model.
Prompts that work well include:
“Look at this historical sales data and call out any obvious seasonality or odd spikes.”
“Walk me through how a port closure or tariff increase could impact this forecast.”
“Give me three demand scenarios for next quarter: best case, worst case, and middle ground.”
Inventory management and warehouse operations
Inventory teams use ChatGPT to step back from spreadsheets and spot patterns they might miss when they’re buried in the weeds.
Useful prompts include:
“Based on these inventory levels and lead times, where are we most at risk of stockouts?”
“Explain why excess inventory builds up, in plain English, for a leadership slide.”
“Give me a plan to reduce slow-moving SKUs without hurting service levels.”
On the warehouse side, prompts focus on bottlenecks and translation:
“Explain pick rate, dock-to-stock time, and order accuracy like I’m talking to finance.”
“List common reasons warehouses miss outbound cutoffs and how to fix them.”
“What should I look at first if put-away times suddenly spike?”
Transportation and logistics planning
Transportation teams are using ChatGPT to prep carrier conversations, review performance, and explain costs more clearly.
Examples include:
“Help me build a carrier scorecard using on-time delivery, cost per mile, and damage rates.”
“Explain why transportation costs jump during peak season in simple terms.”
“What questions should I ask carriers before starting an RFP?”
“Break down the difference between spot and contract rates and when each makes sense.”
Procurement and supplier management
Procurement is where a lot of AI prompt lists started, but teams are using ChatGPT for much more than sourcing events.
Common prompts include:
“Walk me through the risks of relying too heavily on one supplier.”
“Help me draft an agenda for a supplier performance review.”
“What should be in a supplier scorecard that covers quality, lead time, and financial risk?”
Customer service and order management
This one doesn’t get talked about enough. Customer service and order management teams are quietly getting a lot of value from ChatGPT.
Prompts to try:
“Draft a response to a customer asking why their order is delayed. Professional but empathetic.”
“Explain our return policy in simpler terms.”
“What are the most common reasons orders get put on hold, and how do we fix them fast?”
“Help me write a proactive email about an upcoming shipping delay.”
Data analysis and reporting
A big part of supply chain work is pulling reports and figuring out what actually matters. ChatGPT can help cut through the noise.
Useful prompts include:
“Summarize the key takeaways from this monthly logistics report.”
“What patterns jump out from these carrier performance numbers?”
“Turn this table into a short narrative I can use in a leadership update.”
“Freight costs are up in the Southeast. What should I investigate first?”
Risk management and resilience planning
Supply chain risk isn’t going away. ChatGPT works well as a brainstorming partner when teams are thinking through contingencies.
Helpful prompts include:
“List major supply chain risks tied to geopolitics, weather, and labor.”
“What happens if our main supplier can’t ship for 30 days?”
“Explain supply chain resilience in terms an executive team will understand.”
“What should be in our playbook if a major shipping lane shuts down?”
Sustainability and compliance
Sustainability teams are using ChatGPT to explain complex topics and organize reporting work.
Prompts include:
“Explain Scope 3 emissions in plain language.”
“What are the first steps to collect carbon data from suppliers?”
“Summarize recent changes to EU import compliance rules.”
“Help me draft an email asking suppliers for sustainability certifications.”
Training and onboarding
Supply chain has high turnover in certain roles. ChatGPT can help speed up onboarding and training.
Examples include:
“Explain FOB vs. CIF like I’m training a new logistics coordinator.”
“Create a one-page cheat sheet on inbound vs. outbound logistics.”
“What mistakes do new demand planners make in their first 90 days?”
“Explain safety stock and reorder points in simple terms.”
Project management and communication
One of the most underrated uses is simple communication.
Teams use prompts like:
“Turn this project update into a tight executive summary.”
“Rewrite this email so it’s shorter and more direct.”
“Create a simple timeline for this distribution center move.”
“Help structure this deck so the main point lands early.”
