A recent Gartner report warns that supply chains in their current form may struggle to remain effective within the next two years as artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions, and changing customer expectations reshape how companies run their operations.
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The firm said chief supply chain officers are under pressure to change how their supply chains work as AI, geopolitical tensions, and customer demands continue to shift.
Gartner identified three strategic actions supply chain leaders should focus on in 2026 to prepare their organizations for what it describes as a rapidly changing operating environment.
The first priority is redesigning processes and ways of working to capture value from artificial intelligence. Gartner said organizations that redesign work itself, rather than simply introducing new tools, are twice as likely to exceed revenue goals and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Supply chain leaders are increasingly shifting toward this approach. Among organizations that view AI-driven changes to work as the main source of supply chain transformation, 81% of leaders say they are confident or very confident in their ability to manage the impact of those changes, compared with 54% of other respondents.
A second priority is preparing the workforce for a future where humans and machines collaborate more closely. The report found 88% of supply chain leaders believe advances in agentic AI will require new processes for talent development and workforce planning.
As automation and AI become more embedded in supply chain operations, professionals will increasingly be expected to use those technologies to improve customer experience and support broader business goals.
The third focus area is strengthening collaboration with suppliers and customers as supply chains become more automated. Gartner found that 76% of supply chain leaders have already started, or plan to start, automating orders placed by software systems and connected devices.
The analysis said supply chain leaders will need to work more closely with key suppliers and customers and share more data as automation becomes more common.
