Half of supply chain leaders are planning to implement generative AI (GenAI) in the next 12 months with another 14% claiming they have already begun implementing the technology within their organization, according to a Gartner survey.

According to a report published by Gartner's Supply Chain Practice January 10, only about 2% of respondents said that they have no plans to implement GenAI in their operations over the next 12 months.

The study also showed that companies are backing up their implementation plans with financial support. Supply chain leaders have said that they will allocate 5.8% of their budgets on average to this technology. Additionally, 65% of responders said they will hire staffers and experts to deploy GenAI technology within their organization.

“CSCOs see GenAI as supportive of their broader digital transformation objectives,” said Noha Tohamy, a VP analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain Practice. “Many supply chain leaders were already leveraging supply chain technologies and advanced analytics, and it’s clear from this data that the majority also see the value in GenAI to enhance productivity, improve business agility and reduce costs. The challenge for many of these organizations over the next 12 months will be in scaling their pilot projects to broader adoption… CSCOs may also be factoring in impacts on employee roles required of their staff as they shift to higher value-add activities, while lower-level tasks are increasingly automated.”

Gartner surveyed 127 supply chain leaders in November 2023 on their plans to utilize GenAI in 2024.