Almost half of the companies in the healthcare supply chain sector (46%) said they are using artificial intelligence to identify and address potential supply disruptions, according to a recent survey.

In a report published January 16 by the business intelligence think tank Economist Impact, entitled "Trade in Transition 2024,” 44% of healthcare organizations are using AI to improve customer experiences, while another 35% use this technology to forecast consumer demands.

Over a third of survey participants (34%) said that using AI has helped their company reduce the overall cost of trade operations. Another 32% said that AI had allowed their organization to reduce supply chain disruptions.

"In an era where unpredictability is the new constant, leveraging advanced technologies like AI is imperative. As production methods and pharmaceutical products continue to become more advanced, the industry must seek to innovate at every stage of the supply chain,” said Magrietha Mallinson, the global vertical lead of Health at DP World, the company that supported the study.

Economist Impact said that it interviewed 3,500 senior executives around the globe for the fourth edition of its Trade in Transition survey.