Gartner: AI to Fix 60% of Supply Chain Disruptions by 2031

Supply chains are set to become increasingly autonomous as AI is set to resolve 60% of disruptions without human intervention by 2031, according to new research from Gartner.

As global trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions mount, supply chains face growing risks of mismanagement, delayed responses and financial losses without real-time analytics or automated risk analysis.

Julia von Massow, Director Analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice, says: “As more frequent and complex disruptions continue to test response capacity, organisations are moving toward AI that can sense and act in real time to improve the consistency and speed of decisions.

“CSCOs should focus on expanding autonomy in a controlled manner by starting with low-risk decisions and building the data and governance needed to grow automation capabilities responsibly in the coming years.”

AI adoption accelerates

Gartner’s survey of 509 supply-chain leaders found that changes in ways of working driven by advancements in AI and agentic AI will be the most influential driver of supply chain performance over the next two years.

Many Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) are already embracing these technologies, or plan to do so within that timeframe.

According to Gartner, full automation should be limited to low-risk decisions for now, while higher-stakes decisions are better supported by AI that augments human judgement.

This dual approach allows leaders to build the necessary data and governance foundations, positioning organisations to eventually manage most disruptions without human intervention.

Is AI governance needed? 

The move towards autonomous disruption management will require organisations to operate more fluidly and restructure around strategic goals instead of fixed hierarchies.

More autonomous supply chains will demand new governance models, with CSCOs sharing responsibility for overseeing AI-driven decision making and ensuring compliance with emerging global regulations.

Gartner advises CSCOs to take several key actions to prepare for AI-enabled supply chains:

• Own responsibility for an enterprise-wide AI strategy that aligns technology investments with disruption management and decision automation objectives
  

• Prioritise investments in data quality and governance so autonomous systems can access accurate, timely and complete information, enabling trusted decisions that comply with regulatory expectations
  

• Budget ongoing resources to evaluate the emotional and performance impact of increased autonomy on existing roles, treating change management as a core initiative
  

• Develop contingency plans for autonomous decision failures, including rapid human intervention protocols and continuous improvement based on incident analysis, supported by governance and performance frameworks.

Gartner’s role in AI strategy

Gartner positions itself as a trusted partner for executives implementing AI strategies, offering independent insights and tools such as AskGartner AI. The firm provides access to more than 2,500 experts, 6,000 research insights and over 1,000 AI use cases and case studies.

The Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo remains a key forum for CSCOs to explore how AI can predict disruptions, achieve visibility and improve supply chain resilience. The next events are scheduled in Orlando from May 4-6 and Barcelona from May 18-20.