The average organization is using five systems to make supply chain decisions, resulting in data blind spots and critical insight gaps
As they face persistent challenges with complex systems, network blind spots, and translating data into timely, actionable insights, U.S. supply chain leaders are optimistic about AI’s potential to automate routine operations. That’s according to survey findings released today in a new report, Why You Should Rethink Your Supply Chain Tech, by FourKites, the leader in AI-driven supply chain transformation.
FourKites partnered with international research data and analytics group YouGov to poll 250 supply chain leaders across in the U.S. to understand the effectiveness of their current supply chain solutions as well as their perceptions of emerging technologies.
Respondents highlighted a fundamental challenge facing supply chain organizations: the sheer number of systems required for basic operations, with 75% of respondents needing between 3-10 systems for their supply chain decision making. Other ongoing challenges include supply chain blind spots and limited real-time insights into supplier networks, orders, and other critical areas, with only 2 in 10 organizations reporting that they can understand 75%-100% of what’s happening in their supply chain in real time.
AI advancements pose an opportunity to tackle these issues. Supply chain leaders weighed in on the technology’s potential impact, expressing optimism about AI’s ability to address carrier communications, appointment scheduling, exception management, and administrative tasks like system entries and reporting. Leaders anticipate that AI will enhance customer satisfaction, improve OTIF performance, and help reduce labor costs. However, more than 40% of respondents expressed reservations about AI-related data security, system reliability, and costs.
Key findings from the report include:
- 38% of all respondents (and 58% of the largest companies) say supply chain blind spots are the most significant limitation of their current technology
- 8 in 10 report having less than 75% of their supply chain available in real time
- 30% of large organizations say complex workflows across systems prevent them from getting value from their supply chain tech stack
- Two-thirds say it takes four hours or longer to understand the impact of a disruption
- Three-quarters of respondents believe AI can handle 25-75% of their routine supply chain tasks
- Only 22% of shippers with more than $1 billion in revenue believe their supply chain control tower is highly effective at driving action
The complete survey findings have been published in FourKites’ report, Why You Should Rethink Your Supply Chain Tech.
“Companies in every industry are telling us the same thing: they’re drowning in data but starving for action. Too many companies have invested in multiple systems only to end up with low-quality data, limited insights, and inadequate decision-making capabilities. And it’s costing them in network delays – the single largest contributor to unexpected supply chain expenses,” said FourKites founder and CEO Mathew Elenjickal. “It’s clear the industry needs a breakthrough: a single source of truth connecting existing systems that empowers a digital workforce of AI agents to take action.”
Since 2014, FourKites has evolved real-time transportation visibility to offer customers a comprehensive supply chain solution – powered by AI agents and the industry’s largest real-time network – for end-to-end supply chain control within a single, integrated platform. FourKites recently launched the FourKites® Intelligent Control Tower™, replacing outdated planning tools with an advanced AI-driven system and digital twins of shipments, orders, inventory, and assets, to provide actionable insights, assess risks, deliver prescriptive recommendations, and autonomously execute solutions for customers’ most complex supply chain challenges.
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