Breaking

Supply Chain Workforce Skills Gap Limits AI Deployment Beyond Pilot Projects

A majority of supply chain organizations are struggling to move artificial intelligence initiatives past the planning phase, with workforce readiness emerging as the critical bottleneck. Research from the Association for Supply Chain Management and Digital Supply Chain Institute found that 83% of supply chain professionals said their employees are unprepared to use AI effectively. Organizations reporting workforce readiness achieved a 71% project success rate, compared to just 28% for those without prepared staff. About 64% of underperforming organizations remain stuck in pilot or planning stages. Demand planning scored highest in AI adoption at 2.28 on a five-point scale, while returns and reverse logistics ranked lowest at 1.0. Executives cited two equally significant barriers: lack of workforce skills and resources at 33%, and unclear business cases or ROI at 33%. Industry leaders emphasize the need to expand AI authority gradually while building confidence in the technology.