Keep pulling the thread on Mike Griswold.
The primary, immediate result of deploying AI to solve specific business problems is human augmentation, not full automation.
The supply chain industry is evolving from 'AI theater' and proofs-of-concept to deploying AI to solve specific, real-world problems with measurable outcomes.
Gartner's 2026 Supply Chain Top 25 research indicates that leading companies are deploying AI to solve very specific, articulated business problems.
According to observations at the Manifest 2026 conference, many companies are sidelining cash and investment in supply chain technology due to economic uncertainty.
Mike Griswold of Gartner advises that companies taking a 'wait and see' approach to technology investment risk a significant competitive disadvantage as faster-moving rivals will fill the market vacuum.
Mike Griswold of Gartner posits that while AI can process vast amounts of data, it creates a new risk of 'analysis paralysis' where teams ask too many questions simply because the technology allows it.
A LinkedIn poll by Eric Wilson identified the biggest obstacle in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) as 'lack of management support' at 46%, followed by 'cultural and global complexity' at 27%, and 'inability to measure impact' at 22%.
A common failure mode for Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings is devolving from the intended 6-9 month strategic horizon into solving immediate, tactical problems like specific SKU stockouts.
Gartner analyst Mike Griswold asserts that organizations need to distinguish between and implement separate processes for Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) for long-term strategy and Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) for short-term tactics.
The perception of the supply chain function has evolved post-COVID from a purely execution-focused cost center to a potential dynamic, value-driving part of the business.
Leading companies, such as those in the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25, view their supply chain as a strategic partner for growth, a driver of innovation, and a creator of market advantages.