We’ll be highlighting how to derive the most value from emerging technologies during many sessions at Epicor Insights 2025. We hope to see you there!
Like many aspects of the make, move, sell landscape, supply chain is undergoing changes due to emerging technologies like generative AI, machine learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Before implementing any AI-based tools, businesses must have a clear sense of their goals, overall operations processes, and receptiveness of their workforce. Successful integration can only happen in an environment free from silos, equipped for secure data exchange, and open to change management. Once those elements are in place, businesses can begin to use generative AI to extract the advanced analytics that lead to actionable insights.
In our Agility Index, Nucleus surveyed over 1,700 supply chain management (SCM) leaders across the United States, UK & Ireland, and APAC to see the big picture of current and future technology spending and investment. More than half of those surveyed are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), automation, or machine learning (ML) for at least one supply chain management (SCM) application. Among those not currently using these technologies, 59 percent are considering adoption within the next two years.
Although businesses are always seeking to manage costs, they are also turning to solutions like warehouse automation, robotics, transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), ML, NLP, and AI to centralize operations and enhance supply chain visibility.
In addition, high-growth enterprises are realizing the value of emerging technologies in mitigating human-driven errors, data duplication, and other issues that impact data accuracy in ERP systems. By implementing AI-powered data validation and using machine learning to flag data anomalies, companies are strengthening their data while freeing their workforce from manual tasks in favor of more strategic, revenue-generating activities. Key areas in which businesses are seeing measurable changes using emerging technologies include:
Natural language processing uses engineering to help build machines that can transform human language (or data that is similar to human language), in order to communicate with customers, supply information, and improve communication capabilities across the supply chain.
Having clean, accurate data is essential for making informed, quick decisions that affect global supply chains. AI is turning what was previous a time-consuming, manual task with the potential for errors into a fast, efficient process for makers, movers, and sellers across the value chain.
According to the Agility Index, “Current deployment of generative AI is predominantly seen within the marketing, sales, and customer service domains of the value chain, where it enables the creation of customized marketing materials, analysis of sales trends, and provision of responsive customer service. This not only enhances the efficiency of post-sale processes but also promotes a more dynamic, customer-focused engagement strategy, converting data into actionable insights that bolster sales and customer loyalty.”
To help ensure a successful transformation of digital operations, businesses need to adopt a platform approach that provides full visibility into the data—from an ERP solution to supply chain planning, transportation management, and warehouse management systems. The Agility Index revealed that 58 percent of organizations surveyed have integrated generative AI into their digital supply chain operations, applying it across various functions within their software applications including product descriptions, customer chatbots, natural language querying, reporting, and in-application assistance.
Nucleus also found that “a higher percentage, 63 percent, of high-growth organizations have integrated generative AI into their respective supply chain operations through their enterprise resource planning (ERP) and SCM software applications. This widespread use reflects a strategic move toward enhancing operational efficiency and customer engagement through advanced technology, particularly among high-growth organizations.” (See figure E.)
Supply chain businesses must constantly balance growing expenses with the need for long-term efficiency. The Agility Index found that the most significant factors affecting companies’ ability to rein in costs included unpredictable variability in the price of raw materials, as well as the spike in transportation and labor expenses due to changing fuel prices, geopolitical conflicts, and a dearth of skilled workers. (See Figure F.)
Despite these challenges, forward-looking organizations are investing in solutions that move beyond short-term fiscal strategy: platforms that include warehouse automation, transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), and of course, generative AI and robotics. Businesses are realizing that a data-driven, operationally streamlined supply chain must be at the core of all cost containment efforts.
When a business achieves complete integration of AI and robotics within their supply chain operations, they have earned leader status, according to the Maturity Model that Nucleus developed for the Agility Index. At this level, enterprises are seamlessly using machine learning to streamline demand forecasting, oversee inventory management with minimum waste, and automate previously time-consuming elements throughout the production process.
They have become nimble, agile, and adaptable—able to respond to shifts in global events and consumer demand, while modeling best practices and optimized methods for others in their industry. As thought leaders, they will continue to build bridges and eliminate data solos, unlocking the technologies potential of emerging technologies across the supply chain.
Read the full Agility Index here.
Want to talk more about the right AI-powered solutions to simplify your supply chain? Don’t miss your chance to learn from the experts! Register now for Insights 2025.
Epicor Insights events are taking place worldwide, and we look forward to seeing you and your team at the location that works best for you:
Epicor Insights Americas
May 5-8, 2025
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Join us at Epicor Insights 2025
Epicor Insights Europe
2-4 June 2025
Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire UK
Join us at Epicor Insights Europe
Epicor Insights Australia / New Zealand
August 4-6, 2025
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, Surfers Paradise, QLD
Contact us to learn more: insights@epicor.com
Epicor Insights for Building Supply and Retail
Nov 19-21, 2025
Gaylord National Resort and
Convention Center, National Harbor, MD
Join the Early Bird list for Epicor Insights for Building Supply and Retail
Every day, Epicor supports millions of manufacturing jobs, 500,000 distribution orders, 150,000 retail orders, and 100,000 auto transactions. Behind these impressive stats lies not only the evolving technology, but the hardworking teams in companies like yours.
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