A new report, AI in Supply Chain: How Leaders are Driving Breakthrough ROI from Deposco and Fulfillment IQ, found that organizations implementing unified AI platforms in their supply chain operations achieve significantly better outcomes than those using isolated point solutions.
Key findings from the research include:
- Nearly half (46%) of organizations are already using AI in their supply chains, with most implementations still in early stages.
- Logistics and transportation emerged as the primary area benefiting from AI, with almost 40% of respondents reporting improvements.
- AI-driven solutions can reduce transportation costs by 5-10%, improve delivery reliability by up to 20%, and reduce logistics costs by 15%.
- 78% of executives maintain separate systems for inventory, ordering, logistics, and planning, creating data silos that undermine strategic decision-making.
- Organizations with integrated data foundations and AI capabilities spanning planning, execution, and analytics deliver 2-3 times greater ROI than those with disconnected point solutions.
"The real power of AI-driven supply chain intelligence isn't in the algorithms—it's in the ability to turn complex data into actionable, game-changing insights that drive business forward," said Reid Bishop, senior director of data science at Deposco, in a statement. "Our research confirms that those who crack the code are shifting from data overload to incredible ROI through smarter decisions, automation, and time savings."
The study also found that organizations are deploying multiple AI approaches simultaneously, with machine learning and generative AI (38% each) leading adoption, followed by predictive analytics (31%) and robotic process automation (27%).
The report provides a strategic roadmap for successful AI implementation, emphasizing four key steps:
- Building a unified data foundation
- Prioritizing fulfillment operations for quick wins
- Developing internal expertise through partnership
- Measuring outcomes that directly impact business performance
As the research indicates, organizations that invest in upskilling activities and create clear governance structures for AI see adoption rates 3.5 times higher than those focusing solely on technological capabilities.
