3 Big Thoughts on Leading Supply Chain Into the Autonomous Era

AI is everywhere in supply chain, but more AI does not always mean better decisions.In this episode, Scott W. Luton and special co-host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, sit down with Lindsay Azim, Senior Director Analyst for Supply Chain at Gartner, for a forward-looking conversation on how chief supply chain officers can lead into the autonomous business era.Lindsay shares why AI should not be treated as a standalone strategy, but as an enabler tied to a broader vision for the future. She also previews her Gartner Supply Chain Symposium keynote, centered on three priorities for leaders preparing for what comes next: autonomous-ready operations, autonomous-ready intelligence, and an autonomous-ready workforce.They also discuss the risks of AI sprawl, the importance of stronger human-machine partnerships, and why supply chain leaders need to rethink decision-making through a “decision stack” that combines data, knowledge assets, and human judgment. From documenting tribal knowledge to preparing for “job chaos” rather than a job apocalypse, Lindsay and Mike offer practical insight for leaders navigating disruption, workforce change, and the rising role of versatile talent.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(02:11) Listener shoutouts and the AI workforce impact(04:38) Meet Lindsay Azim, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner(11:22) Lindsay’s path from sustainability to Gartner(14:55) Storytelling for supply chain leaders(18:41) Today’s top supply chain priorities(22:41) Why vision must come before AI(23:25) How leaders can avoid AI sprawl(25:34) Leading supply chains into the autonomous era(28:20) Building autonomous-ready operations(31:16) Introducing autonomous-ready intelligence(36:09) The idea behind the autonomous-ready workforce(39:52) Why leaders should attend Gartner Symposium(41:50) Pop culture lessons for supply chain leadersAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Lindsay Azim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-azim/Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/Learn more about the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ conference: https://www.gartner.com/en/conferences/na/supply-chain-usLearn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/WEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3bWEBINAR- How “Almost Right” Shipping Decisions Turn Into Six-Figure Losses: https://bit.ly/4mMov2TWEBINAR- There's No Finish Line in Leadership: Tips to Optimize Your Strategy & Execution: https://bit.ly/4tHOWJAWEBINAR- Delivering Flawless Field Service with Predictive Insights and AI: https://bit.ly/4sXVZfVWEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIqThis episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/three-big-thoughts-leading-supply-chain-autonomous-era-1579 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.