As supply chain disruptions have become near-constant occurrences across virtually every sector, companies are unquestionably getting better at predicting the next big shock. But a gap still exists between knowing what is coming and actually using that knowledge to move quickly and make critical, time-sensitive decisions. Much of the emphasis in recent years has been on having the right tools to predict disruptions before they arrive.
According to an MHI survey of more than 700 supply chain professionals in late 2024, 40 percent of respondents said they were already using predictive analytics, while another 87 percent planned to do so within the next five years. A separate survey in early 2025 of 610 supply chain officers from accounting firm PwC found that more than half reported using artificial intelligence to anticipate supply chain disruptions, with an additional 31 percent testing and piloting the technology.
So with all those systems in place to fight the relentless onslaught of geopolitical and economic disruption, why are companies still slow to respond once they have the necessary information? “Being able to predict that something is coming down the line is not as important as being able to execute when those emergencies happen,” says Erin McFarlane, VP of operations for sourcing software provider Fairmarkit. “In working with clients across all industries and all levels across the globe, I have found that this is a universal challenge.”
From a supply chain perspective, a November 2025 survey by DP World of more than 150 senior supply chain executives revealed that the vast majority of firms expect ongoing geopolitical volatility. Vendors including Kinaxis, o9 Solutions, Coupa, SAP IBP, Blue Yonder and Anaplan are focusing their S&OE (Sales & Operations Execution) and control tower roadmaps on autonomous decisioning and agentic AI architectures to close the predict-to-respond gap. RPA, digital twin and scenario modeling compress planning cycles into minutes — but technology alone cannot bridge the gap without empowered processes, clean data and organizational readiness.
