How Retail and Supply Chain Leaders Are Balancing AI and Labor
· Source: wwd.com
In short
Retail and supply chain executives see AI as essential for resilience and cost optimization but remain wary of fully replacing frontline labor, creating an "enablement gap" between algorithmic decision-making and worker upskilling. Surveys from Accenture, McKinsey, Relex and the Federal Reserve show rising AI investment and cost reductions in supply chain management, while worker sentiment remains mixed, with many employees reporting they never use AI at work. Relex data shows 47 percent of leaders use AI for inventory and supply optimization and 41 percent for logistics and routing, though only 10 percent trust fully autonomous AI.
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In the issue of week 39, 2026: AI Moves Into Supply Chain Operations as Evidence, Data and Trust Shape Adoption
Tags: supply chain, retail, agentic ai, workforce, inventory, adoption