Key Takeaways from the Latest Gartner Supply Chain Conference

True to its tradition, this year’s US Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo also brought together supply chain professionals, technology providers, and analysts from all corners of the world. We all came together at a time when many in the industry are seeking more than just inspiration; they’re looking for clarity. Eyelit Technologies attended not only to explore emerging themes but also to connect directly with those navigating today’s real challenges on factory floors, in planning offices, and across global networks. What we came away with was a sense that, while hype still lingers, there’s a growing appetite for substance. 

AI: From Buzzwords to Business Reality 

Artificial Intelligence (AI), as anticipated, dominated the agenda. Specifically, there was significant attention on “Agentic AI,” a term that sparked a mix of curiosity, confusion, and cautious optimism. While some providers have been quick to slap this label on their solutions, many attendees remained unclear about what it actually entails. This confusion is symptomatic of a greater issue: AI is advancing faster than most organizations can meaningfully adopt it. What has shifted compared to last year is the tone. Rather than bold declarations about AI transforming the industry overnight, the conversations we had this year were more pragmatic. Most organizations have already implemented some AI solutions, and most leaders realize that unless their operations are digitized, connected, and running on trusted data, AI will not deliver on its full potential. 

There were also mentions of companies running AI pilots on synthetic data because their actual data sets aren’t clean or consistent enough for use. It was a quiet but important admission: a recognition that despite all the talk of automation and intelligent systems, many companies still haven’t modernized the fundamentals. Without a solid digital foundation, AI becomes just another checkbox in a slide deck, not a source of competitive advantage. 

Building True Agility Amid Disruption 

Another dominant thread throughout the event was the topic of global disruption, especially the ongoing concern around tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. While these issues remain high on the agenda, most companies have moved past reactive strategies. In place of “tiger teams”, short-term responses or scenario planning just for its own sake, we heard a deeper interest in building true operational agility. That means creating supply chain structures that can flex and adapt more organically, whether the disruption is political, environmental, or economic. 

This growing emphasis on agility is reshaping how companies think about planning. Instead of simply aligning on consensus numbers, more businesses are starting to build planning processes that prioritize responsiveness. Dynamic capacity planning came up frequently, as did the need to bring demand sensing and execution into tighter alignment. In many ways, this reflects a shift from top-down planning hierarchies to more flexible, real-time decision-making environments. 

Manufacturing’s Moment of Reckoning 

But the most telling conversations were about manufacturing systems and how far behind they continue to be in many organizations. It was surprisingly common to hear that critical operations are still managed using spreadsheets, or worse, paper. Although real-time data collection tools are generally available, the ability to act on that data is limited by fragmented systems and manual processes. This has put a renewed focus on Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), particularly those that can connect seamlessly with Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) solutions. 

What has changed in the conversation is not just the appetite for automation, it’s the recognition that integration matters. Companies don’t just want digital tools: they want connected platforms that allow planning, scheduling, execution, and monitoring to work together across departments and even across factories. The days of standalone solutions solving narrow problems in isolation and shallow mega-suites covering a little bit of everything are fading. Instead, there’s increasing demand for systems that can tie together disparate factory and multi-factory processes into a unified flow. 

Frustrations with Legacy Providers

This shift is being accelerated by the frustrations many shared about legacy providers. We heard multiple stories of failed cloud migrations and systems that simply haven’t kept pace with business needs. In a few cases, organizations were actively looking to exit contracts with large, entrenched vendors because their roadmaps hadn’t materialized. It’s clear that blind loyalty to big names is being replaced by a more results-driven approach to system selection. 

One of the underlying messages we heard repeatedly, sometimes directly, sometimes implied, is that the gap between leaders and laggards is growing. While some organizations are pushing ahead with coordinated transformation efforts, others are still just beginning to map out where they even stand. And perhaps that’s the most important signal from this year’s event: the industry isn’t moving at a single speed anymore. Those who aren’t modernizing will fall further behind, not because of one major disruption, but because of the ongoing accumulation of missed opportunities to evolve. 

Gartner deserves credit for putting together a solid event. The sessions were well-organized, access to the analysts was excellent, and the networking opportunities were abundant. While a few presentations veered into buzzword-heavy territory as per usual, most attendees seemed focused on practical next steps, not lofty promises. The second-day keynote, “The Never Normal” by Peter Hinssen, stood out in particular for its clarity and grounded messaging, setting the tone for more substantive discussions. 

Reflections on the Industry’s Current State and Future Direction

For those who weren’t there, the message from the ground is this: the supply chain world isn’t looking for grand visions, it’s looking for systems and strategies that can withstand complexity. That means digitization, yes, but also integration. It means putting as much effort into execution as into planning. And it means facing some uncomfortable truths about where your organization stands today. 

At Eyelit Technologies, we left the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium with a renewed sense of alignment between where the market is heading and the value we offer. Our conversations at the event only reinforced that manufacturers aren’t just looking for tools, they’re looking for purpose-built partners who understand the full scope of operational transformation. And we’re excited to be part of that work.