AI set to transform supply chain management, say UGA business school experts

Artificial intelligence is poised to reshape supply chain management fundamentally, from enhancing resilience to automating warehouse operations, according to industry and academic experts at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

A panel discussion held last week brought together nearly 100 executives and students to examine how AI adoption will affect supply chain decision-making, workforce dynamics, and operational efficiency. The event formed part of the college's Supply Chain Advisory Board meeting in Athens.

"Supply chain management is the movement of goods and information for all of the products we use every day in our lives," said Marty Parker, senior supply chain lecturer and coordinator of the Terry College Supply Chain Advisory Board. "AI is rapidly improving our ability to analyse and use that information for more efficient, effective, and resilient supply chains."

Human-machine collaboration

Panellists emphasised that AI technologies should augment rather than replace human workers, a theme that recurred throughout the discussion. Thomas Beil, MBA lecturer at Terry College, stressed the supplementary role of automated systems.

"Machines supplement humans," Beil said. "Whether it's a pallet wrapper, whether it's conveyance, whether it's sortation — it's a human supplement. The question is how can we use AI and what type of machine learning gets us better adapted for the spikes and the lulls."

He argued that machine learning could eliminate time-consuming manual data analysis, allowing humans to focus on higher-value decision-making rather than processing vast data tables.

Skills for the AI era

When students enquired about necessary skills for AI-integrated workplaces, panellists unanimously highlighted critical thinking and analytical capabilities.

Drew Eubank, co-founder of Zion Solutions Group and a logistics engineer, noted the limitations of raw data. "Data never tells a lie, but never tells a story," he said. "From a skill set perspective, the human brain is still the most powerful tool on the planet, because we can think outside the box."

The panel, which included Aaron Schecter, professor of management information systems and director of the Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Business, and Sean Wood, an AI consultant at Human Pilots AI, fielded questions about technology investment decisions and operational integration strategies.

Generational shift

Panellists acknowledged that integrating new technologies into established operations presents significant challenges, particularly for experienced professionals accustomed to traditional methods.

Eubank said emerging talent would play a crucial role in driving transformation. "I'm more excited about the challenges this means for younger talent, and what they can do to challenge the way we think," he said. "When you've been doing something for 25 years, it's very hard to change."

The discussion underscored the industry's expectation of substantial technological shifts over the next decade, with new graduates positioned to shape the future of supply chain management through fresh perspectives and technological fluency.