Zebra Technologies has published guidance on building supply chains that can adapt when disruption hits, emphasizing an AI-first approach to planning and execution. According to Nicholas Wegman, Ph.D., senior director and artificial intelligence scientist at Zebra Technologies, traditional calendar-driven planning workflows become liabilities in volatile markets where trends can emerge and fade within weeks (Supply Chain Dive - Technology).
The core argument centers on demand intelligence and real-time decision-making. Wegman describes an AI-first workflow as one where artificial intelligence handles decisions within defined bounds—such as routine forecasting and inventory optimization—while escalating decisions that require human judgment (Supply Chain Dive - Technology). For commerce practitioners, this model reduces reactive firefighting and allows experienced planners to apply expertise where it matters most, such as interpreting whether a demand signal represents a sustainable trend or a one-time spike (Supply Chain Dive - Technology).
Wegman emphasizes that AI provides a data-grounded starting point that planners refine with market knowledge, and warns against dismissing AI recommendations simply because they differ from historical decisions. A supply chain that "bends" under pressure continues normal operations during disruption, rather than spinning up war rooms and manual planning sessions (Supply Chain Dive - Technology).