Podcast Summary: The Future of Supply Chain Planning: Gartner Takeaways and What’s Next

Podcast: Supply Chain Now
Air Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Scott Luton (C), with Corinne Bursa (A)
Guest: Noha Samara (D), Senior Director, Global Supply Chain at Gartner, Conference Chair for the Supply Chain Planning Summit

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the evolving landscape of supply chain planning, focusing on the major takeaways from the recent Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver (December 2025). Hosts Scott Luton and Corinne Bursa are joined by industry leader Noha Samara, whose practitioner background and role as conference chair provide unique insight. Together, they analyze transformation trends, the rise of AI, change management, continuous transformation, and actionable strategies for supply chain leaders, with examples and practical advice drawn from top-performing global organizations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Event Highlights & Feedback (03:23–06:29)

• Peer Networking & New Format:

  • The event introduced a new track on transformation and change management, including topics like sustaining results post-transformation (03:45).
  • Added the "Gartner Future Lab," projecting 30 years ahead in supply chain thinking.
  • Enhanced peer networking through structured, unfacilitated topic sessions.
  • The exhibitor hall was “buzzing” with increased vendor presence and active business discussions.

• Conference Prestige & Value:

  • Largest event dedicated solely to supply chain planning.
  • Emphasizes domain-specific expertise compared to broader supply chain symposiums.

2. Top Three Takeaways from Gartner Summit (07:23–11:24)

a) AI as a Core Operating System, Not an Experiment

• Artificial intelligence is moving from a side experiment to part of daily operations.
• Success hinges on a clear human-machine strategy: deliberate, specific AI deployment for maximal value.
• Quote:

  “The most successful companies are… articulating and defining a clear human-machine strategy.”
  — Noha Samara, [07:23]

• Human skills are crucial; technology is changing processes, not replacing people. Preparing talent is key.

b) Change Management: Beyond Technology to People

• Transformation is fundamentally about people, not just tech.
• Invest in building capabilities that allow employees to leverage new technologies effectively.
• Quote:

  “This transformation is not just about technology … it’s an overall transformation.”
  — Noha Samara, [08:59]

• Accelerating decision-making through upskilled employees is a game changer.

c) Continuous Transformation (It's Never “Done”)

• Successful organizations are continuously transforming, not just completing a finite project.
• Always have a transformation roadmap, with a vision for ongoing improvement.
• Quote:

  “Their transformation never ends.”
  — Noha Samara, [10:23]

• Technology advances rapidly; businesses must match that pace to stay competitive.

3. Reflections from Top 25 Supply Chain Organizations (13:34–22:03)

Key Planning Trends Identified:

• i. Connecting End-to-End Data and Insights

  • Successful companies integrate both internal and external data, enabling robust scenario (“range”) planning instead of rigid one-number forecasting.
  • Collaborative range planning extends to trading partners for better risk management.
  • Stat: 91% of supply chain leaders see complexity as a key barrier, but only 24% utilize multiple real-time data feeds ([17:36]).

• ii. Empowering Agility with Automation

  • Leading organizations define what decisions can be automated and clarify human roles (“on the loop,” “in the loop,” “off the loop”).
  • Automation is targeted where it matters (e.g., most profitable products/markets).
  • Case: Johnson & Johnson’s real-time data use in life sciences ([18:31]).

• iii. Defining a Deliberate Role for AI

  • Avoid blanket AI adoption; instead, pilot broadly but scale only in high-value areas.
  • Planners and frontline employees are involved early in AI strategy development, ensuring the tech addresses real pain points.
  • Quote:

    “The most successful companies … involve their planners and their employees early in the AI journey.”
    — Noha Samara, [21:09]

4. Practical Advice and Memorable Moments

Targeted Automation & Use Cases

• Don’t automate for its own sake. Choose use cases with meaningful, measurable impact ([00:00], [27:00]).
• Quote:

  “Don’t waste your time automating something that’s not going to be a measurable impact on your business.”
  — Corinne Bursa, [27:00]

AI: Not “Peanut Butter,” but “Cherry on Top”

• Use AI selectively; don’t apply it indiscriminately. Prove value in one area, scale after success ([22:56]).
• Quip:

  “Not spread like peanut butter ... it's more like targeting and placing like a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.”
  — Scott Luton, [23:56]

Cultural Change & Leadership

• Noha’s analogy: Transformation is a race; challenge is internal (“you vs. you”).

  “Leaders act and learn their way forward and you can too.” ([29:00])

• Urges listeners not to “sit on the sidelines” but engage proactively with change.

5. Sector-Wide Insights & Predictions

• Agentic AI and Autonomy:

  • By 2033, Gartner predicts 15% of supply chain planning processes will be fully autonomous via agentic AI ([39:23]). Hosts debate this is likely too conservative, expecting even faster adoption.

• Touchless Manufacturing Planning:

  • Touchless (“lights out”) planning requires improving underlying models/processes, not just overriding systems with manual fixes ([36:30]).

• Macro Disruption Frequency:

  • Research shows global macro disruptions now occur 3–5 times per year, up from once every 5–10 years a century ago ([41:40]).
  • Modern supply chains must be resilient, agile, and digitally empowered for such volatility.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “AI is no longer an experiment on the side of planning — it’s becoming part of the operating system.”
  — Noha Samara, [07:23]

• “Transformation is actually about people. It’s how you’re bringing people with you on the journey.”
  — Noha Samara, [08:59]

• “Continuous transformation — their transformation never ends.”
  — Noha Samara, [10:23]

• “Range planning was actually one of the things I took note on ... in the past we tried to get to a one-number plan, but most businesses will operate within that range.”
  — Corinne Bursa, [16:31]

• “Don’t sit on the sidelines ... get off the sidelines and join the race.”
  — Noha Samara (paraphrased by Scott Luton), [29:00]

Key Timestamps for Reference

• Gartner Summit Feedback & Value: [03:23]–[06:29]
• Top Three Takeaways Section: [07:23]–[11:24]
• Keynote Reflection & Top 25 Trends: [13:34]–[22:03]
• Practical Advice & Audience Q&A: [22:56]–[28:22]
• Macro Disruption Trends: [41:40]
• Agentic AI Adoption Prediction: [39:23]
• Touchless Manufacturing Case: [36:30]

Actionable Recommendations

• Embrace continuous transformation; don’t aim for a single “finish line.”
• Define a clear human-machine (AI) strategy; know where tech adds measurable business value.
• Involve frontline planners in technology strategy from inception.
• Automate decisions where they yield significant impact; avoid over-automation.
• Evolve from one-number planning to scenario/range planning with partner collaboration.
• Prepare for more frequent, larger-scale disruptions through agile, data-driven strategies.

How to Connect & Further Resources

• Noha Samara: Best reached via LinkedIn for follow-ups and Gartner resources ([24:56]).
• Event Dates: Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit
  • London: October 5–6, 2026
  • Denver: November 2–3, 2026 ([24:09])
• On-Demand Content & Resources:
  • Gartner.com for summit replays, keynote sessions ([13:16])
  • Resource Hub at supplychainnow.com for interviews, session rundowns ([41:40])

Conclusion

This episode synthesizes the major drivers of supply chain planning’s future: AI as an enabler, automation, and a relentless focus on both people and process. Continuous innovation, practical application, and collaborative scenario planning are the new imperatives. Leaders are encouraged to be proactive, involve teams early, and transform deliberately — because agility, adaptability, and learning are the only sustainable competitive advantages in the supply chain’s “never normal” world.