Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2025 Barcelona: Day 3 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo, taking place this week in Barcelona, Spain. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. 

On Day 3 from the conference, we are highlighting sessions on supply chain technology trends, AI in logistics, and fit-for-purpose AI methods. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

• Gartner Says Supply Chain Leaders Should Prioritize Advanced Data Visibility and Scenario Planning to Drive Competitive Advantage Amid Global Uncertainty
• Gartner Survey Reveals Logistics Leaders are Increasingly Embracing Strategic Goals as 90% Now Report to C-Suite
•  Gartner Predicts Half of Supply Chain Management Solutions Will Include Agentic AI Capabilities by 2030

Presented by Kaitlynn Sommers, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner

With 98% of supply chain organizations planning or already implementing a digital initiative in the next two years, it is vital to understand emerging supply chain technologies, and their potential to support transformative business outcomes. In this session, Kaitlynn Sommers, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, highlighted the most impactful supply chain technology trends of 2025.

• “The top motivators for new supply chain technology investment include: improving efficiency, revenue and profit growth, and reducing operating costs.”

• “The two themes that connect this year’s trends are connectivity and intelligence.”

• “The Augmented Connected Workforce leverages digital tools and data management techniques to integrate their interactions with both physical and virtual surroundings.”

• “Polyfunctional robots are machines that will be capable of taking on multiple tasks, following human instruction or example without explicit programming or hardware modification.” 

• “Agentic AI enables a virtual workforce of AI agents that can assist, offload and augment human work or traditional applications.”
  
  Learn more in the Gartner press release “Gartner Predicts Half of Supply Chain Management Solutions will Include Agentic AI Capabilities by 2030.”

Presented by Carly West, VP Research, Gartner  

To move beyond the hype of AI and toward implementation within logistics, organizations must establish a foundation that prioritizes feasibility and business value. In this session, Carly West, VP Research at Gartner, discussed what logistics and fulfillment leaders should know about different AI techniques, some of the most practical and valuable use cases for logistics, and the importance of data quality.

• “We surveyed leaders about the top barrier to AI implementation and the responses were varied - from inability to demonstrate value to lack of confidence in AI, talent or skills.”

• “AI for the sake of AI does not deliver meaningful value. The focus needs to be on finding the right use cases which demonstrate feasibility in four areas: talent, technology, data and cultural readiness.”

• “Equally important is establishing the business value of AI use cases – you want to operate in a place where your feasibility and business value are the highest.”

• “Today, only 3% of organizations feel that their data is fully ready for AI initiatives.” 

• “Data readiness is not just about logistics – the focus must be on the entire supply chain.”

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Justin Lavelle at justin.lavelle@gartner.com.

Presented by Noha Tohamy, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner  

To maximize the potential of AI, supply chain leaders must master a unified AI language and lead their organization in defining a strategy, selecting technologies, prioritizing use cases, and crafting talent upskilling plans. In this session, Noha Tohamy, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, discussed strategies to align AI techniques with specific use cases and real-world examples.

• “Leading CEOs have taken note of AI’s potential, though many foresee changes needed to their current operations - notably in supply chain, where AI's potential remains largely untapped.”

• “GenAI alone cannot support all supply chain use cases - traditional and agentic AI techniques must all be harnessed.”

• “Establishing a unified language will help demystify AI, reduce resistance, and promote collaboration across departments, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding AI initiatives.”

• “In the vast landscape of potential AI applications, prioritization of use cases is key – consider factors such as scalability, feasibility, and alignment with strategic goals.” 

• “Supply chain leaders must keep pace with the changing AI landscape to fully leverage its potential. This involves exploring new applications and seeking opportunities to implement scalable strategies that offer clear advantages.”

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Justin Lavelle at justin.lavelle@gartner.com.