According to technological research and consulting firm Gartner, agentic artificial intelligence, ambient invisible intelligence, and an augmented connected workforce are some of the top supply chain technology trends for 2025.

“This year’s trends highlight the transformative potential of connectivity and intelligence in supply chains, enabling leaders to enhance operational efficiency and adaptability,” explained Christian Titze, who’s a VP analyst and chief of research in Gartner’s supply chain practice.

The supply chain tech trends for this 2025 are driven by two broad themes: the need for supply chain leaders to leverage emerging technologies to enhance connectivity, and tools that foster intelligence to drive competitive business differentiation and operational efficiency.

“By prioritising these technologies based on business requirements and use cases that clearly map toward strategic outcomes, supply chain leaders can better manage complexities and achieve their critical objectives,” Kaitlynn Sommers, senior director analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice, added.

The eight top trends in the supply chain area are:

1. Ambient Invisible Intelligence

Enabled by ultra low cost small smart tags and sensors, ambient invisible intelligence allows for large-scale, affordable tracking and sensing, providing real-time visibility into end-to-end supply chains.

This technology is particularly useful for monitoring perishable goods and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations through enhanced traceability.

2. Augmented Connected Workforce

Augmented Connected Workforce (ACWF) initiatives leverage digital tools to improve decision accuracy and reduce variability, addressing the significant skills gap in today’s workforce, Gartner said.

By digitising standard operating procedures, organisations can accelerate employee onboarding and enhance productivity across manufacturing and logistics operations.

3. Multimodal UI

A multimodal user interface (UI) enables users to interact with systems through multiple modes of communication, enhancing user efficiency and experience.

For instance, this approach is being adopted in logistics to improve driver safety and productivity through voice-activated controls and gesture-based interfaces.

4. Polyfunctional Robots

Polyfunctional, multiuse robots can take on multiple tasks and adapt to new roles, providing a flexible workforce solution.

These robots, which are able to sense and switch between tasks, are increasingly used in warehouses to perform tasks ranging from sorting to packing, reducing the need for human intervention, Gartner stated.

5. Agentic Artificial Intelligence

Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems offer a virtual workforce of AI agents that autonomously execute decisions, enhancing adaptability and efficiency in supply chain operations.

As an example, these agents can optimise inventory management by autonomously adjusting stock levels based on real-time demand forecasts.

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6. Autonomous Data Collection

Technologies such as drones and mobile robots autonomously capture data, enhancing productivity and reducing labour in supply chain operations.

For instance, drones are used in warehouse inventory checks, significantly reducing the time and risk associated with manual counts.

7. Decision Intelligence

Decision intelligence (DI) combines decision modelling, AI, and analytics to support, augment, and automate decision making.

This tech allows supply chain leaders to understand how tools come to decisions and then improve those based on feedback.

8. Intelligent Simulation

Integrating AI and machine learning (ML) into traditional simulation models, intelligent simulation enhances predictive capabilities and decision making in supply chain operations.

As one example, intelligent simulation allows firms to optimise logistics routes and warehouse layouts, improving efficiency and reducing costs.