Gartner, the technological research and consulting firm, has identified the top eight strategic supply chain technology trends for 2024.

These eight trends are underpinned by two broad themes: new opportunities for competitive differentiation through the integration of humans and machines, and the need for supply chain leaders to leverage emerging tech to control and protect their businesses.

“This year’s trends are driven by themes that encourage supply chain technology leaders to ensure their foundation can support both past and future investments, while also looking ahead for new differentiation opportunities,” remarked Christian Titze, VP analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice.

“AI variants continue to be both a driver of trends, such as in robotics, and a trend itself, this year represented by ‘Composite AI,’” he continued.

The eight trends in supply chain technology for 2024 are:

1. AI-enabled Vision Systems

AI-enabled vision systems are novel hyper-automation solutions that combine industrial 3D cameras, computer vision software, and advanced AI pattern recognition technologies.

These solutions can automatically capture, interpret, and make inferences based on the unstructured images the vision systems see in real-time.

2. Augmented Connected Workforce

Augmented connected workforce (ACWF) initiatives reduce the time required after onboarding for an employee to become fully productive and improve their decision-making.

The ACWF is a strategy to optimise the value derived from a human worker by establishing a connective tissue that optimises the use of intelligent technology, workforce analytics, and skills augmentation.

3. Next-gen Humanoid Working Robots

Next-generation humanoid robots combine sensory awareness with mobile manipulation and dynamic locomotion to perform productive work that was previously relegated to biological humans.

Humanoid robots will typically imitate the human body with a head with sensors and cameras for sensing its environment; a body that houses the power and mechanicals; arms and hands or grippers for grasping, manipulating, and carrying items; and legs for dynamic locomotion.

4. Machine Customers

Machine customers are non-human economic actors that autonomously obtain goods or services in exchange for payment.

Examples include: IoT-connected devices or assets that place orders independently of a human command, intelligent replenishment algorithms that maintain availability of consumables, and intelligent assistants that suggest deals to consumers.

5. Composite AI

Composite AI is the combined application of multiple AI techniques to improve the efficiency and accuracy of learning to broaden the level of knowledge representations, and ultimately, solve a variety of business problems that drive supply chain performance improvements.

The research firm advised that, depending on the context of a specific use case, different AI techniques—or more often a combination of techniques—will make more sense than relying any on a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

6. Supply Chain Data Governance

The emergence of powerful tools for advanced analytics and AI techniques is massively scaling the capabilities for cross-functional visibility, scenario modelling, and decision automation.

As those technologies are increasingly adopted, the importance of maintaining a high level of data quality and strict governance process is becoming business mission critical, Gartner noted.

7. End-to-end Sustainable Supply Chains

Sustainability-related legislation is growing globally, driving a shift from voluntary to regulatory compliance.

As a result, sustainability data accuracy needs to be uplifted from indicators to being investment grade to meet stakeholder requirements, while also driving internal decision-making, the research firm said.

8. Cyber Extortion

Cyber criminals are highly successful at executing ransomware attacks to extort funds from supply chain organisations. It’s highly likely that the power of AI will be utilised to generate advanced attack tools.

In response, Gartner advised that supply chain technology should collaborate with IT leadership to confirm ransomware attack scenarios are included in the corporate risk management processes, and develop a detailed ransomware incident response playbook.

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Commenting on the eight above trends, Dwight Klappich, VP analyst and fellow in the Gartner supply chain practice, remarked: “These technology trends are not isolated, but rather interconnected and mutually reinforcing.”

“Their importance will differ not only by organisational maturity, but also by industry, business needs and previously devised strategic plans.

“Innovative supply chain leaders will connect strategies and investments between multiple trends to help deliver on their mission-critical goals this year,” he added.