A survey from IDC has found that many supply chain companies lack a disciplined approach to AI investment and deployment, leaving them vulnerable to costly failures and to failing to deliver measurable business value.
That “accountability gap” comes as expectations for adoption of AI are rising rapidly; just 6% of respondents describe their supply chains as autonomous at scale today, but 41% expect that to become their core operating model within one to two years. The problem with that burning technology ambition is that only 1 in 8 organizations has governance fully embedded to support such a wide AI rollout, according to an IDC InfoBrief sponsored by Kinaxis, titled “Making Supply Chain AI Accountable.” The study surveyed more than 2,000 supply chain leaders across nine global markets.
Likewise, the survey found that only 2% of respondents report having no AI-enabled capabilities, but just 12% consider themselves AI leaders. Asked to name the top barriers to faster adoption, over half (52%) cite trust in AI-driven decisions. And companies’ biggest concerns about autonomous/agent-based AI were: data quality and integration (31%), governance and accountability (19%), incorrect decisions (17%), loss of human control (16%), lack of transparency (9%), and cost (9%).
Additional findings from the study include:
- Value must be proven. 62% say better data quality and integration would accelerate investment; 51% want clear ROI and time to value.
- Accountability tops the agenda. 67% say accountability for AI-driven outcomes will require the most governance change.
- Roles will shift, not shrink. 79% see AI as an opportunity over threat, and partners with AI plus supply chain depth will win.
“The next phase of supply chain AI is not simply more adoption. It is accountability—ensuring AI delivers trusted decisions, measurable value, governed autonomy, and operational outcomes,” Eric Thompson, Research Director, Global Supply Chain Planning, IDC, said in a release.
According to survey sponsor Kinaxis, its “Maestro” AI platform meets that need. “AI adoption isn’t the question anymore. Whether AI delivers trusted decisions, measurable value, and governed autonomy—that’s the question, especially with 52% of leaders telling IDC that trust is what’s holding them back. We built Maestro to answer that question. Every AI-driven recommendation is explainable and auditable before it acts, so accountability happens at the decision, not just the policy,” said Justin King, Field CTO, Kinaxis.
