The Autonomous Era Is Here: What Supply Chain Leaders Need to Do Next

The autonomous business era is no longer a future-state vision. It's already reshaping how supply chains operate. In this episode of Gartner ThinkCast, you'll hear from Gartner Senior Director Analyst Lindsay Azim as she delivers a preview of the 2026 Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo Opening Keynote. Drawing on both Gartner insights and real-world examples, she explores why success isn't about implementing AI first, fastest, or even best. It's about preparing supply chains for a future where people and machines work together to drive agility, resilience and growth.   You'll learn: Why Gartner believes the autonomous business era is already underway  How leaders should balance short-term AI value with long-term transformation  The difference between an automation mindset and an autonomous mindset  What autonomous-ready operations and workforces look like in practice   Dig deeper: Register to attend a Gartner Supply Chain conference Download the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 See why Gartner is the world authority on AI   Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:31) A new business era begins (05:18) Defining autonomous business (07:10) What autonomous supply chains look like (09:35) The rise of machine customers (12:22) Success isn't about AI first (17:25) Exploitation versus exploration