In conversation with Naresh Joshi, Associate Partner – Strategy & Transformation, IBM Consulting
Q1. Supply Chain Command Centres have been around for some time. Why are they becoming critical now?
Naresh Joshi:
Supply chains today operate in a state of continuous disruption across demand, supply, logistics, and geopolitics, making traditional planning cycles less effective; while command centres were initially built for visibility, the opportunity now lies in enhancing decision velocity—the ability to sense disruptions early, evaluate alternatives quickly, and coordinate responses—driving their evolution into decision orchestration platforms.
Q2. What role does AI play in the next generation of Supply Chain Command Centres
Naresh Joshi:
AI plays a pivotal role in enabling faster and smarter decision-making by predicting disruptions early, simulating multiple response scenarios in real time, and recommending prioritized actions with clear business impact, helping command centres evolve from alert-driven monitoring systems into intelligent, outcome-driven decision engines.
Q3. Agentic AI is a new concept gaining traction. How will it change supply chain operations?
Naresh Joshi:
Agentic AI introduces autonomous digital agents that continuously monitor and coordinate supply chain activities, enabling disruptions to be detected, evaluated, and addressed—sometimes automatically—within defined guardrails, thereby helping organizations move from reactive firefighting to more proactive and orchestrated operations. Alongside, conversational AI interfaces enable business users to interact seamlessly with these systems, accelerating issue resolution.
Q4. What capabilities do organizations need to build to make this vision real?
Naresh Joshi:
Organizations need to build five core capabilities:
• Define end-to-end resolution pathways for high-impact supply chain issues.
• Shift to a cross-functional operating model that breaks silos.
• Establish clear decision governance (human vs AI-led/Assisted actions)
• Enable the workforce to collaborate effectively with AI systems.
• Build a robust data foundation.
Q5. What will Supply Chain Command Centres look like five years from now?
Naresh Joshi:
Over the next five years, command centres will evolve into the digital nervous system of the supply chain—where AI continuously predicts disruptions, simulates responses in real time, and collaborates seamlessly with planners and business users to drive faster, more informed decisions.
Q6. One final thought—what will define the supply chains that outperform in the next decade?
Naresh Joshi:
The supply chains that outperform will not just be more visible—they will be more intelligent, adaptive, and autonomous. Command centres will be at the core, enabling real-time orchestration, resilience, and sustained competitive advantage.
Note: Personal views above.