With global supply chains dealing with persistent disruptions, many organisations are now turning to AI to ease the blows.
While AI is most often used to help firms predict events and automate manual tasks, supply chain businesses are increasingly using the technology to help them with entry-level hiring.
Across planning, sourcing and logistics, AI is being deployed to forecast risk and streamline operations. It is often seen as a cost‑effective response to rising labour and training costs.
Though the short‑term savings look attractive, the long‑term costs could be significant according to new insights from Gartner, the global research and consulting firm.
Replacing recruitment and onboarding with adaptable AI agents can appear efficient. The upfront cost of AI is offset by perceived scaling benefits.
However, removing entry‑level roles risks hollowing out the talent pipeline. The resulting capability gaps surface later when organisations must hire experience they did not grow.
Gartner argues that AI should augment people, not replace the foundation of future teams. The balance between automation and workforce development is now strategic.
