Pharma Supply Chain Leaders Rank AI and Machine Learning Among Top Investment Priorities

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are top investment priorities for pharmaceutical supply chain leaders, with advanced data analytics following behind as a key priority for 73% of respondents, according to the latest research from LogiPharma.

"What's particularly interesting is that the industry conversation has evolved beyond whether AI has a role to play in pharmaceutical supply chains," says Ben Sharples, event director at LogiPharma Digital Supply Chain Connect. "Today's leaders are focused on where AI can create the greatest value, how it can be deployed responsibly and what foundations need to be in place to support successful adoption. By looking at investment priorities, we get a better view of what is actually being progressed, both in terms of AI and in the elements which support its implementation and productivity.”

Key takeaways:

·        Research respondents identified demand planning and forecasting, inventory optimization and logistics orchestration among the leading application areas for AI deployment.

·        Regulatory uncertainty and compliance concerns were identified as the single biggest barrier to broader AI adoption, while more than half of respondents remain uncertain about AI's ability to meaningfully improve disruption prediction and mitigation.

·        AI and network optimization ranked as a priority by 53% as opposed to AI’s 96%.

·        Automation, upskilling and general digital transformation weren’t ranked specifically as budget priorities.