The rise of AI in supply chains is transforming the way companies manage and collaborate, with trust and information sharing being critical factors for success. But how exactly does AI improve these two components and ensure a more efficient supply chain?

Im wissenschaftlichen Beitrag „Künstliche Intelligenz für die Zusammenarbeit in der Lieferkette: Auswirkungen auf Informationsaustausch und Vertrauen“ untersuchen Weisz et al. (2024), wie KI die Landschaft der Lieferkettenkooperationen umgestaltet. Die Arbeit präsentiert ein fünfstufiges Rahmenwerk für KI-Anwendungen in Lieferketten und beleuchtet die sich entwickelnde Beziehung zwischen Vertrauen, Informationsaustausch und KI-Fähigkeiten.

The role of information sharing and trust in AI-driven supply chains

Information sharing is often seen as the backbone of successful supply chain collaboration. When companies share data effectively, it leads to better coordination, faster response times and reduced costs. However, trust plays an equally important role, as companies are more willing to share valuable information when there is a solid foundation of trust.

In the context of supply chains, trust develops over time, enabling deeper collaboration. Weisz et al. emphasise that despite technological advances, "real collaboration problems persist" as building trust is a long-term process. The study also emphasises that many companies continue to avoid strategic collaboration and limit information sharing to a transactional level.

How AI improves information sharing and trust in supply chains

AI has the potential to radically transform collaboration in the supply chain by addressing the challenges of trust and information sharing. Weisz et al. present a framework that categorises the role of AI in improving supply chain collaboration into five stages:

1. Complementary AI applications in supply chains

In the early phases of AI integration, AI complements existing systems. Examples include chatbots and basic automation tools that provide real-time insight into stocks and shipments. Trust is still low at this stage and AI mainly serves as a support tool rather than taking over supply chain management.

2. Supplementary AI applications for the optimisation of supply chains

In this phase, AI begins to support decision-making processes by automating tasks such as data input and analysis. Information sharing becomes more efficient and trust between supply chain partners begins to grow as they rely on AI to predict demand, optimise inventory and suggest solutions based on past data.

3.Coollaborative AI applications to promote cooperation in supply chains

In this phase, AI takes on a more active role by facilitating collaboration through real-time data sharing and predictive analyses. Partners in the supply chain can make joint decisions and optimise inventory and transport planning with the help of AI-driven tools.

4. Autonomous AI applications for efficient supply chain processes

With increasing trust in AI, the systems take over important decision-making processes autonomously. AI automatically shares data, routes shipments and adjusts production plans based on real-time demand estimates. Supply chain partners collaborate on the basis of shared data and the role of AI becomes more prominent in the management of operations.

5. AI replaces traditional systems in supply chain management

In the final phase, AI completely replaces existing systems and automates the entire supply chain process from start to finish. At this stage, trust in AI is high and companies benefit from continuous real-time optimisation, predictive analytics and fully autonomous decision-making systems that dynamically adapt to changes in the supply chain.

Implications for managers when introducing AI in supply chains

The AI Collaboration Framework provides valuable insights for supply chain managers. By understanding these five stages, managers can recognise where their company is on its AI journey and what steps are needed to drive collaboration forward. The paper also emphasises the need for oversight, especially as AI systems become more autonomous. Human oversight is critical to mitigate risks such as biased data sets or algorithmic errors that can lead to costly disruptions.

Furthermore, as AI takes on a greater role in supply chains, managers need to address issues of trust - both interpersonally and towards the AI itself. The transition from personal trust to trust in AI systems requires transparency and traceability. AI systems must be able to clearly explain their decision-making processes to ensure acceptance and build trust among stakeholders.

The future of AI in supply chain collaboration

While the research emphasises the potential of AI to transform supply chains, it also recognises some limitations. For example, the transition from human collaboration to AI-driven systems requires a better understanding of how trust and automation evolve in practice. In addition, the role of human oversight, particularly in high-risk scenarios such as demand forecasting, remains a topic for future research.

Overall, the five-step AI collaboration framework is a practical tool for managers and researchers looking to navigate the complexities of AI-driven collaboration in the supply chain. As AI continues to evolve, companies must remain agile and open to integrating AI capabilities to improve collaboration, optimise processes and ultimately remain competitive in an increasingly data-driven world.

For a detailed discussion of the original research, you can view the full study here .

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Conclusio

Die Studie von Weisz et al. (2024) verdeutlicht das transformative Potenzial von KI für Lieferketten, insbesondere im Hinblick auf den Informationsaustausch und den Aufbau von Vertrauen zwischen den beteiligten Unternehmen. Das vorgestellte fünfstufige Rahmenwerk zeigt, wie sich die Rolle von KI von einer unterstützenden Funktion hin zu einer autonomen Steuerung entwickelt. Dabei wird deutlich, dass der erfolgreiche Einsatz von KI nicht nur von technischen Fortschritten, sondern auch von der Fähigkeit der Unternehmen abhängt, Vertrauen in diese Systeme aufzubauen. Trotz der fortschreitenden Automatisierung bleibt menschliche Aufsicht entscheidend, um Risiken zu minimieren und die Zusammenarbeit zu optimieren. Insgesamt müssen Unternehmen flexibel und transparent bleiben, um die Vorteile von KI in einer zunehmend datengetriebenen Welt voll auszuschöpfen.