Transitioning from legacy systems to a modern supply chain solution is less about replacing technology and more about transforming how decisions and execution happen across the business. The most successful organisations focus on connecting and orchestrating existing systems to create an intelligent execution environment that is more responsive, adaptive, and resilient.
Many supply chains still operate across disconnected order, warehouse, and transportation systems, creating visibility gaps, delays, and manual effort. Modernisation begins with establishing a trusted, real-time view of operations, enabling teams to see what is happening and act with greater speed and confidence.
AI and automation are accelerating this shift, but their value comes from being embedded within workflows. Rather than adding AI on top of siloed systems, organisations should use intelligence to support a continuous sense-decide-act-learn cycle: identifying disruptions earlier, recommending next best actions, and coordinating responses as conditions evolve.
A modular, phased approach is often most effective. By modernising incrementally, organisations can reduce risk, realise value faster, and scale capabilities in line with changing needs, without large-scale disruption.
Most importantly, modern supply chains keep people at the centre. AI should augment human expertise, enabling better decisions, greater precision, and resilience in constant change.
Richard Stewart
EVP of Product and Industry Strategy, Infios
About Richard Stewart
As EVP of Product and Industry Strategy, Richard Stewart helps Infios transform supply chain execution through intelligent, adaptable solutions. With 25 years’ industry experience, Stewart drives growth, innovation, and performance, using deep expertise and an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for customers, partners, and teams.
About Infios
Infios is a global leader in intelligent supply chain execution, trusted by 5,000+ customers across 70 countries. Its order, warehouse, and transportation management solutions, powered by Infios AI, help businesses simplify operations, improve efficiency, and respond in real time. Infios is a joint venture between Körber and KKR.
The Question is a thought leadership series published on Supply Chain Outlook, created to explore the questions shaping global logistics, procurement, transportation, and supply networks.
This edition of The Question is sponsored by Syspro.
Supply Chain Outlook features leadership insights and company stories from organisations helping to move, manage, and transform the flow of goods, services, and information around the world.
Produced as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines, The Question brings focused executive insight to audiences engaged with the people, technologies, and decisions shaping the future of supply chain.
