The Buzz: AI at Scale, Panama Canal Risk, and the Future of IBP

Supply chains are facing pressure from every direction, from inflation and shifting consumer behavior to climate-driven disruption and rapidly evolving AI capabilities. For leaders, the challenge isn’t simply keeping up. It’s figuring out where to focus, how to make faster and better decisions, and how to turn emerging technology into measurable business value. In this episode of The Buzz, powered by MFG.inc, Scott Luton and special guest co-host Tanzil Uddin with Manifest are joined by Dheera Anand, Partner at Bain & Company, to unpack some of the biggest forces shaping supply chain today. They explore the latest challenges at the Panama Canal, changing consumer behavior, and lessons in regional resilience from APAC before diving deep into AI and supply chain transformation. Dheera shares practical examples of how organizations are moving beyond AI experimentation and “pilot fatigue” to create real operational value. The conversation also explores high-frequency decision-making, the importance of choosing the right AI applications, and how AI could reshape integrated business planning through faster scenario planning, continuous monitoring, and an “always-on” approach to IBP. Key Takeaways Predictability and visibility are critical to resilience. Disruptions such as those affecting the Panama Canal demonstrate why companies need to understand their exposure throughout the supply network, not just at tier one. Consumers are still spending, but they’re becoming more value-conscious. Retailers need greater precision around inventory, working capital, automation, and productivity as economic pressures continue. AI’s greatest value may be in high-frequency decisions. Thousands of small operational decisions can create significant value leakage when humans simply don’t have the capacity to address them all in real time. Moving beyond AI pilot fatigue requires better use-case selection. Leaders should consider data availability, decision frequency, variability, and the consequences of error when determining where AI can deliver scalable value. World-class IBP is a decision process—not a reporting process. Effective IBP should drive decisions, trade-offs, scenario planning, and preparation for what happens when the plan changes. AI could make IBP increasingly “always on.” Faster scenario modeling, automated assumption monitoring, and early-warning signals could move organizations beyond the traditional monthly planning cadence. Not all complexity creates value. Organizations need greater visibility and governance to distinguish complexity that customers value from complexity that adds cost without meaningful return. Supply chain leaders don’t need more technology experiments; they need practical ways to turn technology, data, and planning into better decisions. Tune in to hear Scott, Tanzil, and Dheera explore how leaders can move beyond AI pilots, strengthen resilience, rethink IBP, and build supply chains that are better equipped to compete in an increasingly complex environment. Additional Links & Resources: MFG.inc: https://mfg.inc/ With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-12-Sep-2026 Manifest 2027: https://manifestvegas.partners/partners/SupplyChainNow Supply Chain & Logistics Summit: https://bit.ly/SupplyChainAndLogisticsSummit-2026 The Panama Canal’s New Boss Inherits a Drought and a Bidding War for Transit Slots: https://on.wsj.com/4xW4xYb Inflation persisted in August, potentially locking in a Fed interest rate hike: https://bit.ly/4gSLJD8 3 lessons from Asia-Pacific on regional cooperation in a fragmented world: https://bit.ly/Learning-from-APAC The Buzz APAC Edition for September 9th: https://bit.ly/The-Buzz-APAC-Edition MFG.inc Leadership Training: https://mfg.inc/training Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/ Bain: https://www.bain.com/ Dheera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheeraanand/ Tanzil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanziluddin/ Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/ Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/ Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive WEBINAR- Demand Volatility Isn't a Forecasting Problem: How One FMCG Distributor Released Capacity Without Capital: https://bit.ly/4r94YM6 WEBINAR- You Can't Manage What You Can't See: Using Visibility, KPIs, and AI to Optimize Logistics Operations: https://bit.ly/4ql6iem WEBINAR- The Real ROI of AI Analytics in the Supply Chain: Better Answers When Everyone Starts Asking: https://bit.ly/3TpCX6u This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Tanzil Uddin, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-scale-panama-canal-risk-future-IBP-1636 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. 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