In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and Tevon Taylor welcome Gaurav Malhotra , Partner and Supply Chain Technology Leader at EY , to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming supply chains today and where it’s headed over the next five years. Gaurav shares how EY is helping organizations embrace emerging technologies to create competitive advantage, avoid “pilot purgatory,” and build more cognitive and resilient supply chains. They cover practical misconceptions holding companies back from adopting AI, the foundational elements required for successful implementation, and real-world examples of immediate impact in logistics, predictive maintenance, and warehouse operations. Gaurav also discusses how organizations can invest in workforce education, reskilling, and culture change to ensure that humans remain at the center of AI adoption. Looking ahead, he offers his perspective on how agentic AI will reshape supply chains into adaptive, orchestrated ecosystems while freeing people to focus on creativity, critical thinking, and enterprise differentiation. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (04:13) A personal story family pilgrimage to Kauai (07:34) The intersection of supply chain and humanitarian efforts (09:52) Ey’s role in global supply chain (15:20) Misconceptions about AI in factories (18:09) Overcoming pilot paralysis (22:29) Immediate benefits of AI in supply chain (26:25) AI’s impact on supply chain efficiency (27:18) The role of agentic AI in factories (31:43) Human element in AI-driven supply chains (36:17) Upskilling and reskilling for the AI era (43:05) Future predictions for AI in supply chains Resources: Connect with Gaurav Malhotra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravmalhotra/ Learn more about EY: https://www.ey.com/ 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 WEBINAR- Real stories: Fast-tracking value, a pioneering digital transformation with impactful results.: https://bit.ly/4mgp1EW WEBINAR- Real Shipping Stories. Real Money Saved.: https://bit.ly/45PegUm WEBINAR- From Compliance to Impact and Competitive Advantage: How to Decarbonize Your Supply Chain: https://bit.ly/47uXKKo WEBINAR- The Power of Partnership: Building Long-Term Success with Automation Integrators: https://bit.ly/3Ie1WUO WEBINAR- Reengineering supply chain planning: How to get more bang for your buck in 2026-
