The Planning Illusion: Why Better Forecasting Won’t Fix Your Supply Chain in 2026

Most companies keep throwing technology at planning problems. The real bottleneck is how they make decisions.

Supply chain leaders have a forecasting obsession. They pour millions into advanced planning systems. They chase AI pilots. They build dashboards nobody uses. Then they wonder why service levels stay flat and inventory keeps climbing.

A recent report from Boston Consulting Group, “Supply Chain Planning 2026: Why AI Alone Isn’t Enough,” surveyed more than 180 planning leaders across industries and regions. The findings confirm what many practitioners already feel in their gut. Over 70% of companies have invested in advanced planning systems (APS). Yet few consider themselves best-in-class. The gap between leaders and laggards keeps growing. BCG’s conclusion: technology is not the constraint. People, processes, and organizational readiness are.