Disruptions in the global logistics chain are no longer uncommon today. Over the past decade, companies have demonstrated remarkable resilience – both in dealing with a global pandemic and in dealing with upheavals in trade policy and geopolitical conflicts.

At the same time, these changes also offer a unique opportunity to redesign supply chains from the ground up – powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and agent-based workflows, which act as key transformation engines of the coming decade. The bottom line is clear: companies that rely on AI-powered applications and reliable data and rethink processes create stability and secure customer trust, while others may face persistent shocks, declining service quality, higher costs and lost revenue.

At the SAP Connect conference, as part of the “Supply Chain Connect” event, we presented how AI can be used to optimize the logistics chain – with innovations designed to help supply chain leaders not only survive disruptions, but use them as an opportunity for greater resilience and growth.

SAP Supply Chain Orchestration

In today’s dynamic market environment, two factors are absolutely crucial: foresight and the ability to quickly overcome disruptions. Managers need to know where their products are, which suppliers or sub-suppliers have problems and how they can react confidently. Nevertheless, a lack of transparency often means that companies are completely unprepared for disruptions.

SAP Supply Chain Orchestration is a new AI-based solution designed to detect potential disruptions early and classify risks for a company’s individual supply chain configuration. It also enables intelligent impact analyzes and the initiation of AI-supported measures in planning, logistics, procurement and production. Parties involved in supply chains will be supported by powerful Joule assistants that use AI agents to ensure supplier compliance, improve customer service and reduce reliance on single revenue sources.

What particularly distinguishes SAP Supply Chain Orchestration is the basis of the solution: the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). The solution integrates data from the SAP Business Network as well as from SAP Business Data Cloud and thus offers a comprehensive overview of all levels of the supply chain. This multi-level visibility helps transform external and internal risk signals into actions with different priorities, increasing operational efficiency, compliance and customer satisfaction.

Scheduled to be available in the first half of 2026, SAP Supply Chain Orchestration marks the next step toward a future where companies can anticipate global changes before they cause serious business impact.

Advanced AI functions and uniform scenario simulations for optimized logistics chain planning

SAP enables customers to use SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP) to redesign logistics chain planning in order to be able to operate even faster and more intelligently and to ensure greater networking. The solution combines intelligent automation, a harmonized data model and AI-powered capabilities to deliver more accurate forecasts and streamline processes so planners can focus on important decisions.

A unified planning pane now supports both time series-based planning and order-based planning, allowing users to seamlessly move between strategic, tactical and operational levels, ultimately enabling seamless and tailored planning. New harmonized scenario simulations show the effects of warnings and risks on orders across all planning horizons. Integrated AI ensures more precise forecasts and better inventory management, while feature-based planning ensures accurate procurement planning to optimize inventory and capacity alignment for key industries such as fashion retail, high-tech, life sciences or consumer goods.

The new configurable Planner Workspace offers a unified interface where planners can track current developments, simulate scenarios and take immediate action. She is supported by joulesthe SAP assistant that provides contextual support and actionable insights from forecasts, procurement plans and multi-level inventories.

The AI ​​features are currently in beta mode and are expected to be generally available in the second quarter of 2026. All other extensions are already available.

Faster decisions and automation across the supply chain thanks to new Joule Agents

SAP introduces three new ones Joule Agents for supply chain management that automate important, time-consuming tasks and empower teams to focus on strategic decisions. These agents enable AI-powered automation directly into SAP Cloud ERP, SAP Cloud ERP Private, and SAP Business Network workflows, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors.

• Production Planning and Operations Agent: Automates the check of the requirements for the release of production orders, checks materials, capacities and scheduling and can recommend workarounds or release orders immediately. In this way, order processing cycles can be shortened and costs reduced. The agent is expected to be generally available in the first quarter of 2026.
• Change Record Management Agent: Supports product managers and engineers by justifying problem reports and change requests, recommending next steps, and initiating changes, improving governance and traceability and accelerating decision-making. The agent is expected to be generally available in the second quarter of 2026.
• Supplier Onboarding Agent: Streamlines SAP Business Network onboarding by pulling supplier details, coordinating invitations, reviewing data, and handling escalations, allowing procurement teams to scale faster and focus on strategic supplier development.

With these agents, SAP embeds intelligent functions into the daily processes of the logistics chain from the ground up and ensures that decisions in the most important areas can be made even faster.

Optimization of the SAP Business Network based on customer requirements

Global trade is more interconnected than ever before, but too many companies still operate with fragmented procurement and logistics processes. SAP is therefore announcing optimizations for the SAP Business Network, the world’s largest B2B platform, through which an annual trade volume of more than 6.3 trillion US dollars is processed in 190 countries.

• Availability on SAP BTP: The basis of the SAP Business Network is now formed by SAP BTP, which offers a modern data foundation and enables companies to operate on a large scale. The SAP Business Network connects SAP and third-party systems, provides a unified global directory with a guided onboarding process, and enables customization of workflows via SAP Build. The Joule integration will be available from January 2026, providing embedded AI capabilities for analytics, automation and approvals across the network.
• Network-based integration across the business suite: The SAP Business Network will support end-to-end value chains with SAP Cloud ERP, SAP Ariba, SAP Fieldglass and SAP Transportation Management later this year. This means that clarification cases can be processed more quickly and emissions can be tracked more precisely. AI-supported navigation is also available.
• Easy access to supplier data: Starting in the fourth quarter of 2025, users will be able to search for suppliers directly through their ERP interface, eliminating the need for manual onboarding. This means buyers can access new providers more quickly, reducing activation costs and increasing transparency.

All of these innovations complement the SAP Business Network with intelligent functions, greater reach, greater usability as well as integrated AI processes, seamless business suite integration and ERP-supported supplier discovery.

SAP introduces new solution for logistics management

SAP also announced SAP Logistics Management – a new cloud solution that complements operations in large distribution centers with functions to support smaller, local and regional warehouses. This helps build multi-tier distribution networks that ensure more resilient processes and faster deliveries.

The solution is fully networked with SAP Cloud ERP Private and the SAP Business Network for Logistics, so inventory, deliveries and partner coordination are carried out centrally. Unlike standalone tools, ERP functions are directly extended to multiple decentralized warehouses. This way, manual tasks can be significantly reduced and consistency can be ensured across different networks.

Integrated AI functions also control operational decisions, eliminate silos and strengthen collaboration across all logistics networks. SAP Logistics Management will be available in the first quarter of 2026.

Doehler, a global manufacturer, marketer and provider of technology-based natural ingredients for the food, beverage and nutrition industries, will use the solution in its warehouses to manage its production sites, sample handling and spare parts.

“SAP Logistics Management will enable efficient process automation and faster transformation for the majority of our 50+ production sites, sampling and technical warehouses,” reports Dr. Michael Merget, Chief Operating Officer of the Doehler Group. “We see the powerful, integrated AI functions of this solution not as an add-on, but as an intelligent core that will shape our logistics processes of tomorrow.”

A look into the future

Robust, intelligent and connected supply chains are no longer a dream of the future – they have already become essential. The innovative innovations presented here are part of SAP’s vision for a perfectly coordinated supply chain. The next generation of logistics chain technologies will enable companies to detect disruptions early, leverage data at scale and continually exceed customer expectations. By leading with intelligence and vision, companies can turn crises into opportunities and thrive in a world marked by uncertainty.

Further information on all announcements can be found in the SAP Connect Innovation Guide.

Dominik Metzger is President and Chief Product Officer at SAP Supply Chain Management.