AI Investment in Planning: How Do You Know When You’re Actually Ready?

Is your planning environment genuinely ready for AI investment — and how would you know if it wasn't?

Jun 17, 2026 11:00

—

12:00

BST

Online (MS Teams)

For senior supply chain leaders only

How this meeting works

Practitioner-led working session
No pitches
Small-group, facilitated discussion
Works best when you can engage actively
Chatham House Rule
Limited places to preserve quality

Suggested Discussion Points

What AI investment in planning actually requires in terms of data, process and organisational readiness
How to assess whether an AI use case in planning is genuinely ready to execute or still exploratory
What good sequencing looks like: from data foundations through to embedded AI capability
How to build an investment case for AI in planning that holds up under CFO scrutiny
Where organisations are finding that AI readiness work surfaces deeper planning process issues worth addressing first

Why this session exists

AI investment in planning is attracting significant attention, but the gap between exploring use cases and actually being ready to execute is larger than most organisations expect. Data quality, integration architecture, process clarity and organisational decision rights all need to be in a sufficient state before AI investment is likely to deliver the expected return.

This session, supported by Baringa, examines what readiness actually means in a planning context, how to assess it honestly, and how to sequence the work so that AI investment compounds rather than compounds existing problems.

What you'll leave with

A clearer and more honest assessment of your organisation's current AI readiness in planning
Peer perspective on how others have sequenced data, process and organisational work before committing to AI investment
A practical framework for building an AI investment case that addresses readiness honestly rather than assuming it

Who this meeting is for

This meeting is designed for people working through real operational and innovation decisions, rather than those seeking presentations or general inspiration.

Who for

Supply chain and planning leaders considering or preparing for AI investment
Transformation leaders who want to stress-test their readiness before the investment decision is made
Leaders who have started AI pilots and are uncertain whether the conditions for scaling are in place

Who not for

Teams primarily looking for technology demonstrations or vendor comparisons
Anyone seeking a passive, webinar-style session rather than a peer discussion

How the online session works

Each session is designed as an online equivalent of a small, in-room roundtable discussion — not a passive, webinar-style presentation.

The format adapts to the topic and the experience in the room:

Where participants already have strong knowledge, we typically start by inviting individuals to expand on specific points they have shared in advance. This helps surface real-world context quickly and anchors the discussion in practical experience.
Where the topic is less familiar or more specialised, we may begin with a short explainer to establish a shared baseline before opening up the discussion.

To support productive dialogue, we often invite a subject-matter expert to join the session. This may be someone from a vendor, consultancy, or independent background — sometimes from within the community, sometimes external.

Their role is not to pitch or present a solution. Instead, they listen carefully to the discussion and reflect back:

how similar challenges have been approached in comparable organisations
what has worked (and what hasn’t) in practice
concrete examples that help translate discussion into action

This balance is deliberate. Without it, sessions can drift into abstract debate or problem-sharing. With it, discussions stay grounded and participants leave with tangible ideas they can apply in their own context.

The emphasis throughout is on shared learning, practical insight, and forward progress, rather than polished presentations or predetermined answers.

What happens next

Participation is confirmed through a short, staged process designed to ensure a good fit and a productive discussion for everyone in the room.

Step 1: Register interest

You start by entering your details. This helps us understand your background and what you are hoping to get from the session.

Step 2: We sense-check fit and composition

We may follow up to clarify a few details. This is about making sure the discussion works for everyone in the room.

Step 3: You receive a personal invitation

Once confirmed, you will receive a personal invitation with the session agenda, who else will be joining, and clear joining instructions.

Online Discussion