The new planner journey in an AI-powered world

The new planner journey in an AI-powered world

Part of our AI Demystified series

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most transformative forces of our time, but misunderstandings, hype, and fearmongering have clouded the public discourse and obscured its potential. Our blog series, AI Demystified, aims to cut through the noise by explaining essential AI concepts-from commonly used terminology to the technology's inner workings-in accessible, memorable ways.

When we all have a clear grasp of what AI actually is-and isn't-we can make more informed decisions about how to harness its potential, navigate its challenges, and collectively drive innovation that benefits everyone. Whether you're a curious newcomer or someone looking to deepen your understanding, this series will equip you with the knowledge needed to engage meaningfully with the AI revolution shaping our world.

The new era of planning

The role of the supply chain planner has always required agility. Navigating shifting demand, supplier disruptions, and organizational silos is nothing new. But as intelligent technologies become embedded in planning systems, planners are entering a new phase: one defined less by task execution and more by strategic influence.

Routine tasks are no longer the centerpiece. Instead, planners are interpreting insights, guiding decisions, and linking supply chain performance to broader business goals.

Key insight: Planners aren't being replaced, they're redefining their roles with AI as a catalyst for value.

From firefighting to forward-thinking: How AI is reshaping daily planning

This shift becomes clearest in the rhythm of the work itself:

It's Monday morning. A planner logs in and spots a spike in regional demand.

In the past, that moment would trigger hours of manual effort: digging through reports, checking supplier updates, and emailing stakeholders. The coffee on the desk? Forgotten and cold by the time the issue was finally understood, let alone resolved.

Now, the system does the heavy lifting: flagging the issue, weighing trade-offs, and recommending next steps. Everything is surfaced in one place. With a few clicks, the planner loops in relevant stakeholders and initiates strategic action. Clarity replaces chaos. And the coffee stays warm.

Freed from repetitive tasks, planners are able to shift their focus to shaping scenarios, aligning teams, and driving strategic business outcomes.

Key insight: AI isn't just automating tasks, it's enabling a new planning mindset. Less noise, more context, and smarter decisions.

Why UX now matters more than ever

As AI is surfacing insights and prompting action, the way planners interact with planning systems is evolving fast. What once required navigating multiple modules and memorizing processes is now intuitive and contextual.

Previously, the challenge wasn't making a decision but navigating the system just to reach one. AI, paired with thoughtful UX, now changes that. Whether through conversational interfaces or embedded intelligence, systems now guide rather than hinder.

The impact is tangible: not just on how planners work, but on how fast they can contribute. New team members can ramp up quickly without needing to master complex workflows. The consistent, intuitive experience narrows the gap between new and experienced users, reducing friction of learning the tool and accelerating contribution across the board.

Prioritizing UX shapes how quickly teams adopt technology, how confidently they contribute, and how effectively they create value. It lays the foundation for planners to thrive in the next phase of their journey, one increasingly defined by influence and insight as much as execution.

Key insight: A modern, AI-infused planning experience doesn't just support better decisions; it accelerates contribution, builds confidence, and makes strategic impact more accessible.

Redefining skills and success along the way

As the planner's role expands, the definition of success is changing. Beyond technical and functional expertise, planners are being called on to connect data to business priorities and drive alignment across the organization.

The most effective planners are becoming orchestrators more than operators: helping teams understand not just what's happening, but what to do next. Whether it's aligning with finance on inventory targets or working with sales and marketing to model a promotion's impact, their influence reaches well beyond the supply chain function.

This evolution isn't about replacing traditional metrics; it's about elevating how planners shape them. Forecast accuracy and on-time delivery have always been tied to key business outcomes such as revenue, margin, and cash flow. What's changing is the perception of planning itself: no longer viewed primarily as a cost center, but as a strategic enabler of growth and agility.

Planners today are increasingly expected to provide real-time insight, influence decisions, and help guide cross-functional priorities. The ability to foster collaboration, inform decisions at scale and drive enterprise-level outcomes is emerging as a core measure of success alongside traditional KPIs.

Key insight: As the role evolves, so does the definition of excellence, toward strategic influence and integrated thinking.

Charting your path in the AI era

The journey for planners in an AI-powered world is still unfolding. As technology transforms planning processes, the opportunity to lead, influence, and drive decisions continues to grow.

But the shift doesn't rest on planners alone. Organizations have a critical role to play in such transition. That means investing in the right tools, offering meaningful training, and designing systems that elevate human judgment rather than automate it away.

In the age of AI, planners aren't stepping aside; they're stepping up-as strategic partners, decision-makers, and drivers of enterprise value.

Learn more about how Kinaxis is helping global companies unlock superior accuracy, efficiency, and speed with AI purpose-built for smarter supply chains.

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