2025 Supply Chain Agility Index

Nucleus surveyed 1,014 professionals across manufacturing, distribution, retail, and construction sectors to assess AI readiness and supply chain agility in 2025, focusing the analysis on 966 organizations with the most complete responses. The data shows that AI adoption is accelerating, with 56 percent of organizations reporting high AI readiness. Among this group, over 90 percent are actively creating or investing in AI-specific roles, confirming that workforce strategy is the strongest early indicator of AI success. Organizations investing in real-time data-sharing platforms, scenario planning, and AI-driven operational roles are pulling ahead, while those engaging in geopolitical risk modeling reported the highest rates of AI implementation. Manufacturing and retail sectors continue to lead adoption, with industry-specific AI use cases outperforming generalized tools. Looking ahead, organizations cannot approach AI as a standalone technology project. Success depends on aligning leadership buy-in, workforce development, and foundational data infrastructure. Nucleus recommends a structured 12-month roadmap, beginning with early AI hiring, digital audits, and targeted pilot projects. Organizations that prioritize these elements can expect faster implementation, improved resilience, and measurable operational impact, positioning themselves to lead in the next wave of supply chain transformation.