The Next Evolution Of Supply Chains: Turning Disconnected Data Into Structured Intelligence With Agentic AI

InnovationThe Next Evolution Of Supply Chains: Turning Disconnected Data Into Structured Intelligence With Agentic AIByMark Burstein,Forbes Councils Member.for Forbes Technology CouncilCOUNCIL POSTExpertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based)Jun 15, 2026, 07:45am EDTMark Burstein, SVP at Inspectorio, transforming how brands manage supply chain risk, quality and compliance through an AI-powered platform. gettyMost consumers don’t think twice about the clothes they wear.A shirt is chosen for its fit. A pair of jeans for its comfort. A jacket for its style. The decision is simple, almost instinctive. What remains invisible is the vast, complex supplier network required to bring that product to life.​Behind every garment sits one of the most intricate global supply chains in any industry, one that generates millions of data points every year.​This is where both the problem and the opportunity begin.​​A System Built On ComplexityFashion has always been global, but today’s supply chains operate at a scale and speed few industries can match.​​A single brand may sell into more than 100 countries, across retail stores, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces and wholesale partners. To support that reach, it relies on an extensive network of suppliers, often hundreds or thousands, spanning multiple tiers.​​At the center are Tier 1 factories, responsible for assembling finished goods. These factories depend heavily on Tier 2 suppliers for fabrics, trims and raw materials. The result is a deeply interconnected ecosystem, largely concentrated in regions like Southeast Asia, where coordination is critical and increasingly difficult.​​Now consider the operational reality. ​A large brand may issue over 125,000 purchase orders each year, conduct more than 100,000 quality inspections across production stages and run upward of 50,000 lab tests to meet performance and regulatory standards. It typically ma...