Every supply chain leader wants to harness AI. The real question is how to make it work. Here’s Bluecrux’s view on building an AI roadmap that delivers lasting results.
AI is transforming the way we work at a pace we have not seen since the rise of the internet. From generative copilots to predictive models, every supply chain leader is asking how to “get AI.” At the same time, software providers are scrambling to make AI a central part of their planning platforms. Yet for most organizations, the challenge is not about buying more AI; it’s knowing where to start and how to make it work within their planning maturity.
Like any major journey, you need a map to guide your route and plan when to pause, refuel, and reassess. In an upcoming blog, we will share Bluecrux’s perspective on how to build an AI roadmap that delivers real value. In the end, the takeaway is simple: the foundation still matters most. Companies that focus first on connected data, governance, and process maturity are the ones that make AI truly productive.
Adopting AI just for the sake of it will not deliver results. Few products are truly built for the realities of supply chain planning, and even fewer can create lasting value at scale. The real advantage comes from specialized AI developed by people who understand supply chain inside and out. That’s where Anaplan stands apart: not by chasing hype, but by building AI that planners can actually use.
Where many competitors resemble containerships that take miles to change direction, Anaplan moves like a high-performance speedboat – fast, precise and adaptable. This agility is reflected in its AI roadmap, backed by a $500 million investment in advancing AI across the platform. Instead of developing solutions in isolation, Anaplan co-creates with partners and customers, turning customer feedback into new and improved capabilities. The result is an open and collaborative approach to innovation, where speed meets transparency.
One of the strongest aspects of Anaplan’s AI strategy is its commitment to trust. Its AI guiding principles emphasize transparency, explainability, and control. Forecasts and model recommendations are auditable and traceable, allowing planners to understand how results were generated and why certain suggestions appear. This approach builds confidence among users who rely on the outputs for critical business decisions.
In a landscape where many AI tools still act as black boxes, Anaplan’s design choices reflect a clear focus on human-AI collaboration. The planner remains in control, supported by AI insights that are as interpretable as they are powerful.
Anaplan’s AI evolution is structured around several phases, each building toward a new era of intelligent, connected planning. Phase I introduced foundational machine learning and optimization capabilities. Phase II is expanding toward conversational AI and intelligent agents that assist users in navigating data.
The upcoming CoModeler (part of phase III) will make it faster and easier to build custom features and reports on top of Anaplan’s standard applications. It brings together the foundation of predefined applications with the flexibility to adapt them to each organization’s specific needs.
The roadmap ahead – phases IV and V – will introduce autonomous and custom agents that will transform the way planning is done today. With autonomous agents being able to detect anomalies and monitor data quality, planners can turn firefighting into foresight, guiding users toward better and more timely decisions. With Anaplan Agent Studio, companies will be able to design custom AI agents that will be tailored to their needs, such as the dynamic pricing agent that optimizes SKU pricing based on location.
True innovation happens when technology meets real-world expertise. As a two-time Anaplan Innovator of the Year, Bluecrux does more than implement Anaplan – we co-innovate. Working hand in hand with Anaplan’s product team, we test and refine new features using real industry insights. Our deep supply chain expertise turns Anaplan’s vision into practical solutions and keeps us close to the platform’s evolution.
At Bluecrux, we can help you to go beyond the buzz to design a fit-for-purpose AI roadmap that matches your maturity and ambition. It starts with strengthening the foundation – data, processes, organization – and continues with choosing a future-proof planning tool like Anaplan that sees AI as a tool to make planning simpler, smarter and more transparent.
Let’s have a chat and explore what’s next.
