Key Insights from Gartner Symposium 2024

Last week, the Gartner Symposium in Orlando set the stage for some of the most critical discussions shaping the future of supply chain, logistics, and retail. This year’s event highlighted an accelerating race between tech providers and companies, driven by rapid advancements in AI and complex global challenges.

The Dual Races of Technology and Adoption

?Opening the symposium, Gartner’s keynote delved into the evolving landscape of AI, where tech providers and companies are moving at distinctly different paces. A defining trend, dubbed the "AI sandwich," is emerging as organizations prepare for a future where multiple AI agents work together. These agents will be embedded within ERP systems and other core solutions, while departments adopt their own specific agents or allow "Bring Your Own AI" policies. In response, businesses will need a robust architecture with "Guardian Agents" — specialized AI overseers that monitor and enforce ethical guidelines, ensuring that every AI function aligns with corporate principles and security standards.

Preparing for Scarcity: A Glimpse into 2030

?As supply chain and retail leaders know, sustainable operations are not just a trend; they are becoming a business imperative. Gartner’s future-focused discussions emphasized the potential scarcities in energy and water by 2030. These resource limitations will require innovative strategies and collaborations to address disruptions in manufacturing, cooling, and supply. Leaders in the room were reminded of the importance of preemptively embracing sustainable practices to stay resilient in the face of these upcoming pressures.

?Key Insights from Nvidia’s CEO

One of the standout sessions included an interview with Jensen Huang , the visionary CEO of Nvidia, who has spent over 30 years shaping the landscape of AI. Huang stressed the value of “saving money to make money” and painted a transformative vision where the next billion-dollar companies may operate with fewer than 100 people, leveraging thousands of AI agents. His perspective resonated with the audience, underscoring that strategic investment and efficiency in AI could redefine the workforce and scale of future enterprises.

?Inspirational Close with Mallory Weggemann

Ending the symposium the keynote from Paralympic medalist Mallory Weggemann left attendees with powerful takeaways. Weggemann’s journey, as both an athlete and storyteller, touched on redefining normalcy and embracing resilience. Her reflections on COVID-19 and perceptions of “normal” struck a chord, reminding leaders to view changes as evolution rather than setbacks. She championed persistence, focusing on the "long game," and encouraged everyone to define their “why.” Her advice to take space and clarify one’s purpose, resonating with Simon Sinek ’s work, inspired attendees to apply her resilience principles in their own leadership journeys.

?For companies looking to harness these insights, the Gartner Symposium proved invaluable, offering both technological and human perspectives essential to navigating today’s complex supply chain and retail challenges. TOTVS and Venturus bring a unique partnership to this space, combining TOTVS Florida's ERP expertise with Venturus's innovative nearshore R&D capabilities to provide local insights and solutions for U.S. market leaders