In a groundbreaking study published in International Review of … (June 2025), researchers explored how regional artificial intelligence (AI) development fortifies enterprise supply chains—especially in the face of global disruptions.
Key highlights:
- 📌 AI acts as a resilience engine, empowering businesses to better anticipate, adapt to, and recover from disruptions—whether caused by pandemics, geopolitical turbulence, or natural disasters (researchgate.net).
- The study found a direct positive link: regions with strong AI capabilities correlated with significantly stronger supply chain resilience among local businesses .
- Importantly, it confirms that supply chain resilience drives performance. Companies leveraging AI-region advantages are more agile, efficient, and competitive—a sweet spot for growth (researchgate.net).
- Drivers behind AI adoption include collaboration across the supply chain, relative technological advantage, and environmental uncertainty—all reinforcing a positive feedback loop for resilience (mdpi.com).
Why This Matters for South African SMEs & Industry
With increasing global supply chain shocks on the horizon, South African firms—especially those based in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal—can gain a strategic edge by investing in regional AI infrastructure and integrating AI with their logistics and procurement systems. The study demonstrates that this isn’t luxury—it’s a prerequisite for operational resilience, stronger performance, and long-term sustainability.
Bottom Line
Strengthening regional AI capabilities isn’t just about tech—it’s about future-proofing supply chains. Enterprises that embrace AI gain resilience, agility, and improved outcomes. Policymakers, regional development bodies, and business leaders must act in concert, investing in capability-building to secure their competitive edge.
