The Supply Chain Management Centre (SCMC) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore successfully hosted the 9th Biennial Supply Chain Management Conference 2025, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners for two days of in-depth dialogue on the future of supply chains.
Held under the theme “Geopolitics, Sustainability, and Generative AI”, the conference examined how these three forces are no longer abstract risks or opportunities, but active variables shaping boardroom decisions and operational strategy across industries.
Setting the tone: Leadership, context, and urgency
The conference commenced with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony led by Dr. Aditya Gupta, Chief Operations Officer, SCMC, IIM Bangalore, along with Prof. Rajeev R. Tripathi, Chairperson, SCMC; Prof. Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge, IIM Bangalore; Sujoy Guha, CEO & MD, CriticaLog; Ajay Nair, Partner and Leader for Supply Chain Transformation, PwC India; and Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta, Supply Chain Strategist and Independent Director.
At the core of this edition was the leadership of Dr. Aditya Gupta, who also heads the TCI Supply Chain Sustainability Lab at IIM Bangalore. Highlighting the intent behind the conference design, Dr. Gupta noted that the event consciously bridged academia and industry, while introducing free-flowing group discussions that encouraged candid experience-sharing across sectors.
“The discussions revolved around three transformative forces reshaping modern supply chains—geopolitics, sustainability, and generative AI,” he said, adding that participants particularly well received the interactive format.
The conference was co-chaired by Prof. Rajeev R. Tripathi and Prof. Nishant Kumar Verma, both from the Production and Operations Management area at IIM Bangalore.
Inaugural and Director’s addresses: Framing the challenge
In his inaugural address, Prof. Rajeev R. Tripathi contextualised the conference theme through insights from India’s manufacturing clusters. Drawing from a recent visit to Tirupur, he pointed to the widening technology gap between Indian supply chains and those in more digitally mature markets, highlighting both the urgency and opportunity for AI-led transformation.
This was followed by the Director’s address by Prof. Dinesh Kumar, who reflected on the growing volatility of global supply chains over the past two decades. Using examples from energy and heavy engineering sectors, he underscored the role of AI in predictive maintenance and performance management, while cautioning that supply chains must now be designed for uncertainty rather than stability.
From backroom to boardroom
The first keynote address was delivered by Ajay Nair, Partner and Leader for Supply Chain Transformation at PwC India, on the theme “Backroom to Boardroom: Securing Supply Chain’s Seat at the Table.” He outlined six forces redefining global supply chains, including accelerated disruptions, talent shortages, ESG pressures, and the emergence of integrated ecosystems.
Drawing from PwC’s global research, Nair outlined four pillars of boardroom-ready supply chains: digital foundations, innovation and responsiveness, risk and resilience, and sustainability and trust. He concluded with five imperatives for future supply chains, ranging from data-centric decision-making to ESG-aligned operating models.
Human + AI: Redefining the future of work
The first panel discussion explored human–AI collaboration in supply chains, moderated by Srihari Murthy, CEO and Founder of Factri.Ai. Panelists included Pandurang Prabhu (Manhattan Associates India), Sandeep Menon (Juniper Networks), Boby Mohan (TVS Supply Chain Solutions), and Ankit Kala (Shadowfax).
The discussion converged on a common insight: AI’s true impact will depend as much on organisational readiness and workforce adaptability as on technology itself. Panelists shared practical perspectives on AI integration, visibility platforms, gig workforce optimisation, and the shift from automation debates to augmentation strategies.
Panelists agreed that the real challenge is not choosing between automation and augmentation, but preparing organisations for both. Discussions highlighted the complexities of integrating AI into legacy systems, the need for transparency and explainability in AI-driven decisions, and the importance of workforce upskilling. Practical use cases ranged from real-time risk alerts and network optimisation to address validation and fraud detection in hyperlocal delivery models. The panel concluded that AI’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on organisational readiness, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability of humans to adapt alongside rapidly evolving technologies.
Supply chains as instruments of social impact
The second keynote by Prof. Sarang Deo, Operations Management, Indian School of Business, highlighted how supply chain design can deliver disproportionate impact in public systems. Drawing from field research in Sub-Saharan Africa and India, he demonstrated how small operational changes improved healthcare outcomes and food distribution efficiency, reinforcing the role of supply chain thinking beyond commercial settings.
Breakout tracks: AI, sustainability, and resilience
Day 1 concluded with three parallel breakout tracks focusing on AI-led digital transformation, supply chain sustainability, and geopolitical resilience. Notably, the sustainability track was moderated by Dr. Aditya Gupta, reinforcing SCMC’s leadership role in driving actionable sustainability conversations within the supply chain ecosystem.
Day 2: National vision and global realities
Day 2 opened with a keynote by Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Executive Director, Traffic Commercial, Ministry of Railways, who traced India’s logistics transformation through policy reforms, digitalisation, and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. He highlighted how integrated geospatial planning is enabling a national logistics “digital twin,” strengthening multimodal coordination and policy decision-making.
From climate intent to execution
A high-impact panel on Decarbonizing Global Value Chains – From Vision to Action, moderated by Prof. Rajeev R. Tripathi, brought together leaders from fashion, aviation, healthcare, and biomaterials. Panelists from ABFRL, Bangalore International Airport Ltd., Phitons Bioengineering, and LGS Assurance emphasised that sustainability must move beyond intent into design-stage decisions, material innovation, and lifecycle accountability.
Discussions highlighted that sustainability cannot be retrofitted easily once infrastructure, materials, and sourcing models are locked in. Panelists stressed the importance of understanding value-chain risks, embedding sustainability at the planning stage, and aligning consumer behaviour with responsible production. Operational examples from aviation and retail demonstrated that credible decarbonization outcomes depend on collaboration across ecosystems, regulatory clarity, and treating sustainability as a core business priority rather than a compliance-driven initiative.
Geopolitics and global risk: A closing lens
The final panel, moderated by Tariq Ahmed, Editor, Logistics Insider, examined how escalating geopolitical risks are reshaping supply chain strategies. Industry leaders such as Jayakumar Mano, Retired Vice President, Mobility Purchasing, Bosch Limited, N. Ramakrishnan, Director – Service Operations & Domestic Logistics, Flextronics, Dinesh P. S, Senior Director – Supply Chain Management, Herbalife Nutrition, and Hitesh Sen, Regional Head, TCI Supply Chain Solutions shared insights on localisation, container dependency, real-time visibility, and the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case models.
Panelists highlighted that uncertainty has become a permanent boardroom agenda item. Key themes included supply-base diversification, localisation strategies, container dependency risks, and the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory models. The role of real-time visibility, digital control towers, and faster decision cycles emerged as critical enablers of resilience. The panel concluded that while volatility is unavoidable, preparedness, visibility, and organisational agility now define competitive advantage in global supply chains.
The conference concluded with a valedictory address by Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean (Programmes) and Chairperson, Office of International Affairs, IIM Bangalore, who reflected on AI-enabled operations, geopolitical complexity, and the evolving role of academic–industry collaboration.
A platform that continues to shape discourse
With its strong academic grounding, industry relevance, and thoughtful leadership from Dr. Aditya Gupta and the SCMC team at IIM Bangalore, the 9th Biennial SCMC Conference reinforced its position as a critical forum shaping India’s supply chain discourse in an increasingly volatile global environment.
