Why Mastering AI Tools is the New Core Skill for Supply Chain Students and Young Professionals
But are universities and companies ready to follow through?
There’s no shortage of “hot takes” on LinkedIn when it comes to AI, but Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, recently dropped a post that sparked a much-needed conversation about what really sets today’s young professionals apart. His advice? Learn to master AI tools - now.
Not just use them. Not just prompt. But truly master them.
And while his post was meant for all students entering the workforce, its implications are especially relevant for those in operations, supply chain, logistics, and procurement. These are sectors that still rely heavily on legacy systems, Excel spreadsheets, and siloed data. In other words: ripe for transformation—but still largely stuck in the past.
Let’s break down the key points from Levie’s post and the rich discussion that followed—and what they mean for the future of talent in the supply chain industry.
The Advantage of AI Fluency
Levie points out a key psychological edge: new grads haven’t been wired to believe that certain tasks “should” take days, or that getting data from 3 systems means waiting for IT. They arrive without assumptions—and that’s powerful. If you've spent your university years experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, you’ll look like a “time traveler from the future” to most firms.
This has major implications for supply chain roles:
Automating demand forecasting scripts
Synthesizing supplier performance data
Generating negotiation prep docs from thousands of contracts
Flagging order anomalies in real-time
Tasks that used to take hours can now take minutes—if you know how to drive the tools.
But do most grads know how to prompt effectively, audit outputs, or even evaluate different models? That’s the difference between dabbling in AI and actually mastering it.
But Can You Think Without It?
A few commenters raised important caveats—especially Nithin S., a strategist at Apple, who warned: “AI should not be used for writing. Writing makes you a better thinker.” It’s a valid point. If students skip over the hard thinking part—especially early in their careers—they might lose the opportunity to develop strong judgment.
Dan Mayer added that the real value of AI isn't in speed alone, but in combining it with “context, taste, and life experience.”
Translation: knowing how to prompt isn’t enough. You still need to know what questions to ask and what trade-offs to make. This is especially true in logistics and procurement, where negotiation, contracts, compliance, and forecasting require deep business understanding—not just outputs.
From ChatGPT to Tactical Edge: What This Means for Supply Chain
Most companies haven’t reimagined their workflows around AI. As Richard Grillo from NBCUniversal put it, “Most orgs are still trying to bolt AI onto old workflows.”
This is exactly where young supply chain professionals can shine.
Imagine showing up on Day 1 and suggesting:
A custom GPT trained on past RFQs and supplier emails to speed up sourcing
Automated summarization of inbound shipment delays with suggested mitigation plans
An AI dashboard that flags outlier inventory across 100+ SKUs
You won’t just be seen as “smart.” You’ll be seen as someone who challenges the status quo.
The Legacy Barrier: Still Real
Steve Tout raised an uncomfortable truth: some companies still ban candidates from using ChatGPT in interviews. Others disqualify applicants for AI-assisted resumes. Meanwhile, C-suites in those same companies are quietly using ChatGPT to draft their board updates.
This hypocrisy reveals how immature many organizations still are when it comes to AI adoption. For supply chain and ops leaders, this is especially problematic. These functions already suffer from outdated tools and underinvestment. So while AI can be a lever, it can also highlight structural inertia.
For students entering these organizations, the challenge will be twofold:
Use AI to deliver value fast
Convince leadership that it’s safe, scalable, and smart to do so
This requires more than technical fluency—it demands diplomacy, evangelism, and business fluency.
From Pilot Projects to Cultural Change
Let’s get real: many supply chain executives want AI, but only on their terms. They don’t want it to change reporting lines, workflows, or decision-making power. But the truth is: it will.
As Jason Radisson brilliantly noted, the smartest young hires aren’t just asking “how do I do this task?” They’re asking “should this even be a task?” That mindset doesn’t just shorten timelines—it challenges job descriptions, budget allocations, and reporting structures.
That’s why Aaron’s advice is bigger than just “learn tools.” It’s a cultural shift.
Five Real-World Moves for Supply Chain Students
Here’s how you can apply this thinking if you’re entering the workforce in supply chain, procurement, or logistics:
Pick One Use Case, Master It: Don’t just explore. Build an actual tool (e.g. a procurement chatbot, automated S&OP summary, or contract analysis tool).
Learn Prompting Like a Language: Study prompt engineering. Test prompts across Gemini, Claude, GPT, and Groq.
Understand Legacy Systems: Learn how ERPs work (SAP, Oracle, etc.). It’s easier to replace a process if you actually understand it.
Think Beyond Automation: AI isn’t just a tool to automate. It’s a tool to explore ideas faster—like simulating a new supplier network or running “what-if” sourcing scenarios.
Build a Portfolio: Don’t wait for permission. Start building now and showcase what you’ve done. If you can’t talk about “impact,” talk about experimentation.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t a passing fad—it’s the new literacy. And for supply chain students, the timing couldn’t be better. You’re walking into industries desperate for speed, insight, and adaptability—but still stuck with aging tools and mindsets.
Aaron Levie is right: those who master these tools now will leap ahead. But mastery isn’t just technical—it’s strategic, cultural, and collaborative.
So yes, learn Claude and ChatGPT. But also learn what it means to be a great buyer, planner, or logistics analyst in a world where your assistant can write, code, and analyze with you.
The future of supply chain work won’t just be faster - it will be more human, more strategic, and more creative.
Will you be ready?
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