Artificial Intelligence Supporting Human Intelligence: Impacts on Supply Chains of Small and Medium Enterprises

As organizations pursue greater resilience, the synergy between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence (HI) becomes critical. This systematic literature review explores AI’s impact on demand forecasting and Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the context of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The findings reveal that AI-driven technologies significantly improve forecasting accuracy, enhancing inventory control and resource allocation while bolstering supply chain resilience, thus supporting human decision-making. However, there is a central paradox: despite possessing the organizational agility for rapid implementation, SMEs lag behind larger corporations in AI adoption. The analysis concludes that the most significant barrier is not the technology itself, but a gap in accessibility, resources, and specialized skills. Bridging this gap through targeted, SME-focused solutions is essential to unlocking AI’s full potential, empowering SMEs to boost their agility, performance, and overall competitiveness in volatile markets.