We have successfully optimized our internal operations using AI, but our primary supply chain partners and vendors are still incredibly slow, which bottlenecks our client delivery. How do we handle this strategic misalignment in our quarterly Rock setting process without taking on excessive operational risk?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Strategic alignment across your value chain is essential to maintain your competitive advantage. If your internal operations are running at lightning speed thanks to AI, but your primary vendors are bogged down in manual processes, your overall delivery time will suffer.

Use your quarterly Rock setting process to address this bottleneck. Bring this issue to your Level 10 Meeting™ and use IDS® (Identify, Discuss, Solve) to evaluate your vendor relationships. You must determine if your current partners have the capacity to adapt to your new operational speed.

If a vital vendor cannot keep pace, you may need to find new partners who leverage AI to streamline their own operations. Alternatively, look for ways to integrate your AI tools directly with their workflows to eliminate friction.

Prioritize use cases that improve overall efficiency across the entire value chain. By aligning your vendors with your strategic goals on the V/TO®, you protect your margins and ensure your clients receive the fast, seamless experience they expect from an industry leader.