---
id: what-three-questions-should-i-ask-planning-vendors-about-ai
title: "What three questions should I ask planning vendors about AI?"
category: faq
subtopic: vendor-evaluation
page_type: faq
source_url: "https://neosbyargonandco.com/ai-in-supply-chain-planning-real-intelligence-or-just-better-algorithms"
tags: ["vendor selection", "artificial intelligence", "supply chain planning", "due diligence"]
questions:
  - "What should I ask planning vendors?"
  - "How do I evaluate AI claims?"
  - "What makes a vendor credible on AI?"
related: [learning-from-data, ai-influence-decisions, ai-vs-algorithms]
---

Supply chain leaders should ask three specific questions when vendors claim to offer AI capabilities:

1. How does your system learn from new data over time? Listen for whether models retrain automatically or require manual reconfiguration.

2. What decisions does the AI actually influence? Understand where AI is embedded in the workflow and whether it meaningfully improves forecasting, risk identification, or decision-making.

3. How much investment is being made in AI research and development? Vendors serious about AI invest heavily in R&D. Ask what percentage of annual revenue goes to research and specifically to AI capabilities.

These three questions quickly reveal whether a platform truly incorporates artificial intelligence or primarily relies on traditional analytical techniques. Technology choices you make today will influence your planning capabilities for years to come, so it's worth asking vendors to explain their capabilities clearly and specifically.