Niels van Hove on Human-AI Collaboration in S&OE, S&OP & IBP

Niels van Hove joins Mark Blackwell to explore how AI is transforming S&OP and IBP from bureaucratic box-ticking to decision-centric planning. Discover why planners waste 50% of their time on low-value tasks, how automation and augmentation differ, and Niels's bold vision for AI-powered "decision avatars" that could revolutionise executive decision-making.

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Is your S&OP process more painful than productive — a "monthly trip to the dentist" as our guest puts it?

Niels van Hove, globally recognised thought leader in integrated business planning and human-AI collaboration, joins Mark Blackwell to discuss how AI is reshaping supply chain planning. Niels has defined the current era as the "third wave" of supply chain planning technology, and he argues that the competitive advantage lies not in technology alone, but in creating a culture of human-AI collaboration.

In this conversation, we explore:

- Why planners spend 50% of their time on data crunching and low-value work — and how AI can free them to focus on what matters

- The critical distinction between automation (handling repetitive tasks) and augmentation (advising on decisions) - Explainability versus trust — Niels's contrarian view on whether we really need to understand AI to use it effectively

- Decision avatars: a vision for AI-powered executive teams that can debate scenarios and recommend options at unprecedented speed

- Practical advice for CEOs looking to modernise deteriorating S&OP processes

Key insight: "Anything that can be automated will be automated. The competitive difference will be in human-AI collaboration."

Niels challenges listeners to take personal accountability for learning with AI rather than sitting back and demanding explainability. As he puts it: "AI is here to stay and will only get better. You can't sit back and say, show me how it works, without showing any interest yourself."

About our guest: Niels van Hove is an expert in IBP, S&OP, and the emerging field of human-AI collaboration in supply chain planning. He advocates for decision-centric IBP — working backwards from decisions rather than focusing solely on forecast accuracy. His work emphasises that future planners must adapt to collaborate with AI or self-select out of the role.

Resources mentioned:

"The New Machine" by Nada Sanders

Roger Moser's work on decision intelligence

Dick Ling's foundational work on S&OP

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