The author continues by pointing out what can go wrong with GPS devices. They can run out of battery power, or be unable to connect with satellites, especially if you’re in a remote area. GPS software used to need frequent updating, with maps changing all the time, resulting in recommended routes that were sometimes less than sensible.

Thankfully, that was back in 2011 and these issues no longer plague us when we use GPS for navigation. Not only have GPS solutions become more reliable and smarter but, as users, we’re also now more mature in using them. We’re much more aware of what the app can do (and what it cannot do).

Which brings me to my corner of supply chain planning, where we see similarities between this GPS example and the subject of autonomous planning. While some are still leery of digital systems creating and updating supply chain plans for them, many planners have learned to embrace this advanced capability.

Innovative planners have tested the capabilities of autonomous planning and seen that it can create excellent base plans and multiple viable alternatives. They’ve learned to build on that by applying their experience and human intelligence to further improve plan quality and executability. And, while autonomously generated plans are not always exactly what planners would propose if they had to craft them manually, the computer’s ‘reasoning’ is increasingly understood and the outcomes are becoming more and more trusted.