This is part one of ABI Research's pre-MODEX 2026 blog series. Part two on expectations for robotics & automation can be read here.
As the supply chain management industry gears up for MODEX 2026 (April 13–16 in Atlanta), the spotlight will again fall on how software continues to transform supply chains. While material handling automation remains the core attraction, this year’s event is expected to highlight how software orchestration, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, and connected ecosystems have become the backbone of supply chain resilience and agility as expectations around Agentic AI become more clear.
ABI Research has identified five key software themes expected to shape discussions and solutions at MODEX 2026:
1. Convergence of AI and Execution Platforms
2. Control Tower and Visibility Solutions Mature
3. Orchestration Layers for Multi System Environments
4. Planning Platforms Expand Into Real Time Execution
5. Yard Management Software Innovations Move up the Priority List
6. Workforce Management Software to Drive Decisions
1. Convergence of AI and Execution Platforms
Innovations around Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) and AI agents will dominate software market messaging across all supply chain categories; from Warehouse Management Systems (WMSs) to Transportation Management Systems (TMSs) and visibility platforms. Vendors like Blue Yonder, Infor, and Manhattan Associates are expected to showcase the integration of predictive and generative AI for forecasting, labor planning, and dynamic decision support.
Emerging niche players such as LaborAI are expected to emphasize how AI embedded within execution layers can directly improve productivity and risk management. Expect to see more demonstrations of AI copilots that deliver contextual recommendations based on real-time operational data.
2. Control Tower and Visibility Solutions Mature
AI agent-driven control towers and TMSs are redefining visibility by moving from reactive dashboards to autonomous decision-making environments. This year, we expect vendors like Blue Yonder and Manhattan Associates to showcase multi-agent systems that monitor supply chain flows, interpret disruptions, and trigger corrective actions in real time.
These agents can act as digital collaborators that execute or recommend responses such as rerouting shipments or reallocating carrier capacity. The next frontier of innovation is expected to combine Gen AI and reasoning agents to create adaptive, self-learning networks that optimize supply chain performance continuously.
Learn more in my LinkedIn article, Overcoming Supply Chain Disruptions in 2026 with AI-Driven Control Towers.
3. Orchestration Layers for Multi‑System Environments
The growing complexity of hybrid cloud deployments and mixed automation ecosystems has accelerated the rise of supply chain orchestration software. At MODEX 2026, we expect vendors like Softeon, Tecsys, and Made4net to highlight orchestration between WMS, WES, and TMS solutions. This can enable dynamic work allocation and event-driven process control. New entrants such as Synkrato and AutoScheduler are expected to lead the charge in middleware‑style orchestration, layering optimization logic above legacy systems to harmonize both data and workflows across facilities.
4. Planning Platforms Expand Into Real‑Time Execution
Integrated supply chain planning remains core to software differentiation. Vendors like Netstock, Odoo, and Solvoyo are pushing boundaries by connecting long-range planning directly with operational execution systems. Demonstrations will hopefully center on digital twin-based simulations that model networks, identify risk scenarios, and feed real-time data back into planning engines. The end result is expected to be a more adaptive end-to-end supply chain that blurs the line between strategy and execution.
5. Yard Management Software Innovations Move up the Priority List
Yard Management Systems (YMSs) are becoming a strategic security and automation layer as rising cargo theft is pushing operators to harden the “outer ring” of their logistics networks. Vendors such as Kaleris and Yard Management Solutions are expected to showcase enhanced driver verification workflows, live entry Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) or QR codes, and digital Identity (ID) checks that tightly control access while digitizing currently paper-heavy processes at the gate.
Gate automation remains a central theme, with a mix of vision-based systems and lower-cost QR or app-based check-in for document digitization, exception detection, and automated task assignment. This year’s MODEX will likely showcase how pragmatic AI, focused on factors like pattern recognition, automated dock scheduling, and workflow, can trigger quicker time to value than experimental Gen AI use cases.
6. Workforce Management Software to Drive Decisions
The past few years have seen workforce management move from standalone scheduling tools to execution-aware productivity platforms tightly integrated in existing systems. As labor markets remain tight, end users will prioritize vendors that can translate device-level data into actionable insights. During this MODEX, software portfolios from providers like Zebra Technologies, Honeywell, and Datalogic are expected to emphasize how handheld devices, scanners, and wearables feed into workforce planning, task orchestration, and real-time performance analytics. We also expect to see more AI-assisted use cases like micro-tasking and skills-based routing.
Key Takeaways for Attendees
This year, the software layer will define competitive differentiation across supply chain operations. Interconnected, AI‑driven, and modular ecosystems are emerging as the foundation for resilient logistics networks. End users should prioritize:
- Evaluating vendors’ ability to integrate across multiple systems and data layers.
- Assessing AI outcomes in measurable productivity or service-level improvement terms.
- Choosing flexible, Application Programming Interface (API)-driven software architectures that future-proof investments through the next decade.
ABI Research will be on the ground at MODEX 2026. Schedule a meeting with our team if you're making the trip to Atlanta this year!
