Last week, the team at Kallik had the privilege of attending the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/XPO, the event of the year for supply chain professionals. The event was a fantastic opportunity to discuss the latest trends and hot topics while also exploring the most pressing issues in the industry. 

Supply Chain Hot Topics 

Across keynotes and sessions, a few clear themes stood out. In marketing, AI was the hot topic. It’s no longer just about using ChatGPT to write social posts. AI is already playing a major role in improving customer experiences and helping teams get more from their campaigns. But while the tech is advancing fast, there’s still a big need to understand the human side. Gartner pointed out how consumers are responding to AI in marketing and how CMOs need to balance the needs of real people with increasingly independent “non-human” audiences too.

On the supply chain side, resilience and agility remain front and center. Growth is still a key goal, and many companies are looking to expand into new markets using smart tech to help them get there. But there’s a challenge: talent. Finding the right digital skills is proving to be a real roadblock to full digital transformation. Add to that Gen Z’s demand for fast, seamless digital experiences, and it’s clear that supply chains need to keep evolving.
When it comes to technology, the spotlight was on connectivity and intelligence. Concepts like the “Augmented Connected Workforce,” “Polyfunctional Robots,” and “Agentic AI” point toward a future where smart, connected systems help teams work more efficiently and seamlessly. But Gartner also stressed that the right approach is key, as without a clear strategy, even the best tech can fall flat.

So What Does This Mean for Labeling and Artwork?

Just as AI is revolutionizing marketing and supply chains, it is poised to transform how we manage labeling and artwork. And as a vital part of the supply chain, it’s crucial that your labeling and artwork process is in the best possible shape. Imagine AI-powered tools that can predict potential compliance issues, automate the generation of variations based on regional regulations, and even assist in the creation of accessible and consumer-friendly label designs. The "Agentic AI" concept could translate to intelligent systems that proactively manage the artwork lifecycle, flagging potential bottlenecks and ensuring timely approvals.

The focus on data and analytics for improved performance, seen across marketing and supply chain discussions, is directly applicable to labeling. Robust artwork management platforms that provide comprehensive audit trails, version control, and real-time insights into the labeling process are becoming essential for ensuring compliance and building supply chain transparency. This aligns with the need for greater visibility to navigate market uncertainty.
 

Meeting the Demands of the Digital Native: Gen Z's preference for seamless digital experiences and self-service extends to product information. Clear, accurate, and readily accessible labeling information, often delivered digitally, will be crucial for engaging this demographic. Artwork management systems need to facilitate the creation and distribution of digital label content across various touchpoints.

The Need for Digital Dexterity in Labeling Teams: The talent challenges identified by Gartner in the broader supply chain landscape are also relevant to labeling and artwork management. As the industry embraces more sophisticated digital tools and AI-powered solutions, professionals in this space will need to develop new skills and embrace a culture of continuous learning.

Discussing AI with Kenvue’s Director of Digital Acceleration

It was against this backdrop of evolving technologies and shifting priorities that Kallik, in partnership with Kenvue, hosted our session: "Driving Supply Chain Results via AI Artwork Management and Labeling: The Kenvue Story." 

Gurdip Singh, CEO of Kallik, set the stage by highlighting the often-underestimated complexity of labeling, stating, "I came and joined the industry, and I was shocked to hear how many manual processes operate, how many mistakes are made. And it's something that I think is really critical for leaders like yourselves to fully embrace in terms of how much value can really be derived from that." 

Joe Konopka, Director of Digital Acceleration at Kenvue, then shared a real-world example of how the leading consumer health company is leveraging best-in-class tools and artificial intelligence to transform its artwork management and labeling processes. The session saw Konopka highlight how Kenvue transformed its labeling and artwork process from a fragmented, manual, and error-prone system into a streamlined, end-to-end digital ecosystem. Facing challenges during their split from Johnson & Johnson, they created a bold vision focused not just on replacing systems, but on accelerating innovation, improving compliance, and reducing rework through digitization. 

And the results speak for themselves. In one case, they were able to make packaging changes 95% faster — just by reusing existing content: "Now, it’s as simple as copy-paste." More than just speed, the transformation helped change mindsets. Konopka explained, "And so we started to ask, 'well, what if it wasn't that way?' 'Could you make more changes?' 'Could we be more dynamic?' 'Could we be more agile?'"

By building a structured content library and integrating AI to automate data handling—from ingredient updates to Amazon listings—they enabled content reuse, quicker label changes, and improved consistency across markets. Crucially, they emphasized change management, taking a phased approach that won internal buy-in and shifted organizational mindsets toward data quality and digital-first thinking.

Singh concluded the session by urging attendees to reconsider their perception of labeling, stating, "My last message to everyone here is, do think about labeling very differently to it just being a back-end process that underpins the business. It's an absolutely invaluable asset to accelerate your business."

You can watch the full session here to find out more about Kenvue’s digital transformation and its benefits.

Want to Know More?

Overall, the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/XPO was a great opportunity to have meaningful discussions with some of the world’s leading supply chain professionals. For those of us in labeling and artwork management, it’s clear that AI, smarter data use, changing consumer expectations, and the growing demand for digital skills aren’t just buzzwords—they’re real drivers of change. 
 

Here at Kallik, our experts are here to help businesses stay ahead of the curve, building labeling and artwork processes that are agile, compliant, and future-ready. Our session with Kenvue was a great example of what’s possible when the right technology meets a bold vision. Want to see how we can help you stay ahead of the change? Get in touch with us today by emailing enquiries@kallik.com or calling +44 (0) 1827 318100. Alternatively, click here to book a demo and see what our software can do for your business.