Sage adds Copilot AI to Operations for supply chains

Sage has added its generative AI assistant, Sage Copilot, to Sage Operations, a cloud product used by manufacturing and distribution businesses to manage fulfilment and supply chain workflows.

The company said the update gives operational teams earlier insight into issues that affect orders, inventory and customer commitments. It also forms part of a wider plan for AI agents inside operational software.

Sage Operations previously traded as Sage Distribution and Manufacturing Operations. Sage said it will use the Sage Operations name when the product stands alone. It will use a paired name when it sits inside another Sage suite, such as Operations for Sage Intacct.

Operational focus

Sage said Sage Copilot surfaces insights on operational, fulfilment and customer issues. It said users can identify potential delays and bottlenecks earlier. It also said users can see drivers of operational risk and take action sooner.

The company said Sage Copilot delivers insights inside existing workflows. It said staff can prioritise tasks and resolve issues without switching between systems or running manual checks.

Sage said manufacturers and distributors face pressure to improve visibility across supply chain activity. It pointed to research that suggests a larger role for generative AI in performance reporting. Sage cited a Gartner prediction that 25% of supply chain KPI reporting will be powered by GenAI models by 2028.

Rob Sinfield, SVP, ERP, Sage, said the company designed the update around operational complexity.

"Manufacturers and distributors need tools that cut through complexity, not add to it," said Rob Sinfield, SVP, ERP, Sage. "Sage Copilot gives teams a clearer view of emerging risks so they can act before problems escalate and safeguard service quality. By bringing trusted AI into everyday operational decisions, it strengthens performance where speed, accuracy and customer expectations matter most."

Product scope

Sage Operations targets manufacturing and distribution businesses. Sage describes it as a single workflow that covers sales orders, inventory, procurement, fulfilment and customer communication.

The company said the product supports work across multiple warehouses, locations and companies. It also said the system uses connected operational data across stock, orders, suppliers and fulfilment.

Sage positioned the Copilot addition as part of a shift in how operations teams handle exceptions. The company said it expects fewer manual checks and faster responses to fulfilment risks as it develops the product further.

Agentic roadmap

Sage said the Copilot launch in Sage Operations lays groundwork for "intelligent operational agents" embedded across the manufacturing and distribution lifecycle. It said these agents will flag emerging issues. It also said they will increasingly take on routine decision and action work that currently sits with operational teams.

The company framed the approach as domain-specific assistants placed directly in workflow. It said it designed them around the way operational teams work day to day.

Sage said the work sits on the Sage Platform. It described the platform as a base for connected data, AI services and workflow across supply chain operations.