@inbook{886aa57575dc4d4e91e59dedf752275e,
title = "AI in Inventory Management: The Disruptive Era of DRL and Beyond",
abstract = "Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has demonstrated significant potential for solving complex decision-making problems, including inventory control in large-scale supply chains. While DRL{\textquoteright}s ability to handle vast state and action spaces and enable near real-time decision-making is compelling, its practical application in this domain so far has yielded mixed results. We reflect on the progress and persistent challenges of applying DRL to real-world inventory control. We explore the gap between initial enthusiasm and the realities of implementation, highlighting key obstacles that must be addressed to unlock DRL{\textquoteright}s full potential. Despite these challenges, we argue that DRL remains a promising avenue to transform supply chains.",
keywords = "Deep reinforcement learning, Implementation challenges, Inventory management, Supply chain optimization",
author = "Joren Gijsbrechts and Boute, \{Robert N.\} and Mieghem, \{Jan A.Van\} and Zhang, \{Dennis J.\}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.",
year = "2026",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1007/978-3-032-07054-8\_10",
language = "English",
series = "Springer Series in Supply Chain Management",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
pages = "137--148",
booktitle = "Springer Series in Supply Chain Management",
address = "United Kingdom",
}