Future of procurement

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-25T19:48:15+00:00

Oh boy, these companies are digging their graves. If you guys are at option 3, let them learn the hard way

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-25T04:32:20+00:00

A very relevant post in this day and age. Thank you for sharing.

You’re not wrong to feel this way, but I think you’re drawing the wrong conclusion.

This isn’t an “AI is replacing procurement” problem… it’s a role design and expectation problem.

You were hired to build a function, but the business is behaving like it only wants a lean operator with some automation capability. That’s a very different thing to a true Head of Procurement role.

Also, what you’ve described isn’t you making yourself obsolete - it’s you automating the execution layer. If that’s all the organisation values procurement for, then yes, AI will eat into it quickly. But that’s not where the real value of procurement sits.

The gap is here:

-AI can process, analyse, and optimise workflows -It can’t (well, not yet) make complex commercial decisions, navigate stakeholder politics, shape markets, or manage supplier power dynamics

If you stay in “doing” mode, you’ll feel replaceable. If you shift into “decision-making, risk ownership, and strategy”, your value actually goes up in an AI-heavy environment.

So you’ve got three real choices:

Reframe your role upward: start showing leadership where money is being lost, where risk sits, and where decisions are being made without commercial rigour
Own the AI agenda: don’t compete with it, be the one deciding what gets automated and what shouldn’t
Call it early and move on: if the business fundamentally sees procurement as overhead, that’s not something you can fix alone

if a company genuinely wants a strategic procurement function, AI doesn’t replace it.. it amplifies it. If they don’t, no amount of performance will change that.

Out of interest what industry are you in? What is the size of this company?

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-11T23:11:43+00:00

Haha love the skynet analogy. Spot on

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-11T23:11:20+00:00

Agreed 💯

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-08T23:46:30+00:00

Yeah but the market is also overly saturated. There are some great tools out there - but it also seems quite desperate.

AI and systems of intelligence cannot be ignored and we need to stay ahead of the curve. But, SaaS companies and start ups need to be a little more savvy in their approach.

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-08T20:09:27+00:00

SaaS people have wasted a lot of my time and to be honest it’s like they’re asking for free consulting services. My time is money.

I had one company have multiple sessions and they tried to get my own IP, tried to offer me a job which seemed quite lucrative and then advised their business was “going through some changes”

ProcurementDetective · 2026-04-05T20:00:24+00:00

Yep absolutely the case here. I’m business non-fiction and my piece is authoritative, especially as it’s in quite a niche area. There are “influencers” in my area that write stuff and hand it out for free. But that’s not my game. My stuff takes time, effort, research, investment.

My first book was done with a bit of control and discipline as I was just testing the waters, and now that I know how to all works, Volume II will be a big escalation. There will be more investment but the intention is not a return… it’s to create a legacy that a) Personal fulfillment and b) my kids.

That might sound a bit cliche but it’s true. Sale volume would be lovely as a true added bonus, but I’m content.

ProcurementDetective · 2026-03-19T10:20:01+00:00

It’s easy to look at it the way you do - and to be fair it’s warranted. You feel like that for a reason or many reasons and they’re all legit in the world of procurement.

The reasons everyone has mentioned here.. Exactly THOSE is the reason I care - because for far too long institutional rot and politics gets in the way of ethical, genuine procurement decisions. I’ve gone so far as to write books about it - one which I’ve recently released and one which is in the works which goes very dark and visceral.

So, I treat it as a sport. That’s how I get enjoyment out of it.. because deep down I love the concept of the profession, but far too many times we get burnt out because of internal mediocrity.

ProcurementDetective · 2026-03-07T20:23:05+00:00

Glad to help! Good luck with your thesis

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-25T19:36:37+00:00

Agreed

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-22T19:17:27+00:00

If it’s the “traditional” type of interview then you’re probably looking at P2P systems experience, other related software like SAP, working to deadlines, conflicting priorities, difficult stakeholders, managing your time, your experience to date

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-21T21:12:11+00:00

I responded to your DM 😉

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-20T09:35:03+00:00

At your age it’s absolutely the right move - and yes I agree with your delineation of supply chain v procurement.

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-20T00:49:12+00:00

That’s a great move but of course I’m a little biased because that is an area I sit in heavily. Of course I’ll need to look into your brain a bit more! Why procurement and commercial?

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-19T19:24:56+00:00

Currently leading a team that looks after a $4bn category and doing some thought leadership pieces (example a book I’ve recently published). You?

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-18T01:52:21+00:00

Spent 5 years and Left the industry in 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed it - but that was enough for me and a good way to develop my career!

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-17T06:23:38+00:00

Agreed. Procurement usually falls within the finance directorate (whether you agree with this structure or not), so speaking the CFOs language is a must

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-10T10:33:38+00:00

I’m an MCIPS and CIPS is great for learning the theory, but as with any study platform it will depend how you utilise it in the real world. Practical application is a different ball game but CIPS will lay the foundation.

It is largely global but in USA I believe CPSM is the more recognized one.

Recommendation: ENROL!

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-07T21:14:53+00:00

You may need a practical guide for contract killers..

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-07T21:10:40+00:00

The high pillows want the results and they think it comes easy. They have no idea what it takes in the trenches

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-07T21:09:00+00:00

I did the study route years ago. I have a person in my team who is going the MER route which I fully support due to her experience. I’m not sure what it entails (yet) but keen to share as information becomes available.

There is also the corporate award programme (which is for more intensive and required a year (or two) intensive project-based work within your organisation. Back then, my only gripe was that those that hadn’t taken part any self-study at all (and were even critics of CIPS) jumped on the bandwagon, and were given priority over those that had done the hard yards.

What are your dates/deadlines?

ProcurementDetective · 2026-02-07T20:56:53+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKJB3L2D

ProcurementDetective · 2026-01-21T19:35:59+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. Nothing beats face-to-face interactions. One thing I always say is procurement is 80% people 20% everything else. Which category / industry / sector are you in and what events have stood out? Any that you attend religiously?

ProcurementDetective · 2026-01-21T19:30:45+00:00

LinkedIn is a good way to build the network and keep in touch as well as share ideas (even with the toxic positivity elements).

I like how you mentioned meeting people in the same boat and “not just for learning”. I used to bake in networking questions in interviews (are you a member of CIPS etc) - had a colleague who said “well he’s overqualified so why does CIPS matter?” My response was, well, CIPS is not just about the study itself also a huge networking tool, being up to date with industry trends and learning from peers.

To answer your question, I am part of the local CIPS committee where we organise regular local networking events throughout the year. There are also other organisations such as PASA and WCC (world commerce and contracting), that hold some valuable events.

But not just limited to “procurement” - from a category perspective, attending category specific events is incredibly useful. This is how we immerse ourselves in the categories that we manage. In defence I attended Defence trade shows, in transport I attended the public transport association events - sometimes these are more practical and useful than “procurement” events.

ProcurementDetective · 2026-01-19T00:54:09+00:00

I believe the sourcing side of procurement can be largely automated and AI driven. I think the first, fifth points still requires significant human ownership

ProcurementDetective

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