Welcome to "Executive Summary" - the Vertice Community's regular digest of the latest insights in procurement and finance.

Each month, we bring together key industry trends, expert opinions, and must-know updates to keep you ahead of the curve. 

This month, we're diving into a topic that's shaping the future of procurement: AI, automation, and data analytics.

From AI-driven efficiencies to data-powered decision-making, the landscape is evolving fast. But what does that mean for procurement teams today? How are leaders tackling challenges like data quality, automation strategy, and AI adoption?

We’ve gathered insights from leading sources to give you a clear picture of where things stand - and where they’re headed.

AI, automation and data in Procurement

The role of AI, automation, and data analytics in procurement is rapidly evolving, with organizations increasingly looking to these technologies to enhance efficiency, optimize decision-making, and drive strategic value.

But integrating these tools presents both opportunities and challenges to procurement leaders. 

AI and data analytics as Procurement priorities

‍According to a Digital Commerce 360 report, procurement executives are prioritizing AI and data analytics to gain better spending visibility and improve sourcing strategies.

A survey of 100 chief procurement officers found that 38% are focusing on enhancing data analytics capabilities, while 33% are looking to AI and machine learning to automate routine tasks. 

Additionally, 60% of CPOs plan to collaborate with IT leadership to ensure seamless integration of procurement technologies with broader digital transformation initiatives.

Eldar Tuvey, CEO of Vertice, notes that while AI-powered tools are beginning to impact procurement in areas like data analysis and contract negotiations, the real value today lies in automation. 

A recent survey by Vertice found that organizations with strong procurement automation processes are 29% faster at bringing new services and products to market and 32% more able to implement new initiatives.

The importance of data quality for AI implementation

‍A major challenge in AI adoption is ensuring clean and structured data. As highlighted in Supply Chain 360, procurement teams must establish a strong data foundation before deploying AI tools - as Vlad Brincoveanu of GEP emphasizes;

This sentiment reflects a growing consensus that data quality and accessibility are essential for AI-driven procurement functions to succeed. 

Eldar Tuvey echoes this sentiment, warning that introducing automation into a poorly structured setup will limit its effectiveness.

‍AI Agents enhance the automation that’s driving Procurement efficiency‍

A recent Icertis-sponsored study reported that 90% of procurement leaders are considering or are already using AI-driven agents to improve efficiency and supplier management. 

These AI agents help automate contract negotiations, risk assessment, and compliance tracking, allowing procurement teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.

However, AI agents are typically not plug-and-play tools that are freely available or low-cost, but are instead sophisticated software solutions, often integrated into enterprise procurement platforms or custom-built to fit an organization’s needs.

This highlights the investment of time, money, effort and risk companies are willing to inject into AI. Despite procurement not being at the forefront of AI advancement, its promise and potential in this field is clearly too good to ignore. 

Procurement’s shift from cost-saving to value creation - and data’s role in this

Procurement is no longer just about cutting costs—it’s about driving business growth and strategic impact. Organizations are increasingly using data analytics and deeper performance metrics to go beyond traditional cost reduction and instead optimize supplier relationships, enhance risk management, and unlock new revenue opportunities.

Sarah Willmott, CPO at Nationwide Building Society, explains this shift

Procurement teams are now leveraging granular data insights, not only to negotiate better pricing but also to improve supplier collaboration, ensure resilience, and create long-term value.

By adopting metrics that matter - such as approval times per function, security certification rates and procurement ROI - organizations can take a more data-driven, strategic approach. This enables procurement to become a key enabler of business performance, rather than just a cost-control function.

Conclusion‍

As AI, automation, and data analytics continue to reshape procurement, organizations that prioritize data quality, invest in automated insights, and integrate procurement technologies strategically will gain a competitive edge.

However, as experts caution, the success of these technologies depends on a solid foundation of clean data and well-planned implementation strategies.

The coming year will see procurement leaders refining their approach to AI adoption, ensuring they maximize its potential to drive efficiency, agility, and strategic business outcomes.

We want to hear from you

What's keeping you up at night, procurement leaders?

What challenges are you facing with AI and automation? What technologies are transforming your work? What questions are your leadership team asking?

Share your insights, struggles, and curiosity. Help us create content that speaks directly to your most pressing procurement and technology challenges.

Get in touch here and join the conversation and submit your insights drive the discussion.

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Sources 

1. Digital Commerce 360 – "Procurement executives prioritize AI and data analytics for better spending visibility and improved sourcing strategies"
   https://www.digitalcommerce360.com
2. Supply Chain 360 – "AI, Agility, and the Procurement Shake-Up: Key Insights from GEP’s Europe Tour 2025"
   https://supplychain360.io/ai-agility-procurement-gep-2025/
3. Icertis-sponsored study – "90% of procurement leaders are considering or using AI-driven agents for supplier management and contract automation"
   https://www.icertis.com‍
4. CPO Strategy Interview with Eldar Tuvey (Vertice CEO) – "Automation is driving the biggest tangible benefits in procurement today"https://cpostrategy.media/blog/magazines/cpostrategy-issue-59/