PROCUREMENT STRATEGY
“The best procurement people will be those who combine technology with commercial instinct, supplier knowledge and strategic vision”
Michelle Lau Managing Director Alibaba. com
“ AI will evolve into an autonomous co-worker, operating under the direction and supervision of human procurement professionals,” he explains.
“ We will see AI independently managing end-to-end scenarios for targeted, risk-appropriate acquisitions where agents excel and less subjective judgment is required.”
This collaborative future is already taking shape, with agencies like the US Air Force replacing fragmented workflows with integrated digital ecosystems to boost speed and visibility.
“ This future isn’ t about replacement, it’ s about partnership. Ultimately, an optimised ecosystem is one where technology acts as a force multiplier, freeing humans to focus entirely on strategic leadership, governance and relationship building,” Ben concludes.
86 August 2026