PROCUREMENT TECHNOLOGY
Chris Sawchuk, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group, says:“ RPA wasn’ t necessarily designed to redefine workflows, but more to improve the efficiency of current activities and workflows. Today, RPA is being reimagined, augmented and integrated with generative AI whilst morphing into agentic AI.”
Now, RPA is being used to help create new possibilities for procurement teams. Rather than simply speeding up manual processes, organisations are discovering that the combination of RPA with advanced AI delivers transformational results.
As Krish explains:“ The real leap forward is happening when they combine RPA with agentic AI.
These aren’ t competing technologies. RPA handles structured, rules-based work. Agentic AI steps in to analyse bids, flag contract risks and guide supplier choices.”
This evolution can be seen with how NTT DATA is using agentic AI to create a new ecosystem of enterprisegrade AI agents with solutions tailored for industry to transform businesses – along with a patented plug-in solution which will turn legacy bots into autonomous intelligent agents and an expanded key alliance network for providing best-fit solutions.
Millions of RPA bots have been deployed by businesses worldwide for rules-based automation. Similar to a plug-in module that turns a basic television into a smart TV, NTT DATA’ s new solution can transform bots
SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: THE TRUTH ABOUT RPA IMPLEMENTATION
Success requires realistic expectation setting. Chris believes there is a“ major misconception” that procurement leaders face with RPA-based automation initiatives – that they( by themselves) will deliver unrealistic staff takeout targets.
Instead, organisations should look to realistic efficiency improvements integrated with broader process transformation.
The job security concerns surrounding RPA implementation require careful management. Chris advises setting a vision as to the transformation required in the organisation to enhance business-enabling value, including removing repetitive activities whilst creating opportunities for higher-value work.
124 September 2025