It’ s therefore no shock that digitalisation remains at the heart of the function’ s evolution. The survey findings confirm what many in the sector already know; digital procurement is advancing, but full maturity still feels some way off.

The average digital adoption score of 3.2 tells a story we see echoed across the sector. Most organisations have moved beyond the basics, investing in e-procurement platforms and spend analytics to gain much-needed visibility and control. This is a clear signal that procurement leaders are focused

on foundational efficiency and smarter decision making, especially as cost pressures and supply chain volatility show no sign of easing.

Meanwhile, the strong appetite for AI-powered solutions and risk management tools further exposes a collective drive to build resilience and agility – no one wants to be caught out without a plan.

That said, these systems often sit in isolation, making it hard to link data across business units. Legacy systems, integration headaches and a shortage of digital skills remain stubborn obstacles, even where the tools are available, as not every team has the time, talent or support to use them well. Budget constraints and resistance to change only add to the challenge, making it clear that steady progress alone won’ t be enough to keep pace with the speed of disruption.

32 The Procurement Survey 2025