The landscape of procurement technology is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements anticipated during 2025, driven by the continued integration of digital maturity, advanced, and agentic AI. Insights from industry leaders  Lance Younger (ProcureTech) and Dr. Elouise Epstein (Kearney) together with digital native leaders Nikki Aladi (Roche),  Matt Nixon (LibertyGlobal), and Ulrik Soreaas (ProcureTech) highlighted key trends that are set to shape the future of procurement. 

Imagine procurement platforms that can adapt and personalise themselves based on individual user needs, all thanks to AI, because this is what consumers already see in platforms that they use like Netflix, Spotify, and TikTok.  They already know what you want before you want it, and it'll raise the expectations of what everyone expects to see in B2B platforms as well, which means intuitive and responsive experiences that feel tailor made just for you, even within procurement.” 

– Nikki Aladi, Digital Enablement Manager, Roche 

💫 Strategic Application of AI 

AI continues to rapidly transition from creating transactional efficiencies to strategic applications that are adding value and enhancing productivity across procurement processes. Organisations are leveraging AI for tasks including RFP creation and to identify inefficiencies, moving towards greater integration and routine use driving return on investment.  

🦾 Rise of AI Agents 

The introduction of procurement-specific AI agents is gaining momentum, with numerous startups and companies developing capabilities in this area. Designed to perform end-to-end tasks, Agentic AI solutions are enhancing productivity not only within procurement but also in collaboration with businesses and suppliers.  

💡 Enhanced User Experience 

 Refining and improving the user experience remains a critical focus, with a shift towards simplified, conversational, and mobile interfaces. Ensuring a high degree of intuitive and responsive experiences that cater to individual user needs, whether for internal procurement or supply chain teams, or for external suppliers, this trend is being driven by a need to align to consumer platforms with ease-of-use at the forefront. 

🔍 End-to-End Automation 

Automation is extending beyond process efficiency to include analytics and data management across multiple divergent platforms and solutions, creating a truly orchestrated procurement ecosystem. Dynamic workflow adaptation and agentic workflows are becoming integral, predicting the next steps in processes and offering organisational benefits. 

🌏 Resilience and Sustainability 

Resilience and sustainability are becoming core considerations for many organisations, particularly in the European market. Companies are focusing on understanding the implications of global and local threats, with a strong emphasis on resilience. Sustainability is being redefined, with organisations becoming more focused on what it means for them, whether it's about carbon, natural resources, or compliance. 

📊 Data as a Differentiator 

Data is increasingly seen as a key differentiator, and ensuring clean and accurate data is the foundation for building advanced automation and AI capabilities, creating opportunities to enhance performance. Through leveraging data to drive strategic decisions, flag areas for improvement, and improve overall procurement value, strong, accurate data, is an imperative.  

⚙️ The Role of Digital Skills 

As digitalisation progresses, the importance of digital skills is paramount. Key skills include digital literacy, an obsession with data, and an agile mindset. Leaders also recognised creative problem-solving mindsets, and a curiosity or willingness to try new solutions as core enablers of the digital future in procurement. 

 ⭐ The Predictions 

From a list of more than 30 industry trends and predictions shared by digital procurement leaders, the field was narrowed to just 6 key themes or predictions for 2025: Strategic AI, Agentic AI, User Experience, End-to-End Automation, and Resilience & Sustainability. We polled the audience to identify which of these resonated most, and the audience agreed, it’s Agentic AI! 

Conclusion 

The future of procurement technology is set to be shaped by strategic AI applications, the rise of AI agents, enhanced user experiences, end-to-end automation, resilience, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making. As these trends unfold, organisations must focus on developing the necessary digital skills and capabilities to stay ahead in the evolving landscape. 

The insights from industry leaders underscore the need for motivation and adaptability in embracing these changes, ensuring that procurement technology continues to deliver value and drive innovation in 2025 and beyond. 

📽️ Watch the full webinar recording here!