SOURCING IN 2026

Procurement at an Inflection Point

How CPOs can combine volatility with technology to get ahead in 2026

Foreword by Keelvar CEO & Founder Alan Holland

In today’s dynamic and unpredictable markets, agility has shifted from a strategic advantage to a fundamental necessity. Embracing AI and automation is essential to stay ahead of your competitors. Leaders that are rolling out AI agents in sourcing and procurement are achieving unmatched efficiency and agility, allowing their teams to focus on impact whilst letting machines take care of repetitive tasks. 2025 is the year of decisive action.
Organizations that invest in AI and automation now will secure their place at the forefront of innovation and redefine success in procurement.

Our top 4 insights:

49%

cite decision-making speed and quality as a top internal challenge

53%

think sustainability is a low priority for 2026

65%

say inflation and rising costs as a top external concern

90%

of organizations where tech adoption is mandated top-down acquired technology in the last 12 months

who took the survey?

100+ respondents in the procurement and sourcing industry

From all over the globe: North America, Europe & UK, Latin America, Middle East and Asia Pacific

Across a variety of roles such as manager, director, C-suite, VP and specialist

Across 8 categories including transport, retail, MRO, manufacturing, and more

Topics we cover in the report:

External volatility outpaces internal decision-making

Has the tolerance for inefficiency collapsed?

How resilience is built incrementally, not bought overnight

Who is responsible for Enterprise resilience?

Why some organizations see value from procurement technology, and others don’t

What Procurement actually needs from vendors next

the detail is in the data

Why some organizations see value from procurement technology, and others don’t

As 2026 approaches, leaders will be those who compress the journey from deployment to measurable outcomes, shifting focus from acquiring technology to accelerating time to value.

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Where CPO control ends and ecosystem support must begin

If the next phase of procurement transformation is to scale, the burden cannot sit with CPOs alone. Vendors and partners must do more.

Discover the data

Check out the latest insights

Customer stories

Hear from Keelvar customers on how they are transforming their sourcing processes

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