Where Procurement Roles Should Focus

Belum

23 Dec 2025 — 1 min read

(2026 and Beyond)

Let’s be real.
Layoffs and market shake-ups have everyone asking: “What’s next for procurement careers?” Here’s the good news, roles aren’t disappearing, they’re transforming. And if you want to stay ahead, here’s where to put your energy.

Embrace Digital Skills

Forget clunky legacy systems. The future belongs to smart, AI-driven platforms that give you actionable insights. Tools like SourceSight are redefining how teams predict trends, manage supplier risk, and optimize sourcing strategies. If you’re not comfortable with digital tools yet, now’s the time to dive in.

Strengthen Strategic Thinking

Automation is taking care of the repetitive stuff. Your edge? Big-picture thinking. Category strategy, risk management, and supplier relationships are where humans shine. Roles like Strategic Category Manager and Supplier Relationship Manager will be in high demand.

Cultivate Soft Skills

Here’s the kicker, tech alone won’t make you indispensable. Negotiation, collaboration, and emotional intelligence will. Procurement is becoming more integrated with executive decision-making, so being able to influence and communicate effectively is huge.

Final thought?
Procurement careers are shifting toward tech-enabled, insight-driven, and strategy-focused roles. Upskill now (especially with tools like SourceSight) and you’ll be ready for whatever’s next.

Proactive vs. Reactive: Moving Beyond the Price Increase Letter

The most successful procurement teams do not just react well to price increase letters; they build systems that make those letters irrelevant. Managing indirect categories requires a shift from spot-buying to long-term category strategy. 1. Build "Should-Cost" Models Do you know what it should cost to maintain your

Don’t Just Say No: A 4-Step Framework to Vet Supplier Price Increases

When a supplier sends a price increase letter citing "market conditions," your first response should not be a flat rejection; it should be a demand for transparency. If your organization is currently accepting increases without data-backed pushback, use this four-step framework to regain control. 1. The Justification Audit

The Invisible Margin Killer: Why Indirect Price Increases Go Unnoticed

In many organizations, direct spend (which includes raw materials and production goods) is guarded like a fortress. However, indirect spend, comprising the software, facilities, and services that keep the lights on, often has an open gate policy. When a price increase letter for a SaaS platform or an office cleaning

AI ROI: A Practical Path Forward

After publishing the first two parts of this series, I heard the same sentiment from leaders across industries: “We use AI and it’s very useful, but we can’t scale the results.” The good news is that most organizations are not far behind their peers. The bad news is