How will procurement transform in 2026?
2025 was another year of widespread change and transformation for procurement teams around the world. Looking ahead, the pace of transformation certainly isn’t set to slow over the next 12 months.
AI and other emerging technologies are transforming what’s possible within procurement organizations, but bring with them a raft of new challenges to tackle. Ongoing global disruption has forced procurement to step into new roles within the business, some of which are still taking shape. And as more leaders realize that technology alone doesn’t drive lasting transformation, teams are set to refocus on the human element of delivering procurement excellence.
Here are 10 trends that we expect to reshape procurement throughout 2026 and beyond:
#1) AI adoption will become more risk aware
Now that the initial hype around AI has worn off and most teams have some practical experience using it in some capacity, we expect to see procurement leaders approach AI in a much more pragmatic and risk aware manner.
That will manifest in longer, more strategic buying cycles for AI-powered solutions and platforms, and help teams move past adopting “AI for AI’s sake”. In addition to helping them avoid some of risk that AI can introduce into modern businesses, this will also help leaders ensure that their investments into AI deliver the right kind of returns.
#2) AI truly will be “everywhere”
Throughout 2025 we’ve seen AI find applications in more areas of the end-to-end procurement process than ever before. Now, looking ahead to 2026, it won’t be long until AI has a role at every single step of that process.
We’re on the precipice of an end-to-end AI-enabled procurement process. All that remains to be seen now is how procurement leaders will keep humans in the loop to ensure AI delivers the right results and outcomes for their business.
#3) Even more AI-powered procurement platforms will appear
Recent years have seen a proliferation of AI-powered platforms and dashboards designed to support procurement teams. As AI technology matures, the number of solutions available on the market is only going to grow — making it even tougher for leaders to select the right tools and find insight and intelligence partners they can truly trust.
#4) The agentic AI revolution will begin in earnest
Agentic AI has made global headlines in 2025. But in 2026, we’ll finally start to see the impact it can have on procurement workflows. By turning insight into action automatically, processing data in real-time, and enabling humans and AI to collaborate using natural language, agentic AI is set to fundamentally transform what’s possible within procurement.
#5) AI-related skills will intensify the battle for top procurement talent even further
For years, a general skills shortage has seen procurement leaders struggle to attract and retain the kind of top talent they need to drive great results across their operations. Now, as AI becomes a core aspect of most procurement workflows, the list of skills required of modern procurement professionals is growing even longer — and that’s putting talent strategy at the top of many teams’ agendas for 2026.
#6) Procurement’s sustainability focus may slide
Following a year of so-called “greenhushing” we expect to see procurement’s focus on sustainable sourcing continue to slip somewhat in 2026. For many, bottom line productivity and cost minimization will remain the core goal, with ESG ambitions set to take a back seat — even with regulations growing across many geographies.
#7) Technological and organizational transformation will become one
In modern procurement departments, technological transformation is an enabler of organizational change, and vice versa. As teams have experimented with digital transformation, many have learned that technological and organizational change are irrevocably linked, and must be approached together, in unison.
#8) Building regional resilience remains a top priority
Following years of intense and widespread supply chain and category disruption, procurement teams are expected to stay focused on building regional risk mitigation throughout 2026. By building more diverse supplier portfolios within and across regions, and horizon scanning to spot risks earlier, we expect to see many organizations turn a corner in their mission to bolster regional resilience.
#9) Supplier relationships will become even more crucial to your success
On the topic of resilience, the past few years have shown us just how important it is to have close, strategic relationships with suppliers during times of disruption. But that’s just one of the reasons why procurement leaders must invest in building great supplier relationships. From enabling collaborative innovation to sharing data and insights to mutually improve resilience, strong supplier relationships are the foundation of robust procurement activity today.
#10) Procurement will steer organizations through a continuous stream of changes
Nobody ever really knows what the year ahead will hold. But based on what we’ve seen lately, we can reliably say that procurement will have a major role to play in helping organizations navigate multiple disruptive market and geopolitical changes.
Whether it’s adapting to new tariffs and restrictions, or overcoming materials and shipping shortages, 2026 will undoubtedly bring exciting and unforeseen challenges that organizations will depend on their procurement teams to overcome.
Keep up with our latest insights throughout the year ahead
Whatever happens in 2026, WNS Procurement will bring you the latest insights to help you optimize your operations and rise to new challenges that emerge. As always, to follow our latest insights and see how the procurement landscape is evolving, visit here.