Forrester Reports On AI In Procurement
Forrester advises procurement leaders to experiment with AI while setting boundaries, according to their new report. This approach can help organizations augment their processes without sacrificing control.
Original reporting · forrester.com
Original: “AI In Procurement: Experiment Like A Teenager”
Read “AI In Procurement: Experiment Like A Teenager” at Forrester →
How this was written. ABM Fuel wrote this article with a language model from Forrester’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.
Key points from Forrester’s report
- Forrester advises procurement leaders to experiment with AI while setting boundaries.
- Augmentation, rather than autonomy, is the primary focus for most procurement organizations.
- Operational fit is crucial when selecting a supplier value management platform.
Forrester's new report, The Forrester Wave: Supplier Value Management Platforms, Q4 2026, explores the use of AI in procurement, highlighting the importance of experimentation and boundaries.
According to Forrester, the market is moving towards agentic AI, but most procurement organizations should focus on augmentation rather than autonomy. AI can handle manual and repetitive tasks, guide employees, and enforce controls.
Procurement leaders should prioritize operational fit when selecting a supplier value management platform, considering factors such as workflows, architecture, and integration requirements. More features do not necessarily mean more value.
The report emphasizes the need to measure outcomes rather than AI activity, starting with small, high-impact use cases and establishing measurable outcomes before expanding. This approach can help build trust and create a foundation for scaling agentic AI.
Forrester's evaluation found that platforms that create the most value are often those that best fit the enterprise, rather than those with the longest feature list. This distinction is crucial when working with AI, as automating complexity rather than removing it can be a risk.
By following these guidelines, procurement organizations can effectively leverage AI to improve their processes and outcomes, according to Forrester.
Questions and answers
What is the primary focus for most procurement organizations when it comes to AI?
Augmentation, rather than autonomy, is the primary focus for most procurement organizations.
How should procurement leaders measure the success of AI in procurement?
Procurement leaders should measure outcomes rather than AI activity, starting with small, high-impact use cases and establishing measurable outcomes before expanding.
What is the importance of operational fit when selecting a supplier value management platform?
Operational fit is crucial when selecting a supplier value management platform, as it considers factors such as workflows, architecture, and integration requirements.
