Procurement Statistics — 60 Key Figures of 2026

The 60 Key Procurement Statistics Figures of 2026

1. Procurement Software Market to reach $9.5 Billion in Value by 2028

According to Verified Market Research, the entire procurement software market is expected to reach $9.5 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 7.6%. Thus, the development of the market will also project the increase in the flow of international and global business transactions, especially procurement. 

2. The Spend Analytics Market is Projected to Grow at a 17.9% CAGR During 2025–2030

Procurement teams are expanding spend analytics to gain unified visibility, benchmark suppliers, and uncover savings opportunities across categories. 

The market outlook highlights accelerating adoption of cloud-based platforms and embedded AI, with established providers such as IBM, SAP, Coupa, JAGGAER, and SAS shaping competitive capabilities.

3. Overall, US Purchasing Managers’ Employment to Decline by 6% by 2032

A recent study conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a decline of 6% in the overall employment of purchasing managers and purchasing agents in the US procurement teams of companies. Moreover, despite this figure, there is a projected number of up to 45,000 job openings for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents annually. 

4. Top-quartile CPOs Teams Allocate 24% of Their Budget to Technology in  2026

Top-quartile CPO teams plan to allocate approximately 24 % of their budgets to technology by 2026, including investments in digital tools and automation. 

This allocation reflects the growing importance of technological solutions in improving efficiency, analytics, and agility in procurement functions. Investments in technology enable teams to enhance decision-making and better manage supply chain risks.

5. 85% of Organizations Prioritize Sustainable Procurement

By 2026, 85% of companies will actively embed sustainability and ESG criteria into procurement processes, requiring environmental standards and supplier transparency.

Driven by new regulations and customer expectations, sustainable procurement is now a central part of corporate strategy, influencing supplier selection and contracting.

6. 80% of Companies Have Digitalized Procurement Processes

Over 80% of companies are expected to have digitized procurement processes using e‑procurement tools and automated platforms by 2026 to streamline workflows, reduce errors, and lower operational costs. 

This shift toward digital solutions reflects a broader industry move to improve efficiency and real‑time data visibility across sourcing and purchasing functions.

7. 75% of Large Enterprises Will Use AI-Driven Procurement

By 2026, an estimated three‑quarters of large enterprises are projected to adopt AI‑driven procurement solutions that automate tasks such as supplier selection, spend analysis, and risk prediction to enhance decision‑making. 

This reflects how advanced technologies are transforming procurement from a reactive to a predictive and strategic function.

8. 70% of Companies Will Integrate ESG Metrics in Supplier Scorecards

Around 70% of organizations are expected to integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) metrics into supplier scorecards in the lead‑up to 2026, driven by regulatory pressure and stakeholder expectations for ethical and sustainable sourcing. 

Adding ESG dimensions to scorecards helps companies systematically evaluate supplier sustainability performance alongside traditional criteria like cost and delivery.

9. 48% of CPOs Plan Major Investment in Predictive Analytics

About 48 % of Chief Procurement Officers are expected to allocate significant budgets to predictive analytics tools in 2026 to enhance forecasting accuracy and supplier risk management. 

This increased investment reflects a broader emphasis on data‑driven decision‑making that improves procurement planning and anticipates disruptions before they occur.

10. 67% of Suppliers Enabled for E-Invoicing

By 2026, it’s estimated that around 67 % of suppliers will be enabled for e‑invoicing within leading procurement teams, moving invoice capture toward touchless automation. 

Enabling suppliers for e‑invoicing not only accelerates payment cycles but also improves accuracy and compliance across procure‑to‑pay workflows.

11. 47% of Organizations Actively Manage Scope 3 Emissions

About 47 % of procurement groups are projected to actively manage Scope 3 emissions by 2026, engaging suppliers to measure and reduce upstream carbon impacts. 

Addressing Scope 3 is critical because these indirect emissions typically represent the largest component of a company’s total environmental footprint and influence broader sustainability goals.

12. 64% of Companies Include Cybersecurity Clauses in Procurement Contracts

In 2026, approximately 64 % of organizations are expected to include cybersecurity clauses in procurement contracts, mandating breach notifications, incident response protocols, and regular security assessments from suppliers. 

Including cybersecurity terms helps protect sensitive data and reduces the risk of supply chain vulnerabilities tied to digital systems.

13. 58% of Procurement Teams Report Increased Workload, but Only 13% Increase Staffing

In 2026, about 58 % of procurement teams will report increased workloads largely driven by digitalization and strategic demands, while only around 13 % will see corresponding increases in staffing.

This imbalance highlights ongoing resource challenges as procurement takes on broader roles in data analytics, risk management, and supplier collaboration.

14. 69% of New Supplier Agreements Include ESG Reporting Requirements

About 69 % of new supplier agreements signed in 2026 are expected to include ESG reporting requirements that obligate vendors to report on environmental, social, and governance practices. 

This trend reflects increasing regulatory pressure and stakeholder demand for supply chain transparency and sustainable performance.

15. 80% of Organizations to Integrate Predictive Analytics and AI in Procurement

By 2026, over 80 % of organizations are expected to actively integrate predictive analytics and AI into procurement processes to improve forecasting, risk prediction, and strategic decisions. 

Wider adoption of AI reflects growing recognition that data‑driven insights can help teams anticipate disruptions and optimize spend.

16. 5.6% procurement tech-spend growth planned into 2026

Procurement technology spend is planned to grow by approximately 5.6 % into 2026, outpacing overall operating budget and staffing growth as teams prioritize digital transformation and automation. 

This growth underscores a shift toward tech‑enabled procurement that can deliver better insights and reduce manual workloads.

17. 40% of enterprise apps to feature task-specific AI agents by 2026

Up to 40 % of enterprise applications are expected to include task‑specific AI agents by 2026, enabling systems to automate contextual decision‑making and workflow orchestration. 

These capabilities can significantly augment procurement suites with assistants for tasks such as intake, policy checks, supplier Q&A, and workflow coordination.

18. 50%+ of enterprises will use AI security platforms by 2028

By 2028, more than half of enterprises are expected to adopt dedicated AI‑driven security platforms to safeguard automated and agentic processes. 

These platforms help organizations detect threats, manage vulnerabilities, and improve attack response in the era of automation.

19. 65% of AP leaders expect AI to transform operations within two years significantly

Ardent’s State of ePayables highlights strong expectations for AI’s impact on AP, a core partner process to procurement. 

The implication for 2026 is to prioritize data quality, policy rules, and controls so AI accelerates payable-to-procure feedback loops.

20. 29.4% cite weak stakeholder engagement as a top challenge

About 29.4% of procurement leaders cite weak stakeholder engagement as a top challenge, indicating that alignment across internal functions is crucial for the successful implementation of procurement strategies. 

Addressing this challenge forces organizations to shift their focus to change management and executive alignment alongside tool adoption.

https://kpmg.com/au/en/insights/strategy-operations/future-of-procurement.html

21. 77% say supply-disruption risk is a critical external challenge

Approximately 77% of procurement leaders rank supply‑disruption risk as a critical external challenge, highlighting the unpredictable nature of global markets and the complexity of the supply chain. 

As a result, organizations are increasingly investing in multi-sourcing, buffer inventories, and predictive risk analytics.

22. 66% say ESG and regulation will heavily influence sourcing in the next 3–5 years

Two-thirds of leaders anticipate stronger ESG/regulatory pressure shaping supplier selection and contracting.

By 2026, ESG metrics will be deeply integrated into scorecards and performance reviews.

23. 90% plan to adopt or are already using AI agents in procurement

A ProcureCon/Icertis study finds nine in ten leaders moving toward AI agents for tasks like RFP analysis, supplier due diligence, and risk triage. 

2026 priorities shift to governance, policy controls, and measurable outcomes at scale.

24. 58% of AI use cases in production target supplier risk monitoring

Among back- and middle-office AI deployments, supplier risk assessment shows the highest production rate. 

This signals a 2026 investment in continuous monitoring, alerts, and automated mitigation workflows.

25. 50% AI-enabled contract management by 2027

GenAI is rapidly being embedded in CLM for risk analysis, clause editing, and supplier negotiations. 

By 2027, half of organizations will use AI-enabled tools in contract management, shortening cycle times and improving compliance.

26. 60%+ use analytics today; predictive analytics accelerates through 2027

Over 60% of teams already use analytics/BI in procurement, and roadmaps show a clear shift toward predictive analytics in the next cycles.

While budget share varies by industry, expect a rising portion as real-time forecasting, risk, and compliance insights become embedded in decisions.

27. 75–85% of AP teams will use AI by 2027 

AI is becoming the default in AP/ePayables, from data capture and matching to anomaly detection and predictive alerts.

By 2027, the vast majority of AP functions will operate with AI modules, increasing touchless processing.

28. 75% of organizations will expand supplier diversity initiatives by 2027

By 2027, about 75% of organizations are projected to expand supplier diversity initiatives as part of a broader strategy for resilience and innovation. 

Increasing diversity program scope often pairs with ESG objectives, helping companies improve inclusivity while meeting stakeholder expectations.

29. 60–70% of enterprises will use continuous supplier risk monitoring by 2027.

Between 60% and 70% of enterprises are expected to adopt continuous supplier risk monitoring by 2027, using real‑time data and AI‑based scoring to proactively identify and mitigate risks. 

Continuous monitoring enables faster response times, automated alerts, and risk mitigation pathways across sourcing and procurement operations.

30. 95% of U.S. federal contracts will include cybersecurity clauses by 2027

New FAR/CMMC rules make cybersecurity requirements de facto mandatory in federal procurement (NIST controls, incident reporting, SBOM).

This standard cascades into the private sector through upstream contract requirements.

31. 60–70% of companies will invest annually in procurement upskilling by 2027

Rapid AI/digital adoption is driving continuous capability building in analytics, AI tools, controls, and risk.

Expect roughly two-thirds of firms to run formal training and reskilling programs each year.

32. 70% of Procurement Intake Requests Will Be Assisted by AI by 2027

Gartner predicts that 70% of intake requests (purchase requisitions) will be assisted by AI and generative AI technologies by 2027.

For procurement, this turns intake into an AI-guided front door, where agents pre-qualify demands, route them to the right workflows, and enforce policy up front, significantly reducing manual triage and accelerating cycle times.

33. 64% Expect AI to Redefine Procurement Roles by 2030

The Hackett Group reports that 64% of procurement leaders expect AI and GenAI to transform their roles over the next five years. 

This shows AI is no longer treated as an experiment, but as an operating-model change affecting processes, controls, and capability requirements. For 2026+, organizations need governance and capability development alongside tool adoption.

34. 50% Cite Real-Time Visibility as a Breakthrough Requirement for Procurement

According to Hackett, 50% of respondents identify deep real-time data visibility and insights as a transformational trend over the next five years. 

This reflects a shift toward continuous management of risk, compliance, and performance rather than periodic reporting. In 2026+, it typically requires stronger master data, integrations, and a single source of truth.

35. 33% of Enterprise Software Will Include Agentic AI by 2028

Gartner states that 33% of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI by 2028, up from under 1% in 2024. 

This suggests procurement platforms will increasingly embed native agentic capabilities rather than relying only on external add-ons. For 2026+, this raises the importance of vendor due diligence and security controls for AI features.

36. 80% of GenAI Business Apps Will Run on Existing Data Platforms by 2028

Gartner forecasts that organizations will build 80% of GenAI business applications on existing data management platforms by 2028. 

This directly affects procurement because AI capabilities depend on integrated spend, supplier, contract, and risk data, plus robust governance. The key takeaway for 2026–2028 is that AI readiness is primarily data readiness.

37. Digital transformation is named the top initiative by 65% going into 2026

ProcureAbility’s “State of Procurement in H2 2025” research reports that 65% of procurement organizations cite digital transformation as their most important initiative going forward, explicitly framing priorities for 2026. 

This indicates that digitization is being treated as the central program that underpins cost, risk, and stakeholder service improvements. For 2026 execution, the key risk becomes delivery maturity, process standardization, and change management, not tool selection alone.

38. Bigger AI Budgets for Procurement Tools in 2026 74%

An Ivalua-commissioned UK study reports that nearly three-quarters of organizations plan to increase budget for AI-powered procurement and supplier management tools over the next 12 months. 

This frames 2026 as a year of intensified funding behind AI in Source-to-Pay, not just experimentation. The practical takeaway is that tool spend will rise alongside expectations for measurable productivity and decision-quality gains.

39. Resilient Supply Chains as a 2026–2027 Priority 64%

Amazon Business’ 2025 State of Procurement Data finds that building resilient and agile supply chains is “very important” or a top priority over the next year or two for 64% of procurement decision-makers. 

This positions 2026–2027 as a planning horizon where resilience initiatives (supplier base, localization, risk controls) remain central to procurement strategy. It also reinforces the link between procurement priorities and broader supply continuity outcomes.

40. AI Agents Negotiating Supplier Deals by 2028 87%

Icertis’ executive survey reports that 53% expect AI agents to negotiate customer or supplier deals within the next 12 months, with an additional 34% expecting the same within one to three years, implying 87% by 2028. 

For procurement, this suggests a 2026–2028 period where negotiation support and semi-autonomous deal-making become mainstream in some form. The operational requirement is stronger contracting controls, auditability, and a clear human-in-the-loop design for higher-risk decisions.

41. Virtual Assistants/Chatbots for Procurement Interactions by 2026 20%

By 2026, 20% of organizations will use virtual assistants and chatbots to handle internal and vendor interactions in procurement. 

This indicates that conversational automation is moving from pilots into operational workflows such as intake, supplier Q&A, and routine coordination. For 2026 planning, the main enablers are clean master data, clear policy rules, and governance so assistants can operate safely at scale. 

42. Sourcing Events Executed by Non-Procurement Users by 2027 40%

By 2027, non-procurement stakeholders are expected to execute 40% of sourcing events. 

This reflects a shift where “sourcing becomes a skill, not a function,” with business users running more events via guided platforms and standardized workflows. The implication is that procurement must design guardrails (templates, approvals, risk checks) to maintain compliance and commercial rigor while enabling speed.

43. Only 11% of procurement organizations are “fully ready” to implement AI (i.e., 89% are not fully ready).

This highlights a maturity gap: most teams want AI value, but lack foundations in data, process standardization, and operating-model readiness. Practically, 2026 roadmaps should prioritize a small number of high-value use cases with measurable KPIs before broad scaling. 

44. Data Privacy & Compliance as the Main Barrier to AI Implementation in 2026 67%

67% cite data privacy and compliance as a barrier to AI implementation in procurement operations. 

This shows governance and regulatory risk are often the primary blockers, ahead of pure tooling concerns. For 2026 execution, procurement needs controls such as data classification, vendor due diligence, access management, and monitoring to reduce compliance exposure while scaling AI.

45. Insufficient Data Quality & Cross-System Integration as a Barrier to AI in 2026 54% 

Over half of respondents identify foundational data and integration gaps as a limiting factor, which directly constrains model performance and automation reliability. 

This usually points to fragmented ERPs, inconsistent master data, and limited connectivity across source-to-pay systems and supplier data sources. The 2026 takeaway is that AI roadmaps should be coupled with data governance, integration investments, and a single-source-of-truth approach for core procurement objects. 

46. Concern About AI Replacing Human Judgment as a Barrier in 2026 51%

This reflects an organizational trust and accountability challenge, not just a technology issue; teams worry about decision quality, explainability, and who is responsible when AI influences outcomes. 

Such concerns commonly surface in higher-risk processes like supplier selection, risk scoring, and contract decisions. For 2026, effective mitigation is a human-in-the-loop design, transparent audit trails, and policy-based guardrails defining where AI can recommend versus decide.

47. CPOs Ranking Supplier Relationships as a High Priority in 2026 55%

More than half of respondents cite supplier relationships and strategic partnerships as a high priority, indicating that value creation is increasingly relationship-driven rather than purely transactional. 

This aligns with a procurement mandate that emphasizes resilience, innovation, and collaboration alongside cost and compliance. For 2026 execution, it implies investment in SRM capabilities, joint business planning, and performance management that balances commercial outcomes with partnership health. 

48. Organizations Planning to Use Advanced Data Analytics & Visualization at Scale Within 3 Years 40%

This points to a near-term acceleration toward analytics maturity, where insights are embedded in day-to-day procurement decisions rather than in periodic reporting. 

“At scale” typically requires unified data models across spend, suppliers, contracts, and risk signals, plus governance to maintain data integrity. For 2026–2028, the key takeaway is that analytics enablement is a foundational prerequisite for reliable AI outcomes. 

49. RFPs Expected to Include ESG Metrics for IT Equipment Purchases by 2026 50%+

This indicates ESG requirements are becoming a mainstream evaluation dimension in technology sourcing, not an optional add-on. 

The prediction specifically links RFP requirements to measurable ESG metrics such as carbon emissions, material use, and labor conditions, which increases supplier transparency expectations. For procurement teams, the 2026 implication is to operationalize ESG data collection and verification so requirements are auditable and consistently applied. 

50. Contract Lifecycle Management Software Market Growth 13% CAGR

The contract lifecycle management (CLM) software market is estimated to grow at a roughly 13% CAGR between 2026 and 2034. 

This supports the expectation that procurement will increasingly rely on structured contract workflows, compliance automation, and analytics to reduce cycle time and clause risk. For 2026+ roadmaps, the practical focus should be contract data quality, standardized templates/playbooks, and integration with S2P/ERP to realize measurable value.

51. Sourcing Software Market Expansion 10.15% CAGR

The sourcing software market is projected to grow at a 10.15% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. 

This indicates sustained adoption of digital sourcing workflows (e-sourcing, guided sourcing, event standardization) to improve governance and speed. For procurement teams, the implication is to scale templates, intake governance, and standardized event execution to increase throughput without sacrificing compliance.

52. Vendor Management Software Market Growth 14.0% CAGR

The vendor management software market is forecast to grow at about 14.0% CAGR during 2026–2032. 

This reflects a stronger push toward supplier lifecycle governance, performance tracking, and structured vendor data management. For procurement, it implies a higher priority on supplier master data discipline, KPI scorecards, and connecting vendor management to contracting and risk processes.

53. Procure-to-Pay BPO Segment Growth 9.4% CAGR

The procure-to-pay (P2P) segment within the BPO market is expected to grow at a 9.4% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. 

This suggests more organizations will externalize transactional P2P execution to gain scale, standardization, and efficiency. For procurement operating models, it elevates the need for strong controls, SLAs, and governance to protect compliance while capturing productivity gains.

54. Supplier Risk Management BPO Segment Growth 7.6% CAGR

The supplier risk management segment in BPO is projected to grow at a 7.6% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. 

This signals ongoing investment in continuous risk monitoring, third-party risk intelligence, and risk-response workflows tied to suppliers. For procurement teams, it implies that risk governance (thresholds, escalation paths, auditability) must mature alongside tools to deliver measurable resilience outcomes.

55. Procurement is a Decision-Maker in 53% of B2B Buying Cycles

In 2026, procurement professionals are reported to be decision-makers in 53% of business buying cycles, engaging from the start of the process. 

This indicates procurement is increasingly shaping requirements, vendor evaluation, and total-value decisions, not just price and contracting. Practically, it raises the importance of early stakeholder alignment, intake governance, and structured evaluation criteria to avoid late-stage friction.

56. 70% of SPVM leaders will have sustainability-aligned performance objectives by 2026

Gartner expects environmental sustainability to become a formal, measured part of technology sourcing, procurement, and vendor management leadership. 

That means sustainability moves from “initiative” to performance objectives tied to how these functions are evaluated. Practically, procurement-linked teams will need measurable ESG targets, data, and governance to prove progress.

57. 80%+ of enterprises will be using GenAI APIs/models or GenAI-enabled apps in production by 2026

Gartner forecasts GenAI will move into production at scale across most enterprises by 2026. 

For procurement, this typically translates into GenAI embedded in workflows like intake, guided buying, supplier communication, and analytics augmentation. The key implication is that adoption becomes mainstream, so differentiation shifts to controls, data quality, and measurable outcomes, not experimentation.

58. 75% of businesses will use GenAI to generate synthetic customer data by 2026

Gartner predicts synthetic data generation will become common, largely to accelerate analytics and AI development while reducing exposure of sensitive real-world datasets. 

In procurement, the same logic applies when testing spend analytics, risk models, or automation rules without using confidential supplier or contract data. The operational requirement is strong governance so that synthetic datasets remain representative and fit-for-purpose.

59. 90% of B2B buying will be AI-agent intermediated by 2028

Gartner projects that AI agents will increasingly “sit in the middle” of B2B purchasing decisions by 2028, pushing massive volumes of spend through agent-mediated exchanges. 

This changes how suppliers and buyers structure catalogs, product data, pricing rules, and RFx processes, because the “buyer” is often software, not a person. Procurement teams will need clearer decision rules, standardization, and machine-readable commercial terms to stay competitive.

60. At least 50% of ERP systems with AI-enabled features will be GenAI-enabled by 2027

A Gartner-cited prediction indicates GenAI will become a primary way ERP systems deliver AI functionality by 2027. 

Since ERP is the backbone for procure-to-pay execution, this implies more GenAI-supported requisitioning, approvals, exception handling, and operational reporting within core systems. The practical takeaway is that procurement must treat GenAI in ERP as an operating-model change, requiring controls, role design, and auditability.