Which trends or innovations do you believe will have the greatest impact on procurement in the next 12–24 months?
The most impactful shift will be the move from isolated automation to agentic procurement systems. While many organisations have already digitised individual steps, the next phase is about autonomous coordination across the entire sourcing lifecycle.
AI agents will no longer just analyse data, they will actively search markets, simulate supplier scenarios, monitor risks, and propose next best actions. This allows procurement teams to focus less on execution and more on strategy, negotiation, and stakeholder alignment.
Another key trend is decision intelligence: procurement leaders will increasingly expect systems that not only show data, but explain trade-offs, risks, and outcomes, turning complexity into clarity.
What role do technology and digital transformation (AI, automation, analytics, etc) play in strengthening procurement resilience today?
Resilience today is less about building buffers and more about building visibility, adaptability, and speed. Technology plays a critical role by enabling procurement teams to anticipate issues rather than react to them.
AI-powered analytics help identify supplier risks early, automation reduces dependency on individual knowledge holders, and integrated workflows ensure that information flows across teams in real time. Most importantly, digital platforms create a shared source of truth, allowing organisations to respond faster to disruptions, price volatility, or geopolitical shifts.
At Mercanis, we see resilience as a direct outcome of orchestration: when procurement processes are connected and continuously monitored, organisations gain control even in uncertain environments.
Register to attend PSI for FREE to meet the Mercanis team.
3rd March 2026 | De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London
By Fabian Heinrich – CEO & Co-Founder and Leoni Marhenkel – Founder’s Associate Marketing & Growth, Mercanis
