Businesses should plan for a “basic level” of geopolitical disruption, and integrate artificial intelligence widely when it comes to strategies going forward in procurement, says a consulting firm.
Inverto, a division of management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says in its Procurement Trends 2026 report that scaling AI across the procurement function and incorporating greater resilience against geopolitical disruption are amongst four key procurement trends for 2026.
The firm, which specializes in strategic procurement and supply chain management, says AI should be turned into a “connected value engine,” linking together demand forecasting, cost estimating and negotiations, using it to guide coordination with suppliers and the task of refining product specifications.
Secondly, Inverto says companies planning for continued disruption geopolitical and other supply chain disruptions should deploy AI-driven forecasting, digital models of supply chains and scenario planning to give procurement teams clearer visibility of risk. Supply networks should be designed to accommodate the shift to nearshoring, multi-sourcing and regional supplier networks.
Thirdly, procurement should be allowed to play a growing role in driving growth and innovation, not just cost savings. “As companies prepare for the next economic upturn, supplier innovation is becoming a critical engine of growth. Procurement plays a central role in scouting new materials and enabling early supplier involvement in design,” the consulting firm advised.
Finally, Inverto predicts that, in 2026, CPOs will gain more recognition and influence, with growing responsibility for supply chain resilience, AI adoption and long-term business performance. To that end, procurement teams will collaborate more closely with suppliers to improve profit margins, while managing risk, sustainability and quality more effectively, mirroring the CEO’s agenda.