The 2026 ProcureCon Insights: State of Procurement Report
Procurement is taking on a more strategic role, but many organizations are still building the capabilities needed to deliver on growing expectations. From supply chain resilience and negotiating leverage to AI maturity and critical skills, procurement leaders are navigating a widening gap between strategic ambition and operational readiness.
ProcureCon Insights, in partnership with ProcureAbility, surveyed 100 senior procurement leaders to understand where the function stands today and where leaders are focusing next. The 2026 State of Procurement Report reveals the priorities, capability gaps, and emerging practices shaping procurement’s path forward.
Inside the report:
This report explores what procurement leaders say about the priorities and capabilities shaping the function:
- Strategic expectations are rising: 69% expect procurement to deliver both cost savings and strategic value.
- Resilience remains a work in progress: 70% describe their supply chain resilience strategy as developing rather than fully operationalized.
- Earlier involvement could strengthen leverage: Only 11% involve procurement during business-case development and requirements definition.
- AI experimentation is ahead of AI strategy: 68% are piloting AI without a formal roadmap, while only 8% have a defined roadmap with clear milestones.
- Analytics and risk skills are becoming critical: 59% identify data analytics and insights, and 51% risk and resilience management, among the most important skills for the next three years.
Why it matters
Procurement leaders are being asked to create more value while navigating disruption, evolving technology, and rising business expectations. The research shows where organizations are making progress, where capability gaps remain, and what leading teams are prioritizing next.
Download the report for benchmarks and insights to help strengthen resilience, build negotiating leverage, advance AI responsibly, and prepare procurement teams for what’s ahead.
