OPERATIONS
relationships, the right use of technology can help build stronger, more resilient partnerships.” Sam also highlights the structural risks that aren’ t discussed enough:“ As routine P2P tasks disappear, so do the learning opportunities they once provided. The skills procurement professionals build through relationship management, crisis judgment, and commercial instinct can’ t simply be assumed to develop on their own if the work that built them has been automated away.
“ AI is a powerful and exciting development, but it shouldn’ t come at the expense of the human skills that have always underpinned effective procurement.”
The challenge is helping people feel comfortable moving away from processes they’ ve relied on for years
Tulsi Narayan EVP of Commercial and New Payment Flows in Europe Mastercard
Reskilling and the new procurement professional When it comes to reskilling employees and what a procurement professional looks like in an automation era, professionals are becoming both relationship managers and data strategists. AI is effective at reducing repetitive administrative work, but longterm value in procurement still comes from judgment, negotiation, supplier trust, governance and commercial strategy. Procurement teams are moving away from transactional processing, towards higher-value decision-making, including deeper supplier engagement, stronger collaboration across legal and compliance functions, and greater focus on resilience, ESG accountability and third-party risk management. financechief. com 67