Here are some highlights from the 2025 Deloitte Global CPO Survey:
- CPOs are doubling down on AI and technology in 2025, allocating approximately 20% of their budget to procurement technology, an almost 2x increase from 2023.
- Spend analytics is the top use case for Generative AI for over 50% of CPOs in 2025
- 67% of procurement leaders see enhanced analytics and decision-making as the top value driver from generative AI in 2025
- 64% of CPOs prioritize enabling greater visibility into the supply chain as a key risk mitigation strategy in this year of tariff uncertainty.
- Digitally mature organizations achieve 2.8x returns on their AI investments compared to just 1.6x for their peers
These findings point to a major trend. We’re seeing more demand for AI systems that help us decide and act.
This guide is based on a decade of experience supporting enterprise procurement automation at Suplari.
What is autonomous procurement?
Autonomous procurement uses artificial intelligence to make decisions and execute transactions with minimal human intervention. Unlike traditional automation that handles repetitive tasks, autonomous procurement uses configurable AI agents to independently analyze market conditions, evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage purchasing workflows within parameters set by human leadership.
Think of it this way: traditional procurement automation is like cruise control in your car—it maintains speed but you still steer. Autonomous procurement is more like a self-driving vehicle that can navigate complex routes, respond to changing conditions, and make course corrections in real-time.
Key enablers of autonomous procurement
Autonomous procurement is the result of five recent technological breakthroughs:
Automated data management
Any automation initiatives require clean source data. The problem is that most enterprise data is diary and siloed. Not only that, data scientists spend on average up to 60% of their time cleaning data. Automated data management is a key enabler for any automation initiatives.
Process automation
The technology we use for process automation is getting smarter. We no longer need to configure rule-based bots with step-by-step instructions. We can create intelligent workflows using AI. The Deloitte survey found that robotic process automation (RPA) use has increased 31% because of intelligent new automation methods and tools.
Supervised Machine Learning
You shouldn’t create AI systems in business critical functions like procurement without a human in the loop. A key enabler for autonomous procurement systems is the ability to supervise and direct AI based on human input. In areas such as procurement spend classification, this has massively reduced the need for human work.
Generative AI
Generative AI in procurement unlocks the ability to use natural language instructions to resolve complex business challenges. Instead of spending hours looking up information in reports, Gen AI allows you to ask questions from your data and get answers immediately.
Agentic AI
Agentic AI systems can now interact with your different IT systems, interpret data and make decisions independently. With the right guardrails and levels of control, procurement professionals can automate large parts of their work with their own agents.
Key benefits of autonomous procurement
In an enterprise business, autonomous procurement can enable you to do more with your existing team and resources.
- Cost savings: Advanced analytics reveals hidden patterns in spend and sourcing, pointing teams toward more favorable pricing and terms.
- Improve efficiency and speed: Digital workflows automate routine steps, letting purchases flow smoothly from request to fulfillment with minimal manual touch.
- More time for strategic work: With everyday tasks handled automatically, procurement experts gain time to drive supplier innovation, category strategy, and stronger stakeholder partnerships.
- Data‑driven decisions: Continuous streams of real‑time data create a panoramic view of demand, market shifts, and performance trends, enabling confident, timely choices.
- Reduce risk: Embedded controls and supplier monitoring surface policy exceptions, disruptions, and emerging compliance issues before they escalate.
- Improve agility: When conditions shift, the platform quickly reprioritizes sources, routes, and terms, keeping the business responsive and resilient.
How Suplari enables autonomous procurement
Most AI tools try to be everything to everyone. Suplari's AI Procurement Agent is built specifically for procurement professionals. It understands your spend data, recognizes procurement patterns, and speaks your language.
Here's what makes Suplari different:
- Deep procurement knowledge baked into the AI, not generic business intelligence
- Enterprise-grade data handling that works with your existing ERP and P2P systems
- Continuous learning that gets smarter with your specific business patterns
- Strategic escalation that knows when to involve human expertise
Real-world impact you can measure
Enterprise customers using Suplari's AI agent see tangible results:
- Significant reduction in time spent on routine spend analysis
- Improved contract compliance through automated monitoring
- Faster supplier risk identification and mitigation
- Enhanced spend visibility across categories
Take the leap
If you're ready to explore autonomous procurement, start with these practical steps:
- Assess your current state: How much time does your team spend on tactical versus strategic work? What processes cause the most frustration?
- Invest in your foundation: Ensure your data is clean, accessible, and comprehensive before building intelligence on top of it.
- Start with your own AI Procurement Agent: Begin with intelligent assistance that can demonstrate value immediately while building toward full autonomy.
- Plan for change management: Success requires people and process changes, not just technology implementation.
Towards autonomous sourcing
True autonomous sourcing is the long-term goal. This means AI would find suppliers, negotiate deals, and sign contracts on its own. But that's still years away.
The reality today is different. AI can't handle complex supplier relationships or tough negotiations. These need human judgment and strategic thinking.
What's happening now is smarter. AI handles the routine work. People focus on strategy.
Here's how it works: AI agents take care of spend analysis, contract tracking, and compliance monitoring. This frees up 30-40% more time for procurement leaders.
Video Example of an AI agent for Procurement
What do they do with this extra time? They build better supplier partnerships. They explore new markets. They create winning category strategies.
The future isn't about replacing people in sourcing. It's about making them more powerful. Procurement teams with AI agents can research more suppliers, analyze more options, and build better strategies.
This hybrid approach works best. AI handles the tactical work. Humans lead the strategic sourcing. This gives you both efficiency and strategic value.
Bottom line on autonomous procurement
In essence, autonomous procurement is about leveraging technology to make procurement more efficient, strategic, and less reliant on manual processes, ultimately driving better business outcomes.
The procurement leaders who embrace AI agents and autonomous systems can leap ahead of peers in performance. Those who wait will be playing catch-up in an increasingly competitive market.
Are you ready to become an agent of change? The technology is here. The business case is proven. Start with Suplari's AI Procurement Agent and begin your journey toward autonomous procurement today.
Book a demo to see how you can get started within weeks and get measurable ROI within 3 months.
About Suplari
Suplari is a procurement intelligence solution that helps businesses modernize procurement operations using AI. Suplari provides actionable intelligence to manage suppliers, deliver savings and manage compliance beyond the limits of traditional spend analytics. Suplari’s unique AI data management foundation empowers enterprise businesses to transform procurement operating models with reliable, AI-ready data.
