Resilient Supply Chains and AI as Top Priorities for Procurement Leaders
A recent international survey conducted by the Kloepfel Group reveals that procurement professionals consider supply chain resilience and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as the top priorities for procurement leaders. The LinkedIn survey, initiated by Marc Kloepfel, CEO of the Kloepfel Group, gathered responses from 143 procurement managers worldwide.
Survey Results
Participants were asked to identify the primary focus areas for procurement leaders today. The results show a balanced distribution of priorities:
• Supply chain resilience: 30%
• Artificial intelligence: 26%
• Sustainability: 23%
• Agile procurement: 21%
Participants Explain Their Choices
Why Resilience is a Priority:
An experienced procurement executive emphasized the importance of supply chain resilience:
“All aspects are important, but I voted for supply chain resilience. Without AI, agile procurement, and sustainable sourcing, we cannot achieve resilient supply chains. So, if we succeed in making our supply chains resilient, it means we are already agile, utilizing AI effectively, and sourcing sustainably.”
Why AI is the Focus:
A Global Sourcing Operations Professional commented:
“All points are very important, but I voted for AI. We need to start leveraging AI because it enhances efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. It automates repetitive tasks, analyzes large datasets, predicts market trends, and identifies cost-saving opportunities. AI also improves supplier management and risk assessment, ensuring an optimized and strategic procurement process.”
Why Agile Procurement is Key:
Another respondent, Global Head of Procurement, highlighted the importance of agile procurement:
“All topics matter. In the end, I chose agile procurement. Internal stakeholders need and demand an agile procurement process. If procurement fails to meet their expectations and requirements, the other priorities cannot be implemented effectively.”
A Holistic Approach is Essential
“The survey results clearly illustrate the importance of an integrated approach in modern procurement,” says Marc Kloepfel, CEO of the Kloepfel Group.
“Procurement leaders recognize the complexity of their challenges and understand that only a harmonized interplay of technology, resilience, and sustainability ensures long-term success.”