While many Procurement teams are still defining their ambitions for AI, others have already begun integrating it into their sourcing processes, and the gap between the leaders and those still evaluating is widening.

A recent webinar hosted by CASME, in partnership with The Hackett Group, tackled this shift head-on. The session, ‘Fact vs Fiction: Exploring AI’s Real Impact on Procurement’, brought together deep industry expertise and live audience polls to uncover where AI is genuinely adding value.

The message was clear: AI is already being used today to solve real problems in Procurement. And while the hype often focuses on ChatGPT-style interfaces and futuristic automation, the real story is more grounded — and far more useful for leaders looking to make practical progress.

From Pilot to Practice: Procurement’s AI Maturity Curve

What emerged from the discussion is that Procurement is at a tipping point in adoption. Teams are starting to:

• Use AI-driven analytics to prioritize spend categories
• Leverage intelligent assistants for data cleansing, stakeholder support, and RFP authoring
• Embed machine learning models in supplier evaluation and risk tracking.

But adoption is not uniform. Some organizations are already realizing value from these tools, while others are still assessing whether AI can deliver real ROI; especially in functions often constrained by manual processes and fragmented data.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

To help, CASME has published a blog that breaks down the most valuable insights from the webinar. You can read it here: AI Won’t Wait – and Neither Can You: Procurement’s Tipping Point for AI Adoption.

Practical, Not Perfect: Advice for Getting Started

The takeaway from CASME and The Hackett Group was refreshingly practical. You don’t need a massive transformation program to begin using AI. What you do need is:

• A clear understanding of pain points AI could relieve
• A collaborative approach between Procurement, IT, and the business
• A willingness to experiment and iterate, rather than wait for the perfect solution.

This isn't just about catching up with digital transformation. It’s about enabling better, faster decision-making, and ensuring Procurement remains a strategic function in the business.

To dive deeper into the discussion, you can access the full webinar recording here: Fact vs Fiction – Exploring AI’s Real Impact on Procurement.

CASME is a global membership network for corporate Procurement teams, supporting better buying through facilitated learning and shared experience.

For more Procurement insights, research, and peer benchmarking, visit www.casme.com